Rachel Grae
I’ve been following Rachel Grae for a while and I always wanted to interview her. I’ve been loving her records, her voice and the honesty she delivers in each one of her songs. A beautiful talent.
Her new song “Do Better” is no exception. Another great record with an empowering message.
Co-written with Rory Adams and Dan Gleyzer, and produced by Adam Yaron, “Do Better” is a self-love anthem.
“Do Better” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: Ryan Simmons
Hi Rachel, how are you? Could you please introduce yourself? What's your story?
Hey, I'm Rachel :) I'm from New Jersey, and make pop music for everyone! Thank you so much for having me <3
When did you start feeling connected to music? When did you know you could sing?
Literally as long as I can remember. My parents told me that I grew up with music playing in our house 24/7, so maybe that has something to do with it? I knew I wanted to be a singer my entire life. It was just a matter of figuring out how to make that dream become reality.
What did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to a lot of pop ballad vocalists such as Adele, Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, Kelly Clarkson, and so many more.
When did you start writing songs?
I started truly writing songs in 2020. It's crazy to think about how recent that really is, but as long as I can remember, I’ve been writing down random lines and singing short melodies – I just didn’t know until 2020 that I was able to turn that into music. I thought everyone heard random melodies in their head until I started asking, laughs.
At what point did you realize music was more than just a hobby? When did you know it was time for you to release your original music?
I knew music was always the most special thing to me… When I listened to music, that was my therapy and escape, as opposed to just talking about my feelings. I started vocal lessons when I was 12, but when I realized I could make music was when I met my manager. He found me because of a cover video I posted on YouTube, and we ended up having a meeting. He asked me 3 questions: “Do you perform? Do you write? Do you play any instruments?” And at the time, all of those answers were no. Right after the meeting, I got my first keyboard and wrote 3 choruses to send to him. I haven’t stopped writing since.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you professionally?
My family and my vocal coach. Honestly, my vocal coach saw the most potential in me and knew when I was 12 that this was going to be the rest of my life. BUT, my parents were the ones to believe in me enough to allow me to pursue this at such a young age… so it’s an even tie.
"Do Better" is your new single - how does it feel like to release this brand new song?
It feels relieving. I knew from the moment I wrote this song that it felt special. It feels like a song that allowed me to step into another power. Going from breakup songs to self love songs felt like a chapter closing and a new one beginning, so this song is a refreshing one to me.
What's the story/inspiration behind "Do Better"? When did you start working on it?
I wrote “Do Better” after having a conversation with a friend of mine who went through a toxic breakup. We were talking about how there are always two narratives told after the split. In this specific scenario, one decided to make up rumors while the other moved on. I felt very connected to the topic and felt like I could relate in a lot of ways, so the song felt really natural to write.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process behind this single? Who helped you create it?
I actually wrote this song a couple months ago with two incredibly talented friends: Rory Adams and Dan Gleyzer. Later in the process, I handed the production over to Adam Yaron who helped this song become what it is. The songwriting came so quickly and naturally in the session because it was fueled with anger and passion. The production was INCREDIBLE in the session with Dan… We took a leap and went in a very folky direction, which we ended up changing a bit afterwards to be a true “Rachel Grae” song. Adam Yaron and I went into the studio together and were really proud of the final direction of the track. I'm so grateful to all three of them for helping me make this song into the one you’re listening to today.
What did you feel when writing/recording this song?
It was such a FUN process in the studio because of the energy in the room and the people I wrote it with. That's my favorite part of the process – bringing a topic into a session with people I love and leaving with a great song.
What's your favorite lyric on "Do Better"?
“You keep doing you and I'll do better.” I actually walked into the session with that one lyric and we wrote the song around it. It's such a powerful line and feels like the definition of moving on and allowing things to play out as they need to.
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
I want people to feel freedom and power. To me, this is a self-love anthem that everyone should sing along with when they need it most. I want everyone to feel like they never have to defend a version of themselves that someone else made up in rumor form. We're better than that.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
Ryan Simmons, an incredibly talented creative and photographer, had a vision for this song the second I showed it to him. Reading a newspaper article about “the drama” surrounding yourself and burning it at the same time. It highlights the feeling of letting go and not caring what others think or have to say. I fully trusted his vision, and I'm so happy that I did.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The best part is giving people the therapy and closure they need from my music. I love allowing people to feel things and being the person to vocalize it for them when they don't know how to say it themselves. For me, the hardest part about being an artist is balancing my work life and personal life. I have slowly made an effort to find other hobbies and make more time for the people I love. Sometimes I'm so focused that I forget to look up at everything around me.
What are your thoughts on today's social media? How does it impact your music career?
I love social media. It has helped me connect to so many people around the world, and for that I'm SO grateful. I also love having another outlet to be creative. It's so cool being able to frame your music in a way for everyone to see. On the other hand, I hate the beauty standards and hateful communities that have been created on social media. People tend to have more (too much) confidence behind a phone screen, and I've seen it hurt too many people. I hope I can make social media feel a little more welcoming when someone visits my pages.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
I listen to a bunch of random music! A lot of country, storytelling pop, etc. But, I have also been listening to a lot of 90s music and that's been inspiring a new sound that you will hear soon :) I think I needed to step away from what everyone else was doing for a bit to really find my authentic sound. I can't wait for everyone to hear what I have in store.
What message do you want to deliver to anyone struggling with their mental health?
Feeling every emotion is normal and okay. You need the lows in order to appreciate the highs. Remember, everyone is trying to navigate this crazy life all at once. You have the wheel and steer the boat, and that's a BEAUTIFUL thing. We all struggle… you are never alone, and even though it may not feel like it at the moment, I promise time heals all. Get to know yourself and what you love, and then go and surround yourself with that.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Talking to strangers. Getting to know people's lives more instead of judging immediately. There are too many societal stereotypes that turn people against each other. Just spread love… It goes such a long way, and you don't know how many lives you can change by simply doing just that.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Live YOUR life, chase YOUR dreams… Live outside of your comfort zone. That's the best way to grow.
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