INTERVIEW: Rachel Angel’s Exuberant Nostalgia and Liberation
Voted best songwriter of 2021 by Miami New Times, Rachel Angel’s music straddles the elusive line between alternative country, folk, and rock— taking the listener on a wild journey through the muck of pain & disillusionment, the winding path of the hero’s journey, and ultimately to a place of self enlightenment.
A Miami native, Rachel Angel, rebellious in nature, and unsatisfied with the status quo, ditched the flashy ease of the tropics in search of something authentic and real, finding herself on the coasts of the San Francisco Bay, later on to New York City playing and touring in bands while working at a popular music venue, and ultimately to Valencia, Spain to continue her studies. Personal roadblocks obscured the way: embattled by emotional and spiritual hardships, she reckoned with inner demons, teaching her the importance of seeking home and equilibrium within herself. Through changing landscapes and behind moving windows, she began to see the value of the tried and true saying, “wherever you go, there you are.”
“Closer to Myself,” recorded in Philadelphia at Miner Street Recordings and featuring members of The War on Drugs, is a woozy, nostalgic experience with contemporary sharpness. The song is exuberant, with Angel’s enchanting voice inviting us to join her in the freedom of letting to the things and people who weight us down.
Explain the title of your album.
The title of my upcoming album (out 9/9) is Midnite Heart Attack which is also the name of the first song on the record. A “Midnite Heart Attack” is the anxiety that wakes you up at night gasping for air. It’s the turning point in the road where you have to face yourself or die. The song is at the root of what inspired the record for without this breaking point, I could not have transformed my life and had the spiritual impetus to write these songs.
Tell us about the first song you wrote.
The first song I ever wrote was called “Take Me Home” and is about being lost and wanting to go home. There isn’t anything remarkable about it except weirdly, 100s of songs later, I am still writing about searching for a home.
Tell us about your favorite show you’ve ever played.
There isn’t one in particular but a few experiences that were small, intimate, and special. I used to throw house shows at my apartment in Brooklyn in 2016/2017 following the 2016 election. It was my way of building radical community, love and support in a time of great uncertainty. People would cram into my living room and share their music and art for a silent and still audience. Without the stage separating audience and artist, you felt one with the whole experience and were completely immersed in the present moment.
Another time this happened was when an outdoor show of mine got rained out in Miami. We had such high expectations for this show. Some people left, but other gathered under a small hut near the bar. We performed a stripped down set for eager listeners and though the show wasn’t what we had expected, in a way it is what we needed.
What’s the best way a fan can support you?
Following me on Spotify, subscribing to my YouTube channel, sharing and playlisting my music, and buying merch and records.
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
Opening for Wilco
Rachel Angel — Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
This interview originally appeared on Americana blog Adobe & Teardrops
