rakey
Following her latest single “The Ghost I Know”, Nashville-based artist rakey is now revealing her poignant single titled “Olympian”.
The rock/alternative record is is about men in power who abuse their influence. “Social esteem, privilege, and skill can excuse many sins. ‘Olympian’ was written out of an overflow of anger; a response to a personal experience with manipulation & a reflection on a larger political and cultural phenomenon: that some men can access god-like status. This power absolves them of consequences while their victims are dismissed”, she explains. The empowering single is dedicated to anyone who have been harmed by powerful people. It’s okay to stand up and tell your story.
“Olympian” is important and it is now available everywhere. Thank you so much rakey for writing/releasing this song.
Learn more about the song by reading our conversation below !
Photo credit: Sam Miller
Hi rakey, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. How are you? What's your story?
Yeah!! Thanks so much for wanting to hear about my music. I am good today. Lots of reflection and organizing going on with the new year. I guess in short, my story is that I have been writing music since I was little, but what that looks like as an artist has shapeshifted a few times over my life. And now I am creating more space for music to be energizing and free from pressure.
What did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to an iPod shuffle that had my older brother’s limewire catelog on it. So that library ranged from Panic! at the disco, to Hellogoodbye, to Taylor Swift, to Imogen Heap, and a brit pop band called McFly. When I started getting into my own taste, it was Aly and AJ, Stacie Orrico, and then, of course, the debut Taylor Swift album.
When did you know you could sing?
I was in church productions and did local musical theater, so it was part of my life from pretty early. But I remember starting to get encouragement and attention when I began doing open mic nights at fifteen or sixteen. Grownups would stop me while I was packing up my guitar to say something kind and the whole car ride home, I would be on cloud nine.
When did you know music was more than just a hobby? What/who gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music?
It’s so perfect that you ask that question. In this season of my life, I have been in the process of rewriting what it means to have a hobby. Music currently is a hobby for me in the sense that I am not pursuing it as a career at present and it’s something I do for fun in my free time. But I have also decided that I still want to share what I make with others, and that’s been a really freeing thing for me.
The first people who gave me confidence to release my songs were my parents. I’d bring my guitar into the living room after writing a song and they’d turn off the TV or put down what they were working on just to hear what I’d come up with. As an adult, I see just how kind that attention and excitement was. They helped me record music and take trips to nashville as a teenager, and I don’t take that lightly.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you professionally?
Like I mentioned, my parents were the first to support me making music, and my dad is absolutely the first to see me doing music in a more serious way and encourage that. He helped set up meetings with other ~industry people~ who were the first non-family to encourage my artistry and songwriting. I also had a manager named Chris Roach who helped me navigate music in my late teens.
"Olympian" is your new single - what's the inspiration/story behind this song?
Olympian is the word I picked to represent someone who is exceptionally skilled at what they do, and it becomes their measure of success regardless of the skeletons in their closet or people they’ve hurt. I have a private list of about 6 men in the public eye and in private circles who have allegations of abuse, yet they’re known for their merits, not their dishonor. In short, “Olympian” is about men in power who abuse their influence. And this systemic oppression can be seen in so many realms — political, religious, personal, professional.
Could you describe us the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it?
I did all the songwriting alone for this song. Benja Schick is my partner (literally, as my husband) and in music. He hears my songs as I write them and produces. I feel so lucky to have his talent in the mix and his support for me.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I wrote this song after going to a rally on my university campus to push for an external audit of Title IX policies and processes that had failed a number of female students. It angered me. It’s personal, too. I wrote a few lines of “Olympian,” the next day, but didn’t finish it til later.
What's your favorite lyric on "Olympian"?
“Your reputation watching from the sidelines” is in verse one. It’s a personification of reputation as a character in stories of mishandled abuse. To own up to mistakes is to sacrifice that reputation, and so this character watches with scrutiny for its best interests at all times.
What do you like the most about this song?
I like that it gives me a voice. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like sharing the exact personal reasons I relate to this song, but it’s a way to channel the anger I feel for my own story and towards our current culture in the U.S.
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel?
The message is a call to listen to victims and to hold character above charm, skill, or success. I really hope that women and people who have been harmed can listen to this song and feel that their anger is welcome and their story matters.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
I think the hardest part is transitioning from something imaginary to something real. When your plans become concrete, a bit of possibility dies. The opposite side is that the best part is the creation to me. The time just after writing a song and imagining the ways it could go. Making the first demo and hearing it take shape. It feels like anything could happen.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I hope this is okay, but I don’t feel qualified to talk much about the industry because my music is something that exists outside of the full-time career space. I think those who are putting their sweat and heart into that full-time are very brave. What I would change is VERY simple. I want buying albums and songs on itunes or other platforms to become a trend again haha. Or obviously I would change streaming payouts. Just to like a reasonable amount. Like 1 cent/stream? 0.1 cent/stream? That’s gotta be possible.
What does songwriting make you feel?
Songwriting makes me feel most in touch with myself. It’s the purest form for me of self-care. To really listen to what is forming and circulating inside with enough compassion to write it down and get it right.
Photo credit: Sam Miller
What biggest life lessons have you learned in 2023?
The past year was somewhat lonely. That’s not sexy to talk about (laughs). But it really taught me that people make life meaningful. The solitude of being with my husband in our first year of marriage was also sweet, but I think we both learned that honest relationships aren’t as much a luxury as a necessity.
What are your goals for 2024?
The only goal I have for this year is to be present. It’s very simple to say “be where you are,” but it’s pretty hard for me to do. I want to grow more of that.
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