When I first started playing out in NYC, I frequented the open mic at Caffe Vivaldi in the West Village. I remember being awed by the talent that congregated in this beautiful venue and being incredibly nervous to actually play for the first time. I happened to sit at a table across from two lovely ladies who I was about to see play. One was the incredible Mary Jennings (more on this artist later), and the other was Rachel Epp. Both of them floored me when they played, which made it all the more rewarding when they commented positively on my songs and began to welcome me into their circle of friends. That feeling of welcome really helped me find the confidence to keep putting myself out there.
I remember that Rachel played her song "Beautiful Like This." This is one of those songs that you hear for the first time and it changes your life. I was stunned by the beautiful melody and lyrics but more so by the deep emotional connection and flawlessness of the voice that delivered them. There is a purity when Rachel sings that lets the listener right in to the heart of the song. I remember thinking that the song may be one of the best songs I had ever heard. To this day, it is still one of my favorite songs.
Our friendship grew, as did my appreciation for her as an artist. I began to attend singer/songwriter sessions at Mary's apartment with Rachel and others from the Vivaldi open mic, and I really felt like I had found a supportive artist community in New York. I also had found a wealth of inspiration from these fellow artists.
Rachel has just released her new EP "Rosary," which can be found on iTunes. From start to finish, this album is inspired. With her flawless voice that spins melodies as smooth as silk, and the breathtaking arrangements of her brilliant writing, "Rosary" manages to transcend genre and create its own space in the musical continuum.
From the first note of "Ghost in the Graveyard," Rachel hooks in the listener to a tale of youth and the first tinges of reality that bring about the loss of innocence. Set to the backdrop of the popular children's game, the carelessness of being a child is juxtaposed with the first inclings of love and loss. This focus sets up the theme of the songs to follow. In essence, the EP is an examination of a woman's journey to adulthood through the lens of love and loss.
"East of the River," picks up the thread by examining the feeling of being isolated in the city and the realization that the distance that separates people is not only geographic. The guitar work and production on this song is extra sweet and reinforces the longing that permeates this track.
"Virginia" is one of those epic songs that somehow captures a whole moment in time and extrapolates the meaning of life out of it. I was seriously addicted to this song for a few months, listening to it on repeat to try and glean another facet of this incredible song. At its heart, "Virginia" is about going home and realizing that it can never be the same as it was before you left. This is reinforced by the fact that she is returning home to say goodbye to a dying relative, which solidifies the fact that there is no going back. Only the slow progression of time is left and the memories of the way that it used to be. This song will grab your heart and leave you with nostalgia for your own lost memories.
"Beautiful Like This" is one of my favorite songs of all time. This simple yet emotionally deep song about leaving and knowing that there is no going back once the moment it passed is universal and a perfect song to follow and reinforce "Virginia."
"Are you taking a picture? Are you taking this all in? Cause it could be the last time that it looks like this."
If only we could always be as present in our lives as this song is. The way she paints the moment is in a way the picture that she sings about, which forever captures it in this beautiful imagery.
Transcendent. Emotional. Beautiful.
"Wasted" rounds up the album as a seemingly more wise and weathered woman deals with an emotionally unavailable man and tries desperately to reach him. In the end, she is now seeking a partner who can match her presence and experience.
"Rosary" is an amazing debut for this gifted artist and amazing woman. In life, she oozes a calm strength and beauty the is contagious and her music is just an extension of this. From the writing, to the production, to the incredible performances, "Rosary" is sure to leave a lasting impression on any listener and help them discover their own inner beauty.
Buy it here
Find her here
