Unveiling the Magic of Music with Singer-Songwriter Rachel Bochner.
In the bustling world of pop music, where artists strive to make their mark, Rachel Bochner stands out with her unique blend of authenticity and vulnerability. As a singer-songwriter, she has crafted a musical style that defies easy categorization, embracing the freedom to explore different genres while staying true to her emotions and experiences. In this exclusive interview, Rachel shares her journey, inspirations, and the power of connecting with her audience through her music.
Throughout her music career, Rachel has celebrated various achievements, including meeting fans at shows, signing her first record deal, and witnessing people tattooing her lyrics on their bodies. Each interaction with her audience fuels her passion for making meaningful connections through her music.
Rachel draws inspiration from artists like Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, but she also finds creative stimulation in new and emerging talents. Emphasizing the importance of immersing herself in music, Rachel believes that inspiration often comes from embracing the magic of music in its entirety.
As excitement builds for her upcoming EP, “It’s Not Me, It’s U,” Rachel continues to captivate listeners with her authentic and expressive style. With a promising future ahead, she looks forward to touching more lives, forming deeper connections with her audience, and continuing her musical exploration.
Rachel Bochner’s musical journey is a testament to the transformative power of vulnerability and authenticity in the realm of pop music. Her ability to connect with listeners on a personal level and her willingness to explore different musical avenues set her apart as a truly unique and promising artist. With her upcoming EP on the horizon, the world eagerly awaits the next chapter in Rachel’s melodious adventure.
1. As a singer-songwriter, how would you describe your musical style and the themes you explore in your music?
I make pop music, which really means everything and nothing at the same time. Something that I have really valued on my artist journey is the flexibility to lean into what feels good in the moment, as opposed to chasing a certain style or sound all the time. Sometimes, I write straight-up pop songs. Other times, I lean more towards indie pop, pop-rock, or alt-pop. I like to take my songs to a place that feels authentic to me without thinking too much about semantics. No matter where I’m gravitating sonically, I always write about the experiences and emotions that are meaningful to me, whether it’s heartbreak, self-image, identity, being mad at the patriarchy, etc.
2. What inspired you to pursue a music career, and how did you develop your unique musical thumbprint?
I think deep down I always wanted to be an artist, but it wasn’t until I tested the waters of working in the industry that it clicked for me. I interned doing A&R at a record label, and I quickly realized that my passion was for music, but not in that way. I think my musical thumbprint reflects where I was in my life at the time I was creating the project/song in question. I evolve with each project I put out, but they all inform each other and feel like they’re part of the same story, because they are.
3. Your bio mentions turning the trials of navigating your twenties into pop music that anyone can sing along to. Could you elaborate on that and share some specific experiences or emotions that have influenced your songwriting?
Something I’ve learned as I’ve been releasing music is that we all have so much more in common than not. Even when I release a song that feels super personal to me, it will resonate and touch people in ways that feel so incredibly personal to THEM, and I think that’s pretty amazing. I just think this is because we all experience different iterations of the same things – heartbreak… searching for an understanding of ourselves and identities… falling for the wrong person… falling for the right person… struggling with self-image… deciding you’re actually that bitch… Even if I include super random, specific details about something that happened to me, I’m touching on these universal experiences at the core of the song.
4. Vulnerability seems to be an important aspect of your music. How do you approach incorporating vulnerability into your songwriting process?
Sometimes I’m writing straight from experience, other times I’m embellishing my thoughts or feelings, or dreams, and I’ll even write about other people’s experiences sometimes too. Regardless of where I’m pulling from, it’s important and helpful for me to identify what the feeling is that I’m trying to convey. That way, I can pinpoint times that I have felt that emotion to put myself in the world of whatever I’m writing to ensure it translates but also still feels authentic to me. I personally don’t think you need to be 100% autobiographical in your art to make it good, but I do give a little bit of myself to every song I write so that it will always feel authentic to me.
5. Can you talk about any challenges or obstacles you’ve faced as an artist, and how you’ve overcome them?
The biggest thing for me has probably been imposter syndrome. I grew up loving music, but I never mastered an instrument, I didn’t have formal vocal training, and I didn’t go to music school. Deep down I think I probably knew being an artist was what I wanted, but I probably held back from going for it sooner because I just didn’t know if I would be good enough. It’s all part of my specific journey, so I try not to kick myself too much for not starting sooner, but when I look back I’m like, girl, what were you waiting for? It took some time, and I still have to battle through it sometimes, but putting myself out there, writing tons of songs, finding my voice and my sound and learning to trust my creative instincts, surrounding myself with other talented people, especially women – all of these things have helped me come into myself and validate the fact that I AM good enough.
6. What has been the most memorable moment or achievement in your music career so far?
Meeting fans at shows (or even for coffee sometimes) is core memory material, people getting tattoos of my lyrics or our little ghostie mascot, signing my first record deal – I’m excited for what’s still to come.
7. How do you connect with your audience through your music, and what kind of impact do you hope to have on your listeners?
One of the most rewarding parts of releasing music is seeing how people connect and resonate with my lyrics. It’s always really cool to see how many different interpretations of the same song can be made, and I love when they take on new meanings to people. I think we take what we need from music, and no matter the storyline or message I have in mind when I write a song if someone hears it, relates it to their own life experiences and gets some sort of validation or feeling or SOMETHING from it, that’s amazing. I started a Discord last year, and I absolutely love chatting with fans, getting to know them, and talking about my music and music in general. I want to create a space for people to feel accepted and loved, and my little server feels like the start of a really beautiful community.
8. Are there any artists or musicians who have significantly influenced your style or sound? If so, how have they influenced you?
I’ve been a loooong time fan of artists like Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, but I’m also really inspired by the artists that I’m obsessing over at any moment. Right now, for example, it’s Baby Queen, Mallrat, and Chappel Roan. I’ve actually found that I’m the least inspired when I go too long without listening to music. I feel like there’s something really valuable about just enjoying music, putting it on, and letting it sorta osmosis into my body and brain, as ridiculous as that sounds. Of course, sometimes I’m a little burnt out and don’t want to be blasting music all the time, but it’s really important for me to come back to songs and remember that music is so magical.
9. Could you share some details about your songwriting process? How do you typically go about creating a new song and what is the message behind Here For The Drama?
I love writing and creating with other people. When I go into a session, I like to have some idea of what I want to get off my chest that day. I keep a ton of weird notes on my phone of lyric ideas, concepts, song titles, etc. Sometimes I’ll bring in a half-written song that I just want to help fleshing out, and other times I go in with a concept and chaotic excitement about it and write it from the ground up. “Here For The Drama” was a song that was written from the ground up in the session, and the message is pretty simple: life is messy, so we might as well lean in, embrace it, and enjoy the show.
10. What can we expect from you shortly? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or performances that you’re excited about?
My EP, It’s Not Me, It’s U, will be out later this summer… 🙂
The Hollywood Six 