Musician Spotlight: Raphael Whalen ‘24

Raphael Whalen was one of the first students to benefit from JPCatholic’s new emphasis in Digital Music. He came to JPCatholic as a Theology & Philosophy student, but shifted more of his focus to music as Dr. Robert Giracello ramped up the course offerings in composing, songwriting, musicianship, and more. His debut album Origin, featuring ten tracks of cinematic pop, was released this fall on Spotify and Apple Music.

What has been your experience at JPCatholic growing as a musician?

Looking back three years after arriving here, I've grown so much in personal cultivation and musicianship, in no small part due to Dr. Robert Giracello. His teaching style, his deep and intensive knowledge of music and culture, and his dedication to his students has lent to my development as both a creative and a musician, but perhaps foremost as somebody trained to appreciate and receive art. Additionally, the student body here is an ever-deepening talent pool, which first, gives rise to more projects than I’ve been able to say “yes” to (from films, to podcasts, to singer-songwriter productions); and second, spawns the opportunity to collaborate with incredibly talented people who stretch my own abilities.

What is your creative process when it comes to writing and composing music?

My creative process most commonly begins with sitting down at a piano and playing familiar patterns until I find something fresh. Fleshing out the idea comes next: the process of twisting the melodic fragment or lyrical germ into something of substance. I finally throw that into my digital audio workstation, record vocals and whatever analog sounds I need, and then move into post-production. The true struggle lies in figuring out what a song is really saying. For example, I wrote “Poseidon” years ago with only a mind to its aesthetic value, and only until it entered the greater context of Origin did it glean real purpose. Ultimately, intentionality is the hardest part here, and figuring out what this album was about is one of the things that took me the longest time.

Tell us more about your new album Origin.

Origin has been on the front burner for several months now, but many of these songs and hooks have been on the shelf for anywhere between one and five years. Thematically, it’s a deeply Catholic album, following the narrative of a man who ultimately discovers that doing his duty, no matter what, is his ultimate purpose in this life—a Pilgrim’s Progress arc, if you will. His journey goes through some dark places, but over the course of side B, he begins to recognize and embrace the cross. By the end, while he's by no means perfect, he's at least merited the hope of a peaceful life. Style-wise, it's cinematic pop at the intersection of Jon Bellion, AJR, and Panic! At The Disco; with subtler flavors of Billy Joel, Hans Zimmer, and the Legend of Zelda soundtrack. If you spin orchestral soundtracks for passive listening, and put on alternative fusion-pop like Jon Bellion for active listening, this record is for you!

Listen to Origin on Spotify or Apple Music
Follow Raphael Whalen on social media: Instagram @raphaelwhalen YouTube @raphaelwhalen