Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Maxann.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Everything music-wise for me would have to start with my family in Cincinnati, Ohio. My parents are musicians in their own right, my father plays bass and my mother sings and plays piano, and they wanted us to be musical at an early age. Though we all took piano lessons, I leaned more toward singing and later on guitar. From then on, it’s been an off-and-on love affair, striving to balance music with school, work, travel, and everything in between. I’ve been lucky in so many ways, that in almost all stages of my life music has been integral.
Everywhere I go, I have deeply influenced by the musical culture of the area. I lived in North Carolina, where I grew a healthy appreciation for country music, in New Orleans of course second line and jazz, and in Los Angeles Pop and EDM. In the years, I was working on cruise ships, I discovered I could entertain people by myself for hours, something that before I had thought I would need a band for.
By the time I arrived in Memphis, I was ready for the sounds I had cultivated to weave a tapestry of my own genre. I was, and am, extremely blessed to be welcomed by an amazing group of musicians that have had their influence on my style as well. Everything from here on out I would definitely say is a uniquely Memphis sound.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, I would say the biggest challenge for myself and many musicians is finding a way to balance the pursuit of music with the struggle to pay the bills. I currently have a Master’s Degree in Psychology, along with a ridiculously large student loan debt. I have had to work this whole time, even while gigging, even while touring, I’ve always had to have a reliable source of income. I have no regrets about pursuing my education, I just wish it wasn’t SO expensive.
On a personal level, it can be very difficult to be creative when struggling with mental health issues. Though sometimes my depression would inspire me to write, the follow-through seemed like an impossible task. I find that many of my artistic friends struggle with a similar challenge.
To them, I always say, do what you love and try not to focus on the outcome. I say that to myself often. Even if it never pays the bills, I know I’ll always be a musician… though it’d be nice if it did.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I’m currently working on my next album so it will hopefully be ready by the time I go on my small tour with Valerie June this Spring. I’m playing a few shows here and there both with a band and solo, but when winter hits I usually dedicate myself to recording and practicing. I’m also taking some time to write. I’ve had a few songs on the back burner that I would love to finish and put out into the world. As for my work, as a singer-songwriter, I would describe my style as Vintage Indie-Rock and Post-Modern Folklore. I’ll try anything twice, especially when it comes to music, I try to be versatile. I really do love all types of music, and I think that shows when I perform. In the same show, you’ll hear country influences, blues influences, rock influences, and maybe even some musical theatre. I don’t feel like art should have boundaries, so why should I?
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I think it’s important to take risks in art. No matter what business you’re in, there is a formula that works and you know it works because you see it all over media. The crazy/wonderful thing is that it takes one person to break the previous formula to create the new formula which everyone follows until the next formula is found. A recent example might be Billie Eilish.
She came through with this soft-spoken, goth-like, dance music when it was popular for young girls to show skin and sing pop. Now there are a million like her. I’m sure someone new will create a new style and so on and so on. Someone’s gotta be the first though, and that’s risky. My risks have been breaking away from groups to pursue my own music.
Sometimes that involved moving across the country, but more often it meant pursuing the music I wanted to write instead of going along with what others wanted. Sometimes friends/relationships were broken from it. At the time, I thought I’d lost something, but really I was making room to be more of myself.
Contact Info:
- Email: rachelmaxannhb@gmail.com
- Website: www.Rachelmaxann.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelmaxannmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rachelmaxann
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/rachelmaxann
- Other: https://rachelmaxann.bandcamp.com/
