Graduate Spotlight – Lauren Rafferty

Looking back at your time at the college, how has your songwriting developed since graduating?

I started at Riverside after leaving a 9-5 so it was the perfect time for me to really start taking my songs seriously. The creative projects helped me see that this isn’t just a wee hobby it is something I can really take seriously and do for work. I wouldn’t have thought before I started that I would be where I am now with my solo project, Raff, which I launched in September 2024. It is my main focus and I love seeing it grow. Since launching the project, I have had opportunities to perform in venues I’d always go to watch gigs like King Tut’s and Sneaky Pete’s. My favourite part about performing is being able to share the songs I have written with different people.Since graduating, I have started writing more specifically for my solo project, Raff.

Throughout college I was writing a lot with others and for bands so I am really liking being able to put my own story behind the techniques and skills I picked up.

You recently played at the Riverside Gala Day, how did it feel coming back to the college to perform?

It was really enjoyable, there were lots of familiar faces and I still don’t feel like a stranger even though I’ve been away over a while now.

You sometimes play alongside fellow Riverside Graduate Scott Brice, how does collaboration affect your performance and songwriting compared to performing as a solo act?

My songs change as soon as it’s not just me and the guitar and it’s so exciting to have other musicians put their creativity into them. Scott and I were partnered up randomly in an optional songwriting lecture taken by (our hero) Stu Kidd over two years ago, since then we have collaborated on both of our projects. I love playing alongside Scott, I get so excited to see where he is going to take my songs. He is quite literally a magician behind a guitar and makes me really think about the structure of my songs. Sometimes, just the confidence boost I get from Scott is enough for me to invest into the song I am writing if he hears it at the early stages.

What are your aspirations for the future? More songwriting, performing and recording?

I haven’t released any music yet so my first goal is to get a single out. Performing wise, I’d like to play bigger venues and support bigger artists with similar vibes to get my name out there. I just want more people to hear my songs really.