How has growing up in New Zealand influenced your music and creativity?

I love this question. I’m a big believer in the fact that we’re formed by where we come from. 

I grew up going on lots of family road trips and I distinctly remember staring out the window for hours at the changing scenery, and feeling my first melodies taking shape. My first fully-formed song was written in the backseat when I was nine and I think I’ve always been inspired by the landscape around me. In a similar vein, we have some beautiful coastland in Aotearoa and I was lucky enough to grow up near the beach. Spending a lot of time by the sea 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.

Can you share the story behind your latest release? What inspired it?

Wasted / Our Time is a two track project and my first release as an artist which is so exciting. I like to think of it with a nostalgic A-side/B-side spin - each track offers a different perspective on the story, like two sides of the same coin. Wasted comes out of a quiet season following burnout. I had to take some time out to get back on my feet and it was deeply frustrating because there were so many things I wanted to do and I felt like I couldn’t take active steps towards them. It still makes me smile that the first song I put out speaks to the frustration of not being able to do so. But it was a really beautiful time. With life stripped back, there was a disentangling of my sense of self from productivity and the way my life looked from the outside. I became less concerned with myself and the shape of my life, and more able to delight in the beauty of it all as it was. Sharing Wasted has been such a wondrous thing, but the journey that gave way to writing it was even more significant. I wrote Our Time just after I’d been in the studio with Wasted and immediately knew it was a continuation of the story. Wasted is about loosening your grip on your longings to honour where you are, and then Our Time captures what it feels like when those dreams might actually be beginning. 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 it’s so brave to hope for more. Our Time makes the acknowledgement of those desires feel triumphant and empowering, rather than something to shy away from.

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s hearing your music for the first time?

I would say it’s 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. My writing tends to strike a balance between being aching and hopeful, dreamy and honest, which I like to mirror in the production.

What’s your typical songwriting process like? Do you have any rituals or routines?

It varies all the time! I’ll often land on a lyric and melody at the same time and then wander around figuring out where it wants to go from there. Other times I’ll sit down at the piano or with my guitar and riff around until I find a chord progression that seems to capture the mood and begin with that. I find my ideas are most fluid after I’ve had a couple of spacious, quiet days, where the sediment of life has really had a chance to settle. Sometimes I’ll read a book or watch a film that really strikes me and when I sit down to write, I’ll end up stepping into the world of those characters.

Who are your biggest musical influences, both locally and internationally?

We’re so lucky to have so many incredible artists here in Aotearoa. There were a lot of inspiring women making music as I was growing up that have shaped me and really paved the path forward. I think of Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Brooke Fraser - brilliant storytellers who beautifully weave their experience of the world into song. I’m also really blown away by Alayna and Georgia Lines. They both have the most beautiful approach to their artistry, to collaboration, and their way of being in the world in general. Utterly lovely humans. Going a bit further afield, I’m hugely 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.

What challenges have you faced as a female artist in the music industry, and how have you navigated them?

I feel as if I’m just at the beginning of my journey as a female artist but, so far, it’s been tricky not to think you have to create content exactly the same way as those around you. It’s easy to see other female artists killing it with their Instagram content and thinking you’ve got to replicate that exactly. There are certain formats and trends that seem to do really well and there can be this pressure to take those up, even if they don’t resonate with you. I’ve really enjoyed figuring out how I’m most wanting to tell the story, and build a visual world around that. I’m learning to be led by what feels more ‘Rachel’. If an outdoor garden gig feels more my vibe then that’s great and I should go with that!

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

I’m really learning that it’s about the little, intimate moments on the journey. I hosted a release party the night before Wasted dropped with a small group of close family and friends. Most of them had never heard one of my songs with full production and there was this magical moment as the song started. The lounge was packed to the brim and a hush suddenly fell over the room. Some people had their eyes closed, others were tearing up, and the feeling of the song just filled the place. I’d never experienced anything like that before.

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re especially excited about?

Absolutely. Without giving too much away, there’s a particular project I’m hoping to put out in 2025. I’ve always wanted to explore making a body of work so stepping into that process really excites me. Playing live is also a big focus going into next year. I can’t wait to get in a room with people and experience these songs together!

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I hope anyone who hears my music feels it connects with their own story. It’s important to me to give language and sound to the strangeness, heartache, and beauty of being in the world. I would hope that these songs extend beyond me and become companions for others to hold.