Vocals/Guitars/Orchestral Arrangements

 

  At the age of 12, Rafael started playing acoustic guitar. And only two years later, the electric. Rafael learned and played by ear till he was 17. Hungry for knowledge, he went to study Guitar and Music Theory with Alexandre Lima (who became one of his best friends and bandmate till 2006) at the Prediger Music School in Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil.
  After two years of intense study, Rafael was invited to teach at Prediger School in 1998. In that same year, Rafael realized that he needed a band where he could explore different kinds of music and styles. And those were the first steps that led to the creation of "Wreck of Time(former The Element)."
 
  Besides Wreck of Time, he was part of the Orchestral Choir of OSPA (Porto Alegre Symphonic Orchestra), when he studied vocal technics with teacher Decápolis de Andrade and with maestro Manfredo Schmiedt. Rafael was part of many essential concerts in that period, such as the Mahler 2º Symphony, Verdi Quattro Pezzi Sacri, Beethoven 9º Symphony, and others.

 Rafael has completed Diablo Valley College, CA's Music Business and Composition programs.

 

 His most significant accomplishment is the whole composition of the concept album From Sand - Part I and II. Part II is being released in 2022.
   
  Nowadays, besides managing, producing, and composing for Wreck of Time(former The Element), Rafael teaches guitar and music theory and also works as a Freelancer Composer/Arranger.

Rafael proudly endorses:

 

EVH Gear
Jackson Guitars
Guild Acoustic Guitars
Line 6
InTune Picks
Morley Pedals
SIT Strings
Liszko Straps

 

Influences: Pink Floyd, Rush, Queen, Supertramp, Angra, Dream Theater, The Cure, U2, Shadow Gallery, Symphony X, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Guns ‘n Roses, Skid Row, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Frank Solari, Nuno Bettencourt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig Van Beethoven, John Willians, Hans Zimmer...