Raph Solo Returns With “I Believe,” a Song About Faith and Self-Acceptance

After eight years away from releasing new music, Raph Solo is back with I Believe, a deeply personal single about embracing who we are, holding on to hope, and finding peace between our identity and our beliefs. Released on National Coming Out Day (October 11), the song also marks 15 years since the London-based pop artist began accepting himself as a gay man after years of trying to change his sexuality.

For LGBTQ+ people who have struggled to reconcile their identities with their faith, that journey can be especially difficult. Solo knows this firsthand. In his twenties, he spent nearly six years attempting celibacy before undergoing reparative therapy in 2011, hoping to change something that was never wrong with him in the first place. He has since described the experience as damaging, and its impact followed him into his earlier music.

“I’m gay, and I pray. It took a while for me to accept that it was okay for me to be that way. It was a personal dream for me to feel okay with who I am,” Solo explains. “I’ve been gay all my life, and God has always been there for me. ‘I Believe’ is a song about believing in my dreams and my biggest dream was to feel okay with who I am.”

That message gives I Believe a special significance on National Coming Out Day. Coming out and self-acceptance don’t look the same for everyone, and for those who have been taught that their sexuality and spirituality cannot coexist, learning to embrace both can take years. Solo’s song speaks to the possibility of finding a place where neither has to be sacrificed.

The singer also reflects on how we define ourselves beyond our identities, emphasizing that the way we treat others matters far more than labels. “We are who we are. It’s not about whether I am gay or straight that defines me. It’s my character, how I treat other people and how I am as a human being that distinguishes me from the person next to me,” he says. “I didn’t get to choose to be gay, but I do get to choose my character. We can choose to be kind, honest and uplifting. Those choices paint a picture of who we are.”

Musically, I Believe takes listeners on a journey of its own. The track opens with grand piano, violins, and horns supporting Solo’s vocals before shifting into a fuller groove, bringing in a prominent bass line and contemporary R&B-inspired drums. The arrangement builds toward a dramatic finale, giving the song room to move from intimate reflection to a more expansive expression of hope. Written and produced by Solo, with co-production by David Brant, the single also includes a bonus 7th Heaven Remix.

The inspiration to return to music came from an unexpected encounter in Thailand while Solo was celebrating his 50th birthday. He watched a trans woman perform onstage and was moved by the way she showed up for herself and her life. After eight years without releasing a record, the moment encouraged him to consider how his own music might offer that same kind of encouragement to someone else. 

“I hadn’t released a record in eight years, and I thought: like her, I can use my gift to show up and make a difference. Maybe someone needs someone like me to uplift them, like I needed to be uplifted years ago,” he recalls.

The single arrives with a companion music video created alongside longtime creative partner Vybrant Images, with Solo directing the project as a kind of visual diary. An astronaut serves as a central metaphor, representing a person whose character cannot be determined by their appearance, gender, sexuality, or social status. The video also wraps its themes of self-discovery in a romantic gay love story, with Valentino starring in a role inspired by Solo’s real-life relationship with his partner, Simon. The couple celebrated their tenth anniversary in June.

For Solo, this release represents a new chapter across his creative and personal life, one that acknowledges the pain of the past without allowing it to dictate the future. He hopes the song will remind listeners that love extends beyond romance to include self-love, self-dignity, and pride in who we are. His message is particularly meaningful for anyone still working toward self-acceptance: even when things feel difficult, there is room for change, healing, and better days ahead.

“I embrace my previous experiences and cherish all of my previous struggles. There is hope. If it’s not pretty at the moment, give it a minute, things do lift,” Solo says.

I Believe is the first release in a larger series of music Solo plans to share over the coming months, making this a welcome return for an artist ready to tell a new chapter of his story. For LGBTQ+ listeners navigating questions of faith, identity, or simply the challenge of learning to love themselves, the song offers a reminder that they deserve to feel at home in who they are.

Watch the music video for I Believe below.

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I Believe by Raph Solo is available on all major music streaming platforms. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Project Publicity. Photo by Michele Martinoli.