Rhea Padua

Model / Creative — Chippenham

01Profile

A Rhea Padua Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Hey, I’m Rhea and I’m originally from the Philippines but I grew up in a small town here in the UK, Chippenham in Wiltshire.

What do you do?
I am a model and creative.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

I’ve seen CVC quite a few times this year and it’s always an insane experience! The crowds adore them, As soon as they start playing you just can’t help but not to boogie. They’re gonna be huge! Defo one of the best bands out there right now. ‘Lonely People’ is a groovy tune, I love it. 

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
Mazzy Star to open the show, I can just imagine Hope Sandoval’s angelic voice in 'Into dust' with the acoustic guitar. Secondly, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, what a band. The crowd would be loving ‘Vad Hände Med Dem?’ To close, it’d have to be none other than The Doors, you can always groove to their songs. The Vox continental would sound insane live in 'Soul kitchen'.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Definitely has to be the 60s/70s era; from The Hippies to The Punks (Vivienne Westwood/The Sex Pistols era). Also The Tumblr culture of 2010’s which defo influenced me in my teens.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?

Kurt Cobain. I feel like he’d have a lot of interesting things to talk about and I’d be prepared to listen to anything he’d have to say. I’d like to learn from his creativity, it’d be an insightful conversation. 

‘The Man Who Sold the World’ (MTV unplugged live acoustic) by Nirvana is a sick cover. 

Where is your favourite independent venue and why?
Tramshed in Cardiff, it’s a cool industrial space. From the sound to the experience of being in the crowd they really do have the art of delivering a live performance spot on, everyone I know always has a good time.

Your greatest unsung hero/heroine in music?
I’d have to say my boyfriend Harry, the frontman in The Rotanas. He’s helped me discover a lot of old/new music and artists that I’d never of explored if it wasn’t for him. As a musician, he’s incredibly passionate about how a song should sound and the way it makes you feel when you’re listening to it. It’s funny because whenever he shows me a song whether it’s the band’s or another musician, he’d point out specific things to listen out for and I didn’t get it before, but now I do. It’s opened up a whole new world for me, I admire his love for music and have a lot of respect for what he does.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'No Rain' by Blind Melon. It’s a song I always play when it’s warm and sunny, puts me in a good mood, always and I’ve got it tattooed on my arm.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Golden Years' by David Bowie. It reminds me of my sister and me as kids having a boogie to that scene in 'A Knight’s Tale'.

One record you would keep forever?
'Parklife' album by Blur. I grew up on Blur. When I was younger my dad would always put them on and talk about how Damon Albarn used to play at ‘Goldiggas’ in the '90s, my hometown’s local club. I’ve appreciated their music more as I’ve gotten older, 'This Is A Low' is one of my favourite songs.

A song lyric that has inspired you?

“And the waitress is practicing politics, 

As the businessmen slowly get stoned, 

Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone.”

‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel, not just a lyric but the whole verse is class, it speaks for itself. 

A song you wish you had written?
'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Cumberland Gap' by David Rawlings, it’s just too good.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak.

A song to get you straight on the dancefloor?
Any Abba song obviously but if I had to pick it’d be ‘Voulez-Vous’.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Let Me Roll Tt' by Wings. Makes you feel wholesome, I love it.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?

Not new as such but they’re the bands i’ve consistently been listening to a lot this year. 

- Wand ‘Melted Rope’. 

- CVC ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ 

- The La’s ‘Timeless Melody’ 

- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘Awake’ 

- Fontaines DC ‘Nabokov’

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Hey, I’m Rhea and I’m originally from the Philippines but I grew up in a small town here in the UK, Chippenham in Wiltshire.

What do you do?
I am a model and creative.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

I’ve seen CVC quite a few times this year and it’s always an insane experience! The crowds adore them, As soon as they start playing you just can’t help but not to boogie. They’re gonna be huge! Defo one of the best bands out there right now. ‘Lonely People’ is a groovy tune, I love it. 

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
Mazzy Star to open the show, I can just imagine Hope Sandoval’s angelic voice in 'Into dust' with the acoustic guitar. Secondly, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, what a band. The crowd would be loving ‘Vad Hände Med Dem?’ To close, it’d have to be none other than The Doors, you can always groove to their songs. The Vox continental would sound insane live in 'Soul kitchen'.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Definitely has to be the 60s/70s era; from The Hippies to The Punks (Vivienne Westwood/The Sex Pistols era). Also The Tumblr culture of 2010’s which defo influenced me in my teens.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?

Kurt Cobain. I feel like he’d have a lot of interesting things to talk about and I’d be prepared to listen to anything he’d have to say. I’d like to learn from his creativity, it’d be an insightful conversation. 

‘The Man Who Sold the World’ (MTV unplugged live acoustic) by Nirvana is a sick cover. 

Where is your favourite independent venue and why?
Tramshed in Cardiff, it’s a cool industrial space. From the sound to the experience of being in the crowd they really do have the art of delivering a live performance spot on, everyone I know always has a good time.

Your greatest unsung hero/heroine in music?
I’d have to say my boyfriend Harry, the frontman in The Rotanas. He’s helped me discover a lot of old/new music and artists that I’d never of explored if it wasn’t for him. As a musician, he’s incredibly passionate about how a song should sound and the way it makes you feel when you’re listening to it. It’s funny because whenever he shows me a song whether it’s the band’s or another musician, he’d point out specific things to listen out for and I didn’t get it before, but now I do. It’s opened up a whole new world for me, I admire his love for music and have a lot of respect for what he does.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'No Rain' by Blind Melon. It’s a song I always play when it’s warm and sunny, puts me in a good mood, always and I’ve got it tattooed on my arm.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Golden Years' by David Bowie. It reminds me of my sister and me as kids having a boogie to that scene in 'A Knight’s Tale'.

One record you would keep forever?
'Parklife' album by Blur. I grew up on Blur. When I was younger my dad would always put them on and talk about how Damon Albarn used to play at ‘Goldiggas’ in the '90s, my hometown’s local club. I’ve appreciated their music more as I’ve gotten older, 'This Is A Low' is one of my favourite songs.

A song lyric that has inspired you?

“And the waitress is practicing politics, 

As the businessmen slowly get stoned, 

Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone.”

‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel, not just a lyric but the whole verse is class, it speaks for itself. 

A song you wish you had written?
'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Cumberland Gap' by David Rawlings, it’s just too good.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak.

A song to get you straight on the dancefloor?
Any Abba song obviously but if I had to pick it’d be ‘Voulez-Vous’.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Let Me Roll Tt' by Wings. Makes you feel wholesome, I love it.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?

Not new as such but they’re the bands i’ve consistently been listening to a lot this year. 

- Wand ‘Melted Rope’. 

- CVC ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ 

- The La’s ‘Timeless Melody’ 

- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘Awake’ 

- Fontaines DC ‘Nabokov’