Toronto singer Ralph proving herself to be the Swiss Army knife of Canadian pop music
Ralph arrives on the red carpet at the iHeartRadio MMVAs in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Share
TORONTO -
Standing in her backyard on a drizzly summer afternoon, pop singer Ralph is proving to be a tenacious trooper of the Canadian independent music scene.
Rather than bowing out from a photoshoot in the rain, she's slipped into a silver rain jacket and agreed to play along with a visual gag. The idea has her gripping a bouquet of pink roses in a subtle wink to the TikTok fame that blindsided her a little over a month ago.
She had posted a clip on the social media platform recalling the time she unknowingly ingested the scent of a poisonous angel trumpet flower and slipped into a sleep paralysis.
The Toronto singer thought the anecdote would be amusing fodder for Tiktok. She didn't think it would rack up more than half a million views and make her the focus of a Newsweek story on people who inhaled toxic flowers.
"Hopefully this will bring more eyes -- the right eyes, the people who want to look me up a little deeper," the artist suggested in an interview about her new EP.
Consider the TikTok viral moment a lesson in how quickly social media can veer out of control, and the savviness it takes for a musician to seize the opportunity.
Over the past few years, the 32-year-old singer born Raffaela Weyman has grown from indie-pop hopeful to an increasingly familiar name in pop who's proving her versatility.
Her 2019 house-inspired dance single "Gravity" earned a Juno nomination for dance recording and became a favourite of the drag community -- most notably "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant Kim Chi who she says played the track on global tour dates.
Last year, Weyman made two appearances as a vocal coach on the first season of Crave's reality competition "Canada's Drag Race," pitched numerous songs for television commercials and more recently laid down a voiceover to promote a small Vancouver vineyard.
Her new song "Feels Like Home" was selected to play over the end credits of "Strays," the spinoff to CBC's "Kim's Convenience" set to debut next month.
It's an eclectic batch of gigs, but unlike some Canadian musicians who prefer not to discuss their multistream income, Weyman embraces the reality that's allowed her Ralph persona to exist.
"Music is a fickle gal," she explains, "and I want to make sure that I have my hands in these other honey pots."
These days, her focus is largely on "Gradience," the EP she released last month.
It's a dreamy pop concoction that puts a contemporary spin on a very retro vibe, with an album cover that features Ralph striking a mystical Stevie Nicks-esque pose.
As a package, the six tracks speak to Ralph's upbringing as a student of popular music.
On the wall of her basement workspace, she's framed her three most-cherished concert tickets: one for a 1999 Backstreet Boys show, another for the 2008 Spice Girls reunion and a third for a Fleetwood Mac tour date. Each of those radio-friendly influences can all be heard in some sense on "Gradience."
Lead single "Tommy" goes down smooth as a hooky vibe, while disco-infused "Love Potion" channels an infectious Olivia Newton-John energy.
"Strawberry Meltdown" is set during a heatwave and was imagined as a nod to Harry Style's megahit "Watermelon Sugar," while piano ballad "Rules of Love" cools down as a sombre confessional of the brokenhearted.
Though Weyman doesn't say it directly, she's intent on leaving a lasting impression on the Canadian music scene.
With the recent launch of her own label Rich Man Records, a partnership with her manager Laurie Lee Boutet, she plans to showcase other young Canadian artists, particularly female-identifying performers, people of colour and queer musicians, who she suggests have a harder time breaking into music and thriving in the existing ecosystem.
"We want artists to come into the music industry and feel like they have like a hub of people who are good, respectful and there to support and grow them," she says.
"The music industry is really volatile -- and a lot of it is not about talent. It's about luck. I always say this to people who want tips: work your hardest and enjoy it because you could be the most talented human in the world and you won't necessarily get famous for music."
"You have to keep that in the back of your head," she adds. "Make sure you're expanding your craft and protecting yourself."
Even today, Weyman says it's a perspective that drives her to continue collecting those small wins she's made over the past six years. It's easy to forget that as an indie artist, she's already considered a success by many of her peers.
"In Canada, I've carved out a little name for myself," she acknowledges.
"And although sometimes it feels not that way I do have to remind myself there are a lot of artists who look at me and go, 'Wow, how did you do it?"'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2021.
The singer, born Raffaela Weyman, says serving up an eclectic menu of musical flavours helped her weather a "volatile" industry where a combination of talent, luck and radio play can determine the trajectory of an artist's career.
Aside from performing, she recently co-founded her own label, Rich Man Records, with manager Laurie Lee Boutet. Together she says they hope to help other young Canadian artists get off the ground, particularly female-identifying performers, people of colour and queer musicians.
"Those are the people who generally, I think, feel most unsafe within a male-populated industry," she said.
"We want artists to come into the music industry and feel like they have like a hub of people who are good, respectful and are there to support and grow them."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2021.
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have become 'occupiers' living in a fortified and barricaded mini-village, a lawyer for the Montreal school argued on Monday as he asked for an injunction to dismantle the more than two-week-old encampment on its downtown campus.
As Newfoundland and Labrador's justice minister exchanges letters with his federal counterpart about legal reforms that would curb intimate partner violence, the head of a women's centre in the province says what's needed is much simpler: money.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would allow the City of Vancouver to limit rent increases for new tenants in its poorest neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside.
Canadian National (CN) Railway suspended service on its network between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in B.C. and north of High Level, Alta., due to wildfires, the company said on Monday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a new law regulating transgender people's use of bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in public education buildings, making Mississippi at least the 12th state to restrict transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity.
The United Nations on Monday clarified that the overall number of fatalities in Gaza tallied by the Ministry of Health in Gaza remains unchanged, at more than 35,000, since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
Three men charged in the 2018 prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger have reached plea deals with prosecutors, according to court papers filed Monday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning to raise money for former U.S. president Donald Trump in the coming weeks, two sources tell the Associated Press.
The memoirs of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be released in November, nearly three years after her 16-year tenure leading one of Europe's biggest powers ended.
A billboard has collapsed and killed three people and injured 59 in India's financial capital, Mumbai, in thunderstorms and heavy rain, the Press Trust of India reported Monday.
Artificial intelligence will have an impact on the Canadian labour force, a parliamentary committee recently heard, and MPs are suggesting ways the federal government can better prepare.
As his criminal trial got underway Monday, 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Pat King pleaded not guilty to a list of nine charges related to the major protest that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in 2022.
Canada’s foreign affairs minister is embarking on a five-day trip to the Middle East and the Mediterranean where she will focus on peacekeeping and aid.
Patients taking Novo Nordisk's popular Wegovy obesity treatment maintained an average of 10 per cent weight loss after four years on the treatment, the company said on Tuesday.
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
TLC fans looking forward to their concert in Moncton, N.B., on Tuesday will be disappointed to find out that the show has been cancelled due to illness.
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.
The Federal Court of Appeal says work on a massive rail-and-truck hub in the Greater Toronto Area can go ahead — for the time being, as the future of the facility remains in limbo.
The 148th Westminster show kicked off Saturday, and Monday marked the start of the traditional judging that leads to the best in show prize, to be awarded Tuesday night.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
When it comes to gardening, a lot of questions come up, including the best way to keep pets away from plants, maintaining your lawn and keeping the dandelions at bay.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Stuart Skinner, the Oilers' starting goalie all season and for each of their eight post-season games this year, allowed all four goals scored against his team Sunday night, some of them arguably his fault.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, preparing for his first professional fight since 2005, warned YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Monday that his life will be on the line during their July 20 bout.
Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit is being investigated by the U.S. government's highway safety agency after two of its vehicles braked suddenly and were rear-ended by motorcyclists.
The Biden administration plans to impose major new tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the plan.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
With thousands evacuating Fort Nelson due to a wildfire encroaching on the town, nearby communities are opening their doors to those who’ve had their lives turned upside down in a matter of moments.
In the first of a three-part series on Gardiner Gridlock, CTV Toronto examines the impact that the three-year cut to capacity on the downtown expressway is having on commuters – and their outcry.
Videos of two of the several shootings in the Toronto area over the weekend involving tow trucks show bullets fired from moving vehicles and hitting trucks.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
The Israeli flag will be raised at Ottawa City Hall Tuesday to mark the country's national day, but there will only be a private ceremony for the event.
Ottawa police have upgraded an attempted murder charge against a 42-year-old man after one of the victims of an apartment fire earlier this month died.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have become 'occupiers' living in a fortified and barricaded mini-village, a lawyer for the Montreal school argued on Monday as he asked for an injunction to dismantle the more than two-week-old encampment on its downtown campus.
Several people were sent to hospital with 'serious injuries' Monday after a vehicle failed to stop for police and then crashed into multiple other vehicles, according to Quebec's police watchdog.
A family in NDG that had mice and cockroaches falling through a hole in their bathroom ceiling says the ordeal finally appears to be over, but the pressure isn't off the landlord just yet.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
A woman whose 81-year-old father recently spent three weeks receiving care in an Edmonton hospital hallway is joining the Alberta NDP to call for better care, including more health-care workers, and a south Edmonton hospital.
Stuart Skinner, the Oilers' starting goalie all season and for each of their eight post-season games this year, allowed all four goals scored against his team Sunday night, some of them arguably his fault.
TLC fans looking forward to their concert in Moncton, N.B., on Tuesday will be disappointed to find out that the show has been cancelled due to illness.
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) is asking drivers and pedestrians to avoid 7th Avenue between Retallack Street and Cameron Street as an investigation is underway.
In a growing city it’s no surprise when suburban residents come across wild animals around their yards, but one Saskatoon homeowner in Kensington started poking around for answers when she spotted a quilled critter hanging out in her garage.
People living in Wellington County North, Arthur and Mount Forest are being advised to take cover as scattered thunderstorms sweep across the area into Monday evening.
In a growing city it’s no surprise when suburban residents come across wild animals around their yards, but one Saskatoon homeowner in Kensington started poking around for answers when she spotted a quilled critter hanging out in her garage.
The end of the school year and a looming fall election are putting additional pressure on the province to strike a deal with Saskatchewan teachers, according to two political scientists.
A 29-year-old Timmins man is charged with impaired driving in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 144 near Greater Sudbury that sent two children to hospital by air ambulance Saturday.
One of two men wanted for attempted murder in Timmins has been arrested, while a warrant has been issued for a second suspect, who fled police on foot.
Councillors offered an unvarnished glimpse into what it’s like to represent their constituents at city hall during a meeting of the Governance Working Group (GWG). The deputy mayor said rather than part-time or full-time his job is 'all the time.'
Under tough cross-examination from the Crown, a London, Ont. mother continued to vehemently deny that she sexually abused her children. The 54-year-old mother resumed with her testimony Monday for a second straight week in a row.
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
After a marathon, six-hour meeting on the Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, council and the mayor voted in favour of increasing taxes to support the core.
A Pro-Palestinian supporter is in for the long haul at the University of Windsor’s Liberation Zone. 'I'm here for as long as it takes,' the supporter said.
As a fan of all things astronomy, Zeel Parmar has long dreamt of flying to Alaska to witness the northern lights with her own eyes — so she was shocked to find the colours of the aurora borealis shimmering over the skies of Windsor, Ont. late Friday night.
A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.
After four targeted shootings in four days, Mounties in Kamloops are taking the unusual step of warning the public about two men they believe are likely to be targeted in future violent incidents.
Some Lethbridge charities are having a hard time staffing volunteers, saying the number of people willing to donate their time to non-profits over the years has decreased.
A 22-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area is facing drug trafficking charges after police in northwestern Ontario seized $700,000 in drugs during raid.
Ontario Provincial Police are facing tough questions about their search for a missing Newfoundland trucker whose rig was found two weeks ago in Ontario, then sent back to Newfoundland, where his body was found Monday in the trailer.