 Courtesy: Baby Robot Media Singer-songwriter Sara Rachele is gearing up to release her new full-length, April Fool, on November 10th. The project is nine tracks of atmospheric indie-Americana propelled by sparse instrumentation and Rachele's haunting Southern croon, mixing originals and renditions of classic songs including John Lilly's "April Fool" and The Beatles' "If I Fell." Here, Rachele talks about her musical mentors, songwriting, and more in the Essential 8. Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you? For sure, I’ve got a couple… My music is semi-autobiographical, so there’s an element of whatever phase I’m at in my own life, and in my tunes. I look to a few trusted folks for guidance all the time, but I try and go with my instincts, no matter what. Melissa Ferrick has made a big impact—She’s really ridden through this industry with a grace and honesty that I think is inspirational to any writer, regardless of gender. She’s got an authority about her work, which I look at with great admiration. Also, Butch [Walker]—he’s got swagger and a hometown charm that you can just hear in his tunes. And his songwriting—I love it when I hear a song, look it up, and find out it’s his…..The way his melody rides on a set of chords, and all the harmony. I look to him for that, but I’m still working on the being effortlessly cool part. With "If I Fell", what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? When Johnny and I worked with “If I Fell,” the Beatles cover, we really wanted it to be simple, and not overdone. We went with that as framework for the record, and just got through the tune. It’s just such a well-written song that we didn’t have to do much besides do our best at playing it. What’s the story behind your album’s title? “April Fool” is a Johny Lilly tune, and I made it the title track for this record. Lilly’s song really epitomized where I was at in Nashville at the time. I heard the song around a campfire, and it gave me groundwork for the way some of the music came to me in Nashville when I was living there. That was the sentiment—evocative and sweet, lilting over a fire and into my lap. That’s how we got around to naming the album, April Fool. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
The wreckage of my relationships, generally speaking. (My relationship with people, nature, political figures, substances, etc.) When/where do you do your best writing? Bathtub. In the morning, with bubbles (preferably). Just got a new Martin that’s not technically waterproof, but doesn’t know it yet. Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? Songs are really about the muse for me—If I’m joyful or hurt or sad or confused. I go to an instrument, and I think. A lot of writers do that. I go to my pen, my book, my napkin, or whatever… If there’s a piano around, that used to be the way I did it. Generally, I write from my own world, or the world that I see. I try to observe the best I can. I’m waiting for my album of fire breathing dragons and unicorns to happen, but until then, I’m gonna write from my experience, what folks tell me about, and do the best I can to get through life with that. What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? "Are you a creator or not?" - Livingston Taylor. There's a lot of talk about work out there. I'd prefer to have most of my thoughts in recorded form... You know? In efforts of not ending up a pile of unpublished, half-finished moments. That's it. Create. Create, or risk living a life of “what ifs.” What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Really examine your motivations. If you will die, like actually die without making music, then you’ll be in for an unfortunate ride, if this is what’s actually made for you. If you can do anything else—maybe do that. For more information Website Purchase
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