Dynamic Artist Interview | NYC | Rachel Brown | 12.4.11

MERCURY LOUNGE NYC | Writer + Photographer: Katie Henry

Rachel Brown is a singer/songwriter born and raised in New York City. Her music fuses pop, Caribbean, Hawaiian, country, hip-hop and world sounds into a captivating groove. When accompanied by her talented African musicians, her Bermudian and Ethiopian culture truly shines.

For those of you who don’t know Rachel Brown, I highly recommend you take the time to get to know her and her music. Especially since the cold weather is slowly approaching here in NY. Kick off your shoes, press play and close your eyes — you’ll warm up in no time.

I recently got to sit down with Rachel before her latest show at the Mercury Lounge and talk to her about what’s been going on and what we can expect from her in the future.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So you’re a Harvard grad and Caribbean-infused singer/songwriter. Do you write all of your own music?

RACHEL BROWN: Yes, and I also do covers.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Oh yeah, what covers do you do?

RACHEL BROWN: Usually T-Pain or something in the hip-hop realm. That is generally what I gravitate to.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Is that on the list for tonight?

RACHEL BROWN: No T-Pain, but something like that.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: At what point did you decide or realize that you wanted to be a musician? Has this been a life-long dream?

RACHEL BROWN: I was always into different types of art: painting, silk screening, anything I could learn how to do, I always would learn and dabble in it for a bit, and then find something new. So it wasn’t until after high school, when I took a year off before college (Harvard), that I bought a guitar and started learning by reading Guitar for Dummies and just taught myself. Music really stuck out more than any other art expression. Looking back, when I was little, I would write little songs and dream about it (becoming a singer), but more in a lofty kid, dream type of way…it wasn’t until much later that I actually really tried writing and totally fell in love with the whole process.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: One of the most interesting things I’ve read about you is that, in this short career of yours, you’ve had the chance to open for artists such as: Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Quincy Jones and John Legend. What was that like?

RACHEL BROWN: It was weird in a good way and it was like “What am I doing here?” It was really fun! They were two separate concerts. The Robin Thicke and Mary J. show in Bermuda was the best, because I was still in school barely even doing open mics at that point, and I went from the Starbucks open mic to something like that — it was completely crazy.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: How did they find you?

RACHEL BROWN: Well I am half Bermudian-Bermuda is very small so…

I interrupted here to tell her that my brother is getting married there in May and that she should come and play the wedding…she agreed, “I am definitely available to be in Bermuda in May.” So Rachel I’m holding you to it!

RACHEL BROWN: So yeah, I have a lot of family and friends in Bermuda, and I played at an open mic down there when we were visiting. We found out about this place called Chewsticks, which is basically this open jam session which has grown into so much more. It’s a community space that’s fun and cool. I played a jam session there, and then that spiraled into me playing another one at the Encore Festival, and then things just sort of built up from there. When you meet enough people on a tiny island, the connections are all around you, and each of those connections build off the other.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: That’s crazy how it all works like that. I also read that you did a duet with Wyclef?

RACHEL BROWN: Yeah that was another “What am I doing here?” moment. Playing with one of my music idols, while singing another musical idol’s song (Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”) made me think, “is this real life?”

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Was this a Bermudian connection or did he find you another way?

RACHEL BROWN: In a way it was, because I played in the Bermuda Music Festival, and he was on the bill for that too. We played on separate nights, and I met him while I was there. He didn’t see me play though, because he left before I performed. But like six months later, he was doing a charity event that a friend of mine was involved with and he somehow got a hold of my DVD from Bermuda. So he actually saw the set…and he loved it! We actually sat at the same table during the event, and he said he was a fan of my music. I was like,“What are you talking about?!” Wyclef was also performing that night and asked me if I knew “Redemption Song,” by Bob Marley. I said “Yes, of course,” then that lead him to ask,“Will you sing it with me?” At that point, I couldn’t say no, as terrified as I was, and that turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So would you say that is one of the highlights of your career?

RACHEL BROWN: For sure. I mean, in many ways because it was just a really cool thing. If anybody had the opportunity to do it, it would be a highlight, you know. Also it was a week after I graduated from college and I was jumping into this total unknown world — it was nuts to go straight into playing music with someone I really admired and who was willing to just take a gamble on me. We never rehearsed. He just brought me up on stage and that was the first and only time we ever sang that song. It meant a lot in so many ways.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: How did it sound?

RACHEL BROWN: It sounded really good, and I actually have no memory of it. It was like I was on auto pilot: I got up on stage; I sang and I have no recollection of it. Luckily we have video from that night, but it’s almost like it never happened (she says laughing).

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So you’ve already collaborated with Wyclef. Are there any other musicians you would like to work with?

RACHEL BROWN: How could I be so bold as to ask for more after that?! I really like Jason Mraz, I actually just saw him live last week at Carnegie Hall, which was cool. It’s a really cool venue to see a pop artist in, and it was an acoustic set. I really like him, I admire his songwriting, and he also brings in interesting world elements to his music. Bruno Mars — I really like him. He does a lot of reggae stuff on his album. I’d really be happy to collaborate with anyone…T- Pain too!

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Someone asked me to compare you to another artist, and the first thing that came to mind was that you were a female version of Jack Johnson.

RACHEL BROWN: I like Jack Johnson a lot; that would be super fun.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: You’re releasing a new album soon?! Tell us about it.

RACHEL BROWN: Yeah, working on it. An EP or an album, or an EP then an album or just an album, one of the two. There will be definitely be an album, ha!

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So what can we expect from that?

RACHEL BROWN: Super fun songs! The only thing I have out right now is three songs, “Bumblebee,” “Diamond in the Rough” and “Lullaby.” I love them, but it doesn’t really show the full realm of what we are doing now. It doesn’t have the interesting instruments that we showcase. So the new album will have more of those elements. Feel good, good times music!

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Yeah, you could launch it at my brothers wedding!

RACHEL BROWN: Yeah, a wedding-album release party, sounds awesome.

THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Last question before you hit the stage: what is it about everything that’s going on right now that inspires you?

RACHEL BROWN: Well, it all starts from writing. I wouldn’t be here at all if I weren’t writing songs, so that is where my love is. And writing is also my release. Whenever I’m super stressed, whatever it’s about, that’s how I deal with it — I write songs. That where it starts from I guess…I am pretty reserved in life, I mean I’m not shy, but I use songs as a way to express myself. So that totally inspires me, and having new material to share is like getting to have a brand new conversation with somebody. So that’s what gets me really pumped to play live, especially when I have something new. It’s this cycle. If I have a new show coming up, I want to write, and when I write something, I really want to play. Also, hearing good music, whether it’s good or bad, hearing live music, new music and whether I like it or not, as long as there is heart it makes me want to go out and do it too!

What I liked most about Rachel is that she seems genuine. She’s appreciative of all the amazing things happening in her life right now. You don’t see that too often in the industry. On to the show…

After a sweet opening act, Rachel Brown took the stage, and I was a fan from the start. Before that night I had only heard a song or two, but consider me a fan, a big fan. She played “Bumblebee,” which we later found out she wrote for two friends who were getting married and happened to be in the audience as well, so it gave special meaning to the evening. She wasn’t joking either when she said she loves doing hip-hop cover songs. The first of two was the David Guetta/Usher collaboration, “Without You.” I was left with no words. The cover was awesome because of her beautiful voice, and I would choose her version over the original any day of the week. Clearly, so would others as she won Perez Hilton’s “Can YOU sing?” cover competition with this exact song. Girl has got skills.

She went on to play an unreleased track that will be on her album, “Four Leaf Clover” and “Waiting on You.” What’s great about her band is that they provide an island, reggae, hip-hop, world sound to each one of her songs. Closing out the night, she left us with another sick cover song, “Ignition” by R. Kelly. Now I know why she didn’t want to tell me what covers she was performing; the shock factor was on point. She left us with a simple quote…“We just thuggin it out”

Meeting Rachel was an incredible way to end the weekend. Her story is inspiring, her positive energy contagious and her talent endless. She is living proof that if you follow your heart and work hard at your craft, great things will happen.

You can find Rachel online here and follow her on Twitter here. And if that’s not enough for you, take a look below to see Rachel performing, “Bumblebee” live that night: