Other Info. Email:
rachelbrandt@rachelbrandtonline.com
Influences
Life, Love and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne,
James Taylor, Paul Simon, The Beatles, Bob Dylan,
Fleetwood Mac, BB King, The Rolling Stones, Elton John,
Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Elvis,
Jeff Buckley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King,
Ella Fitzgerald, The Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash,
Billie Holiday, Bonnie Rait, Billy Joel, Keith Jarret, John Coltrane,
Miles Davis, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, Norah Jones,
Sarah McLachlan, Corinne Bailey Rae, Common,
Adam Duritz, Sublime, Gavin DeGraw, Bob Marley,
Steely Dan, Teitur, CatPower, The Beach Boys, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, John Legend, Jamie Cullum, and my guitar playing dad and piano playing mom.
Sounds Like
"You always have to be in a state of becoming." -Bob Dylan-
"She calls her music “bluesy piano pop.” Everyone else calls her music fantastic. Greatness isn't always present in pop music but when a musician is as artistically conscious as Brandt is, it's inevitable that greatness will surface in the songwriting – and the performance. Brandt is a well-rounded artist who knows how to craft songs that are catchy while at the same time maintaining compositional integrity, writing and playing from a very personal place rather than spitting out a derivative reflection of what's going on around her in the scene. Brandt's music is pop-conscious yet rooted in strong music theory. Her works are evocative, hooky, absorbing and user-friendly all at once.
History
The roots of Brandt's unique music lie in her early teen years and, oddly enough, in classical flavors. “When I was 13,” she shares, “I wrote a classical piece of music. Soon after that I pulled my pages of poetry out from under my bed and put lyrics in the pop songs I'd started writing.” It's a revealing statement that unveils the reason her pop songwriting is infused with such richness and lush compositional structuring. “I got a few songs together and had my sister sit by the piano and listen to a concert.” Yesterday, her audience was a solitary family member. Today it is a burgeoning devoted fan base. Tomorrow, the whole world may be under the sway of this mesmerizing talent.
Inspiration
Artists of all types are frequently asked, “Where do you get your inspiration?” And most artists will readily supply an answer. For Brandt, the answer is not so easy. “It's hard to answer questions like this because I don't like to get pigeonholed.” Again, her words are revealing because they demonstrate at least part of the source of her originality – a refusal to abide by artificial creative parameters. Her dedication to this artistic ethic pays off in strong, distinctive songwriting and a captivating performance style.
At Work
Brandt has announced the commencement of the recording stage of a full-length CD, which will stand as a testament to the musical powers of this rising star. “I'm very excited that I've just started recording,” she declares. When not recording, she's busy writing new material to later find its way into the recording studio. Brandt has worked with A&R Select, the hottest indie A&R firm in Hollywood, CA."
Press
“Brandt is a stunning talent whose songs defy conventional wisdom yet somehow embrace us all.” - A&R Select
"[How Are We Gonna Live] features a great melody line and emotive lyrics. She's got a wonderful sultry voice that makes you want to live inside of it for a while, and her performance was entrancing. -S. Eric Ketzer, Stripped Sessions
Did i ever pat your head when i was your boss? Probably :) Yep, I'm still in Maplewood, and yep we need to head down to Foley's to do some Irish Car Bombs!!!
Hey Rachel,
We'd love for you to join us next Wednesday at the Gramophone
Afromotive (from Asheville, NC) bring their uptempo afrofunk dance music to St. Louis
Hey! Hope you can make it to the hottest event during St. Louis Pride Fest weekend—ULTRA! This is going to be THE party of Pride and takes place Saturday June 27 on the patio of Novak’s. Featuring hot beats by DJ Sinamin and DJ Jen HA!, cool drinks and the sexiest crowd of LGBTs, this is a can’t-miss. This event WILL sell out so get your tickets online now. For more info and tickets, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/67358. See you there!
Thank you for the add. Your music is breathtakingly beautiful and soulful. I hope to take some photos of you live sometime if that's OK with you. Love and light, ~john aka Harkstone
