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Rachel Taylor Brown has been in the music industry for a while, and seems to be coming into her own. ACED was fortunate enough to have a chat with the singer, talking about everything from favorite television shows, living as a hermit, and advice for aspiring artists.
Out of Portland, Oregon, Rachel Taylor Brown has a sly sense of humor and speaks the truth about her beliefs with conviction without mincing words. These characteristics are things many can take heart in and learn from.
Half Hours with Lower Creatures is Rachel's latest project. She believes that music becomes personal property for those who listen to it. "I've been astounded (and amused) sometimes at how a listener interprets a lyric light years from what I may have meant. But, many times, whatever they heard meant something to them. I wouldn't want to take that away. I know I do it too, with other people's music."
She just wants people to get something out of her music, something that calls to them, expanding their mind with new avenues of possibilities. Rachel correlates music with poetry, "I think good poetry opens that window into your mind. It feels like the top of your head lifting off, your chest expanding. I love it when I discover a writer or artist or filmmaker or musician who does that for me."
When talking about music, her music, Rachel talks about the songs on her album and how she's able to decide which ones make it on a record, "Usually albums sort of decide themselves for me."
She didn't write all the songs on her Creatures album at the same time, but they merged together beautifully to form one cohesive album. "I think the subconscious is mighty because of how songs herd themselves together like that. When I finally see them together as a unit, things click and I connect the dots. They all come from whatever was churning around inside my head during a given period of time, so it makes sense that common themes emerge. But I love that process. It's very natural, but always surprising."
But what about the songs that are left, the ones that don't seem to fit, but were still worth making? "The leftovers -- I have a big backlog of songs and write pretty constantly (knock on wood), so I have a few albums already set in my head that I'm anxious to get to." She's already started recording again a few weeks ago; it seems it's never too soon to continue on with something you love, and Rachel loves her music.
How about something that's been tough to overcome, an obstacle in the music industry that's she's had to go through? The answer is definitely not something one would expect. "Putting together the basic info for my bio and the album for the In Music We Trust (publicist). That was an excruciating process for me. I got my husband and sister and a few close musician friends to help out so that I could feel less like an idiot, going on about myself."
Something else that Rachel's had to work at is how to sing about her beliefs and her vision for her music, while also being tactful and not hurting people's egos. "There are a lot of well-meaning people who probably want the best for you, but just don't get it, or who have way more invested in calling the shots than they have any right to. If you can find those people who understand, respect and complement your vision, you're lucky."
Rachel's been lucky enough, being able to make it in the tough industry of music while still staying grounded. For people wanting to make it in the industry Rachel's in, they have the difficult task of being ‘famous' but also trying to stay down-to-earth. We know it's possible because Rachel still seems to know who she is without going crazy. "If you want to be famous and a star, then I guess go on American Idol, and/or obsessively groom and learn your camera angles. I'm not knocking it. There are people who are cut out for that, and god bless them. They are shiny."
Life in this industry is a double-edged sword, and Rachel elaborates, "If you have something in you that keeps clawing its way out through music or art or dance or writing or film, then I'm sorry for you, and very happy for you. Because if you live with that disease, it will routinely kill you and also life you to the highest highs you'll ever feel." To say music kills and gives you a high all in one sentence is definitely on the extremes, but Rachel doesn't want to dissuade anyone who is aspiring to do more in the field. "This is not to discourage anyone from really going after a career in music. But I think it can be easy to forget the essentials when ambition surges and you're working every angle to be noticed. Your art, your work, can suffer. And the actual music is everything."
Talking about the business end of the music industry she says, "It's a little artsy and trite to say you're not built for that kind of thing (meaning business), but most people in the arts really aren't natural self-promoters. It's kind of hilarious in a tragic way that all these sensitive types who are so incoherent they have to speak through their art or music or dance--all these awkward, incoherent dorks are supposed to become marketing geniuses in order to get seen and heard...
"I know it's the way the world works, but I think we miss out on a tremendous amount of amazing work because most artists are so ill-equipped to sell their art. Usually you're speaking through your song/art/dance/whatever because you aren't so good at expressing yourself other ways."
For Rachel, she's able to express herself in her songs and it's been a blessing in and of itself and she's been on both sides of that double-edged sword. "For a long time I thought no one would hear my music. I was literally a hermit. But writing songs makes me happier than anything, so I wrote. It took me awhile to properly appreciate it, but-that's it. That's the reward. I don't think there's anything better or more deeply satisfying than simply creating something."
Getting to that creating point did take awhile and she's had to adjust a bit. "I'm a DIY/Indie musician and I think I've spent most of my music career avoiding the music industry, not that it's been beating down my door or anything. Most of my energy goes toward writing, arranging and recording my music. I'm not much good at the other stuff. The business side makes me unfortunately very nervous and vomitous."
Rachel's been able to persevere however, and looks toward the future. When asked where she wants to go to do a concert, anywhere in the world, her reply wasn't something expected. "This is so unoriginal, but for some reason I've really been wanting to go to Paris lately. I've never been there. I speak horrible French, and I'm very unfashionable. But it's been sticking in my mind, for some reason. I'd like to plan a European tour before too long." No doubt she'll make it over the pond with a couple hops, making it to France.
Who might she like to take with her on tour? That is, who would she like to collaborate with? This was actually one of the tougher questions. "I'm a terrible one for collaborating. I was always that person who hated being put in small groups to work on a project in school. I'm the person who feels like it's faster and easier to do it myself."
She believes people have called her a control freak in the past but that doesn't seem to faze her. "I've come to realize that's not such a bad thing to be for a songwriter, or anyone with a vision in their head." Of all the possible people, her number one choice is Randy Newman. "I have to trust and respect someone a whole lot to feel like I can work with them." I'm sure she'd do great with Newman.
When she thought back to the first time she was on stage, when she was first starting out, I had to laugh at her comment. "That was awhile ago. I probably was thinking, 'I need to go to the bathroom'. I've always gotten nervous -- had a serious problem with it for awhile."
Rachel stayed persistent and was able to overcome those moments though. "I learned, painfully, that you can perform through it. I think once you get through it and realize you're still alive at the end, it helps the next time and just gets better from there. You just have to go through it, there's no other way. It feels awful, but you won't die. Be prepared for the feeling [of] awful, and don't be alarmed. Just keep going."
Just keep going. That's a good bit of advice that fits in different areas for everyone's lives. She continues musing, "Having a little nervousness is a good thing, I think. It keeps you on your toes. It helps me to remember that Caruso (the famous opera singer) threw up every time before he went on stage..."
Not the loveliest picture in the word to imagine, but she gets her point across. Continuing the conversation with more about touring and how she stays sane, she does something rather interesting. Between concerts, time is in limbo, traveling to different destinations... the scenery always changing. She's the only woman touring so she analyzes all the men! "Here are my findings: no one can geek out on music like two guys with overstuffed iPods. Chris and Arthur (two people she tours with) are the only reasons that I know anything about any current music. They're walking dictionaries of indie music."
When she's not trying to figure out the inner depths of men she likes to write songs and take pictures. She's been fortunate enough to have really great bandmates that she gets along well with. "My bandmates are interesting and absurdly funny. We talk and argue and debate and make stupid jokes and laugh a lot. Periodically, we all get sick of each other and go our separate ways. We eat a lot of Denny's food. Watch Mr. Show. Take care of e-mail."
Taking care of e-mail is extremely normal. Sometimes it's hard for us to realize that singers, actors, musicians, everyone ‘famous' have ‘normal' lives like us too. So what does she like to do on a normal day, or rather, what would she consider to be a perfect day? She loves the beauty and tranquility of Fall; the coolness and crispness in the autumn air.
"No smoke in the air -- just that great smell of the decaying leaves. Good coffee and a crunchy Braeburn apple. An Equal Exchange Mint Chocolate Bar. Many, many nice kitties out to greet me on my walk or bike ride. Electric or bio-diesel cars and no fumes (I'm an air snob. I like breathing. I'm also a hypocrite. I ride my bike or walk most of the time, but I drive a gas-fueled Honda Civic HX). People I love. Good nap on the couch. My piano. Squirrels and birds to watch through the window. Good book. Good television. A good laugh."
Good books and good television? There had to be more on this, and there was. "I really look forward to Battlestar Galactica! We watch that with a few fellow sci-fi geeks (musicians too) at our house. It's become a tradition."
A fellow sci-fi geek! This is great. But what's more, she's well-rounded. She enjoys more than the good sci-fi shows. "I also have a weakness for the community cable access channels in Portland. Sometimes they show these excellent Iranian music videos. But one of my favorite shows involves a guru who 'out-peaces' everyone else in the room. He sits there, unmoving, with a serene smile on his face as nervous followers take turns sitting across from him, spilling their guts and shortcomings. Then he just stares at them and smiles. Looooooooong awkward silences. Nervously fidgeting followers. Eventually, he says something really vague, but verrrrry slowly and with a voice like a diaper or baby shampoo commercial -- sweet. The devotee struggles to look as peaceful and, of course, fails. The guru always wins."
Like was said, Rachel is very well-rounded. It's not often you meet a person who's into Battlestar and awkwardly silent and peaceful gurus. But other than the tele, she loves cozying up with a good book. "As far as reading goes, anything from Kurt Vonnegut or Lynda Barry. Carolyn See. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. Shaun Tan (a beautiful graphic novel - The Arrival). As a sci-fi geek I love Stanislaw Lem and Sheri S. Tepper, especially. Any weird old books at all."
Rachel can read her weird books, watch sci-fi and eat Denny's food, as long as she continues on with her passion of music. Go check out her new album that recently came out, and expect to see a lot more of Rachel Taylor Brown in the future.
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