Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview Rita De Los Angeles

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

One of my earliest memories goes back to when I was around four or five years old. My parents had a record player, and I vividly remember sitting on the floor watching the LP spin while the Beatles’ Help! album played. I think I knew every word on that record within days. The only song that puzzled me was “Michelle” — I couldn’t quite understand the French lyrics.

I was also completely obsessed with Elvis Presley. The very first song I ever learned to play on guitar was “Hound Dog.” When Elvis died in 1977, I was devastated. I was only seven years old, it was a hot August, and I cried for three days straight. Music had a powerful hold on me from very early on.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

When I was twelve, my parents enrolled me in weekly guitar lessons. They weren’t cheap at the time, but my parents could clearly see how deeply I loved music. I practiced every day after school without being asked, and I often played guitar all weekend long. Seeing that dedication, my parents were willing to invest in my passion — something I’m still incredibly grateful for.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

I’ve just finished mixing my upcoming single, “Traveling Soul,” which will be released January 23, 2026 on all streaming platform. The song is an honest exploration of identity and belonging, resonating deeply with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

Musically, “Traveling Soul” is an upbeat yet reflective country-folk/Americana track, featuring my clear, emotive vocals over a driving acoustic rhythm. Its emotional core is rooted in my life as a queer woman and the daughter of immigrants from Cairo — a background that led to a lifelong struggle with identity and belonging. That “traveling soul” narrative continued later in life when, as a first-generation American, I made the midlife decision to immigrate to Germany.

The song was co-written with Arno Özgen, whom I met at a songwriter retreat in 2024. By chance, we were paired together and quickly discovered a shared experience. Arno grew up in Germany with a Turkish father and a German mother and expressed the same feeling of never fully belonging — of being a “traveling soul.”

Together, we wrote lyrics that reflect this shared sense of displacement, captured in lines like:
“One foot in, one foot out / One life to live, with endless doubt.” The song speaks to those “paving a path, without a ground,” and the powerful refrain sums it up: “I’m a travelin’ soul, don’t know where to go, I’ve got no home.”

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

I like to blur the boundaries between roots rock, country rock, folk rock, and country pop. I lean heavily into an acoustic guitar-driven sound and aim to create something nostalgic yet fresh — a sound that feels familiar, but is unmistakably my own.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Two things come to mind. First, although I’ve played guitar since I was twelve, I didn’t start learning piano until my early forties. Surprisingly, that made me a better guitar player. Music theory is far more visual and logical on piano, and it completely transformed my songwriting by allowing me to think more orchestrally and consider multiple instruments at once.

The second moment came while co-writing “Traveling Soul” with Arno Özgen. He kept emphasizing the importance of groove — how the bass drum, hi-hat, and bass all needed to lock together. Since then, groove has become the very first thing I think about when producing a song.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

I absolutely love working in Logic Pro. I started out recording and mixing on GarageBand, which is a fantastic entry point, but I outgrew it after my second song. Since Logic Pro shares a very similar layout, the learning curve was surprisingly smooth. I also use a few LANDR plugins, but I try not to overprocess my music — I want it to stay acoustic, organic, and honest.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

My favorite indie artist right now is Luna Keller, one of the best acoustic-folk songwriters I know. She’s in her early twenties, and I met her at a singer-songwriter open mic night in Cologne, Germany. She has a devoted following and releases new music almost every month — and she has never disappointed me. Every song she puts out is fantastic. She’s also been releasing music for years, so discovering her means diving into a beautifully rich catalog.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

My life experiences are the fuel for my creative expression. Every song I’ve written is a direct result of something I’ve lived through or deeply felt. Each song becomes a kind of mantra — a musical snapshot of a specific moment in my life. My music is essentially my personal diary, written in melody and poetry, and I get to carry it with me and share it wherever I go.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

Even when my songs are inspired by difficult or painful experiences, I always try to express resilience and strength. Writing music is how I process life’s challenges, and through that process, I inevitably find light and meaning — even in the darkest moments.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Music makes me feel alive and gives my life purpose. In my twenties, I stopped playing music for a while and focused solely on building a career and making money. That period left me miserable. When I picked up my guitar again in my early thirties, I realized something very clearly: if I don’t play music, I simply wither. Music is my oxygen.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

One of my biggest dreams came true this year when I performed at the Country Music Conference in Erfurt, Germany, in October. I’m thrilled to be returning again in October 2026. I’d also love to perform at The Western Experience in Holland, which takes place every January. I’ve already submitted an application, so fingers crossed for January 2027.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with Toots Prichard, a multi-instrumentalist who plays accordion and various wind instruments like trombone and saxophone across genres such as ska, jazz, Irish folk, and traditional folk music. I discovered Toots on Instagram and was immediately blown away. I’ve already asked if they’d consider playing trombone on a song with an Irish folk feel — and they’re intrigued. I’m really hoping that collaboration comes to life.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

🌐 Website: www.ritadelosangeles.com is a great start, where you will find links to my music videos and where to find my songs on multiple streaming platforms. My Spotify Artists Page can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mmq6rbc3eVp4DKHiDZjcX?si=Yo_j_pu3QdaoJjRd7Tkj8w

Instagram: @Rita.DeLosAngeles

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I dream of hopping into a small tour van and traveling across the USA and Europe, performing for new audiences along the way. Right now, I’m still raising a family of teenagers, so that dream may have to wait another five or six years — but it’s something I think about every single day.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

That it’s never too late to be an artist. Creating and performing music gives me more energy now than I had in my thirties. In my mid-fifties, I feel younger than ever — because music truly feeds my soul.