Raquel Martins confronts the immigrant experience on new single ‘I WANNA LIVE NEXT TO THE SEA’ via Bridge The Gap
“I love that. So brilliant. A very nice gift right here for us in the basement”
– Gilles Peterson
“Raquel is one to watch, absolutely love this new single”
– Jamie Cullum
“Raquel Martins stands her ground on Latin-inflected alt-soul cut "Fragile Eyes”
– The Line Of Best Fit
Out today via Bridge The Gap (corto.alto), Raquel Martins’ new single ‘I WANNA LIVE NEXT TO THE SEA’ dives into the emotional depths of the immigrant experience, confronting feelings of disconnection, idealisation, and the search for belonging. Written and produced by Raquel herself, the track is a poignant reflection on the tension between the life left behind and the realities of building a new one. The single is accompanied by a brand-new music video that tells the story of a starling separated from its murmuration. Set against vast, shifting landscapes, the video explores themes of belonging and reflects the immigrant experience.
Raquel, who moved to the UK from Portugal on her own at the age of 17, opens a window into her own journey, describing a low point that many immigrants and expats will recognise: “After realising that London is such a toxic place, I started idealising Portugal and the friends I left behind. But then came the realisation that even if my friends are happy there, the truth is, they’ve all forgotten about me because I’ve been in London working all the time for so many years.” This realisation underscores the track’s raw exploration of longing and the unsettling feeling of floating without a solid sense of home—an experience that anchors the broader narrative of her upcoming project.
With ‘I WANNA LIVE NEXT TO THE SEA, Raquel fuses Brazilian influences with the experimental edge of alternative artists like Mk.gee and Saya Gray. Her intricate production layers shimmering guitar textures and introspective electronic elements, underscoring her distinctive raspy voice. As a producer, she brings a rare vulnerability to her sound, unifying organic and digital worlds.
After working as a session and touring guitarist and musician for many established artists such as Amaarae, Biig Piig, Rina Sawayama, Mabel and Poppy Ajudha to name a few, Raquel released her debut EP The Way in 2021 which drew substantial support from tastemakers like Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum and Dan Digs (KRCW) and has been focusing on her solo project since then.
In 2023, she released her second EP Empty Flower, which made a splash across the industry with support from BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, The Line Of Best Fit and Clash whilst performing around the UK playing festivals like We Out Here, Lost Village, Wilderness and supporting the likes of the legendary Marcos Valle, Oscar Jerome, Mayra Andrade, Bala Desejo, Liana Flores and more.
This single marks the start of a new chapter—a deeply personal and emotionally resonant journey through themes of identity, community, and the elusive concept of home.
