Reasons for Seasons, Beach Walk Voice Notes, and Feeling Deeply: An Interview with Rachel Louise
All photos provided by Rachel from her EPK.
Recently, I got an email from the wonderful Rachel Louise, letting me know that she has (and is) releasing some music and I quickly found myself drawn to the energy that she holds and the music that she effortlessly makes. I knew immediately that Rachel was someone that had to be interviewed for Welcome to the Gig, so, here is one of the loveliest interviews that you will ever read!
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Hi Rachel! Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down for an email chat! I am absolutely loving your debut track, Wasted, and I hear you have another side to it, Our Time, coming out shortly. You have a very soothing voice that can only be described as like being on a cloud. Are you able to tell readers more about how these songs came about, and how they perfectly fit together?
Rachel: Of course! Thank you for having me! And that is so kind.
Around the time I was in the studio with Wasted, I ended up writing Our Time and had this fizzy moment of realisation that Wasted had a B-side - the story kept going!
Wasted came out of a quiet season as I was making my way back from burnout. I had all these songs in me without the resources to get them out into the world and it was deeply frustrating. But that time of rest actually became really significant. With life stripped back, there was a disentangling of my sense of self from productivity and the way my life looked from the outside. My urgency to put out work lessened and I started writing for the pure love of it. The irony isn’t lost on me that the first song I shared was born out of a time that felt impossible. I’ve learned the music we make is a gift, but what happens within us during the process is an even greater one.
Wasted is about loosening your grip on your longings to honour where you are, and then Our Time does a bit of a 180. It captures the feeling of mild disbelief and wild hope when it seems those dreams might actually come to pass. Funnily enough, the release process has felt a lot like that. I think we often hesitate to admit we really want something - that we long to love, or go all-in as an artist. Because it means admitting we actually care and it opens us up to disappointment. But Our Time makes the acknowledgement of those desires feel triumphant and empowering, rather than something to shy away from.
The beginning of those dreams would never have arrived were it not for the still season. Wasted / Our Time is about holding things in balance. It’s about realising you haven’t wasted your time at all; embracing exactly where you find yourself while daring to hope for more.
You’re fresh to the New Zealand music scene, so I wanted to say congratulations for starting your journey and welcome! How are you finding navigating the scene?
Rachel: Thank you! I’m loving the journey so far. We’re so fortunate with the music community we have in Aotearoa and I’ve been blown away by the support and encouragement that’s come my way. I’ve honestly just loved getting to know other creatives and forming some really solid friendships. Making music can feel a bit isolating at times but my favourite moments have been when I’ve shared the journey with others - whether we’re collaborating, debriefing life, or just catching up in the kitchen over lunch.
On your website, it says that you can often be found wandering the beach, a great pastime. How does the beach help you, and does it help inspire your songwriting in any way?
Rachel: Oh my goodness, what a great question! I was actually just reflecting on this with a friend the other day! I was lucky enough to grow up by the beach and I’ve noticed spending so much time near the waves has formed quite a rhythmic nature in me. I often land on melodies as I’m moving - whether I’m driving or on a walk - and I love to dance, so I think a lot about the movement of what I’m making. Being able to see the horizon growing up also felt quite expansive for me which is a feeling I often notice in my music. I find the beach such a grounding place and it never fails to clear my head. It’s pretty rare for me to finish a beach walk without dashing back to the car to record a voice note idea.
I guess, this kind of relates to the previous question a little bit, however, if you ever feel a bit swept away by the world, how are you able to bring yourself down and get back to being centred?
Rachel: This is something I’ve worked on quite a bit. As someone who feels deeply, I can often feel quite overwhelmed by the world around me. It’s been important for me to learn when to lean into my emotions, and when to engage my more rational side. I also find I need to spend a decent amount of time outside to feel more human. Going on walks, or even pulling up under a tree with a picnic blanket and my journal or a good book does wonders. I’ve also recently gotten into gardening! I found the process of the first release pretty full-on and, at times, a little detached, as so much of it happens online. It was the most grounding thing to get into the garden at the end of the day with my flatmate, tear out some weeds, and plant fresh seeds.
For those who have not yet heard your fantastic music, what can you share that may encourage readers of Welcome to the Gig to jump on Spotify, or other platforms, to listen to your authentic music?
Rachel: A big part of why I make music is to give language and sound to the strangeness, heartache, and beauty of being in the world. I hope these songs extend beyond me, and that anyone who hears my music feels it connects with their own story.
You can expect a lush blend of soft pop and warm, organic elements - dreamy in places and more hard-hitting in others, with a bit of a cinematic quality. I’m especially inspired by artists like Novo Amor, Bon Iver, Oh Wonder, and Lizzy McAlpine so I hope my work carries a little glimmer of their influence.
For you, what are both the best, and worst parts of sharing your music?
Rachel: There are so many best parts! One I’ve especially loved has been when people have mentioned resonating with a particular moment in a song. I’ve had a few friends ask me about certain lyrics and it’s been so moving to hear how it’s connected with their journey. It’s an honour to give voice to those experiences and it’s paved the way for some really beautiful conversations.
I mentioned not especially loving the whole online thing (and I’m sure I’m not alone in that!). But I’ve been taking it as an opportunity to enjoy building a visual world around the songs, thinking of it as an extension of the storytelling. I’ve affectionately called my mailing list ‘Love Notes’, touching upon my love of words, handwritten letters, and my romantic tendencies, which feels a lot more fun!
Music is a universally spoken language and I think it’s important that we all get to experience different aspects of it throughout our lives. How has music shaped, and changed you into the person that you currently are?
Rachel: Oh, in so many ways. Music is a very intimate art form. When you approach a painting, it’s something outside of you. But when we listen to music, we somehow take it inside of ourselves; we feel it in our bones, and it forms us in certain ways.
I think music has made me more open to the world. There are certain songs that have kept me soft when it might’ve been easier to become hardened by heartache. I think music keeps me hopeful. The fact that some of us feel a need to make music despite all the turmoil around us is something beautiful in our humanity. It’s more necessary than we often realise.
One of my favourite questions to ask (and a big go-to) is if you could liken your music to a place, or a country, where would you choose, and why?
Rachel: Oh I love this question too! Songs always feel like their own little worlds to me so it makes so much sense to liken them to a place. My whole aesthetic is hugely inspired by Pre-Raphaelite painting and poetry (my inner art history nerd making an appearance there) so I see my music as a dreamy, spring-time garden for people to wander through. It’s golden hour, with light filtering through the trees, and fresh blooms abound!
Personally, I love getting to know musicians beyond the music with interviews, so tell me a little bit more about you so that readers can get to know you as a person slightly better!
Rachel: I drink copious amounts of green tea. I’m an incredibly sentimental and nostalgic person. I love secondhand bookshops. I once watched Sleepless in Seattle twice in a 24 hour period. My ancestors come from Scotland and Northern England and my third great grand-uncle made beautiful engravings of the landscape around Fife. I love a good weekend market. And twinkle lights never fail to lift my mood.
You mentioned you lived in London for a season in one of our emails, do you think you will eventually head back? What aspects of London are you missing the most?
Rachel: I would love to head back at some point! That was such a special season of my life; stepping out on my own, and discovering the essential parts of me that stay the same no matter where I am. It surprised me how much it all felt like home. I love to think of London as a collection of small villages and it’s such a delight to find your own favourite pockets. Mainly, I miss the people. I have family just south of London and I made some incredible friends there that I still talk to all the time. I’m hoping to make it over to see them again soon. Who knows, perhaps music will take me back there!
I’d like to say thank you so much Rachel for your time, and for your honest, moving music! Would you like to add anything else to conclude this interview?
Rachel: Just a massive mihi to you, Ashlea. We’re so incredibly lucky to have someone like you so invested in music from Aotearoa, supporting independent artists, and asking such beautiful, poignant questions. It’s a rare and astonishing thing to feel seen over email! Arohanui!
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Make sure you keep up with Rachel at the below links: