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Talking with Rachel Platten
Interview by RJ Williams
I first heard her voice on the Mama’s Boy Goes Digital album; she sang on the track Love and I could barely wait to listen to her whole repertoire.
Rachel’s music has been described by cdbaby.com as “a little funk, a little rock, and a heaping dose of blue eyed soul.” When you visit her profile, right away you have to acknowledge that she is the real thing. It is not only the songs, it’s her presence–the combination is electric! She is not singing only for the entertainment factor, she owns every lyric. Rachel forces the listener to hang on till the very end. She is the girl next door, the girl in sweats, who could just as easily be at home “babysitting for her boyfriend (nieces and nephews),” while nursing a cold.
As profile pics go, you are greeted by a young woman who is obviously beautiful; strawberry blond hair frames a welcoming face and there’s a smile... a smile that’s disarming. It goes without saying that Rachel Platten is an exceptional singer/songwriter and pianist. But there is so much more. Her LP, Trust in Me, released in 2004, was a bestseller on cdbaby.comfor nine months straight.
For the first couple of minutes, I let her ask the questions. She was curious about AET. I explained our mission statement, and let Rachel conduct a small interview of her own. It was all pretty casual, I did not mind. The tone of her voice was pleasant, and talking to her was like talking to a friend that I hadn’t heard from in a while; it was very familiar. I read that her father had hoped that she’d be a banker. She obviously chose otherwise but I atill wanted to know how easy it had been to do otherwise. To pursue her dreams.
“Follow your heart, no matter what. If you are in a field, or job that doesn’t fulfill you, you aren’t going to be the best version of yourself and you’ll be ineffective... So take the leap, listen to what’s inside. There’s a reason that drive is inside us, and though listening to the voice can be scary, it is so important! I was terrified to tell my parents that I wasn’t going to be using my bachelor’s degree (directly anyway), but now they fully support me, and really love coming to concerts and hearing new songs.”
In the music business, dedication is a must, at least if you’re hoping to get anywhere. Balancing your personal life with the realities and the demands of writing, performing, and recording is essential for success.
“I wake up and I write, no matter what (how I feel, how tired I am, etc). I write for at least 45 minutes every morning. Then I try to fit in exercise, any meetings, the business side of the music, and any promotion stuff I am working on for the day. I practice piano and voice for about three hours, write a bit more, and usually record in the evenings 3 times a week. I love yoga, too, so I either run or do yoga class every day. I think staying physically fit is really important for my mental state...and writing always comes easier when I’m taking care of my body.”
When you hear the track Good Girl, you’re hit by lyrics such as, “I’ve been a good girl for too long, and it’s too late to be somebody else. I’ve been waiting for something, for someone to stand for what I am.” It is hard to disagree, because in essence, isn’t that what we all hope for, to be accepted for who we are? But, soon thereafter, you hear Addiction, with lyrics like, “Yesterday, I went a little crazy; I went out of my head. She was there in your bed. It should have been me instead.” You’re left wondering if the words are being inspired by some personal experience.
“Thank you so much! I did really mean those words (the lyrics in Good Girl). I felt a little bit trapped a couple years ago, I wasn’t really expressing myself, and I needed not be afraid to be myself, imperfections and all. I used to only draw inspiration from real experiences, so that my songs were fully confessionals. But recently, I’ve been trying to write more creatively, and take little pictures of other people’s lives and write about them. I love imagining a story about someone, seeing how they dress, how they feel, where they come from, etc., and creating mini stories about their lives. I’ve been listening so much to the Beatles and Belle & Sebastian lately, and I’ve been inspired by how they write little stories about random people. I didn’t realize it until a week ago, but the songs I’m writing for my next album are drawing heavily from the Sgt. Peppers type vignettes.”
It is a harsh reality to be sure, but more and more the general populace manages to infringe into the life of an artist–almost demanding that they become role models, as if there were some outspoken rule for an artist to project a specific image. Though some artists may rebel against this controlling element, others are more accepting.
“Wow....I really hope I have the honor to inspire people, and hopefully be a role model (though that seems a bit self-aggrandizing to admit). I do care, and I do think artists have a responsibility to be as honest as possible. I don’t know if I think we all have to be perfect saints. Sometimes, it's artists’ mistakes and craziness that makes art so powerful....but I think it is important for us to at least be honest...because that’s the only way to create real, lasting art. I know when I’m in my own head too much and when I’m being honest, there’s a big difference in my performance. When I take my own ego out of the picture and just make it about the moment, the music, the connection with the audience is much deeper when you're being authentic.”
It is said that the giving of one’s self can be a most fulfilling experience. More often than not, this act creating in the giver a sense of deep fulfillment. But, with so many charities out there, the question as to how an artist should go about giving merits consideration. Musicians On Call is a charity that brings music to a patient’s bedside. Rachel had been a participant with the organization and I was interested to know a little more about her involvement with the program.
“I did some research a year ago, I knew I wanted to get involved with a charity and give back in some way, but I wasn’t sure how to find one that spoke to me... I can’t remember who recommended it, but I remember getting a feeling in my stomach, (which I rely on a lot—that gut instinct is pretty right-on most of the time) and I knew I'd found the one I was supposed to work with. Musicians On Call is an amazing organization!”
Sad to say, many who begin the process of giving or participating with a measure of enthusiasm in the end lose their zeal. I was curious to hear firsthand of her involvement with the program, and how the experience had affected her outlook on a personal level.
“It has truly made me realize how much of a gift music is. Seeing firsthand how a patient is comforted and how the songs I write can change some-one's mood... It’s amazing! Anytime I start to let my ego take over, I know this will change my state of mind, and bring me back to the important stuff. Not everyone wants to hear music, so we always ask first, and if the patient agrees, I wheel (literally wheel) ha, ha, ha, my piano into the room and play a song for them. It’s an incredible thing to be able to see firsthand how your music affects people.“
But how does one balance the commitment of giving to charity with rehearsal, recording, and touring?
“I try to do one every other week, but I’ve been away a bit. I’ve only gotten to do one in the past three weeks. I’ve also gotten involved with their television program. The TV show that broadcasts directly to every child’s bed. I like it, but not as much as singing in a patients room because on the show, I don’t get to see their reactions.”
When you give of yourself willingly, without ulterior motives or expectations, the experience is rewarding on many levels. More often than not the rewards are immeasurable. I asked Rachel to share with me what blessings she had received from the experience.
“This is a great question. I can’t even explain what a blessing it is to be able to give back like this.... I’ve learned to cherish each day that I wake up, and to appreciate my health, and generally just be thankful for the little things a bit more. Also, I feel like I’m able to access songs with much more ease when I give back and re-adjust my intentions. In other words, if my goal of singing and writing songs is to truly help other people with the music, and not just to get ‘famous’ or get attention or better myself, it's a much more real, honest message, and as corny as it sounds, I think the universe responds better to less selfish requests.”
Clearly, with such a great personality, beauty, talent, and a business sense, Rachel Platten is going places. It’s only a matter of time. So, in the near future, five years from now, where does she see herself? Would she be disappointed if things remained as they are today?
“Great question again. I hope to grow, as a writer, singer, piano player, performer and I do hope to be further along in my career, helping more people, inspiring...etc. RJ, I’m not quite done with this one, it’s gonna take some thinking... I’ll get back to you!”
So, in conclusion, what can I tell you about Rachel Platten that you don’t already know, that couldn’t be learned by simply googling her name, visiting her profile, or listening to her soundtracks and losing yourself in her music? I can tell you that she isn’t just a pretty face; she writes strong memorable lyrics, and she will leave you humming her tunes for days. I can tell you that she has a laugh that will instinctively make you want to do the same, that she has a smile that even from a photograph would melt Freddy Krueger’s heart, and that she will enchant you.
Find Rachel Platten, the girl with the "sunshine for a smile," at http://www.myspace.com/rachelplattenband