supersonic
Artist Information
Biography
My love of cowboy culture and Americana probably started in the lounge room of my childhood home as I sat in front of an Akai turntable totally absorbed and transported by the gunslinger ballads on my father's Frankie Lane and Marty Robbins records. Also tucked in that modest record collection, were my mothers’ John Denver and Anne Murray "Best- Of" albums. Music that left a big impression.
I played clarinet as a kid in the local concert band, with my little brother who played a tuba that was bigger than he was. Being part of creating that big dramatic sound - the delicate pianissimos building to explosive kettle drum finales, was often so powerful to me I fought back tears as I played. But like so many kids, study and work and falling in love meant the clarinet, and music, was put aside.
Many many years later, the sense that music was calling never abated. Finally, when all the excuses ran out, I took up guitar with a "now or never" attitude.
It was exciting and surprising to me that before I could strum properly or play more than a few chords, I began "composing" songs. Those early songs attracted some interest so I pressed on, worked hard at the instrument and made my first recording, an EP called "Long Distance" in 2009, with the help of Blue Mountains producer Rohan Mansley. Of the six original songs, one was shortlisted in the Australian Songwriters’ Association Songwriting Competition of 2009. Another song, "Boab Tree" (written in 2010) has since been recognised by the WA Poetry Festival in the lyric writing section.
Over the years certain artists have made me literally stop in my tracks and marvel at their craft... Pink Floyd, Billy Bragg, Nick Cave, R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Australia's Paul Kelly and John Williamson. At the moment I'm in awe of the skill of songwriters like Woody Guthrie, John Prine and Gillian Welch.
Instrumentation
Depending on the event and venue, Rachel can perform either solo (accompanying herself on acoustic guitar) or with an additional guitarist, banjo, dobro, etc
Discography
An EP produced last year called "Long Distance" features 6 original tracks. The Ep has received airplay on KRRM Cream of Country in Southern Oregon."Hell for Leather" had over 100 requests via phone and email to the station. In Australia, tracks are receiving airplay on Community radio stations, Radio Fremantle, WA, AIR FM in NSW, Wow FM, Sydney plus various internet stations and Django.
Links
Photo Gallery
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Rachel, Kurrajong Hills
Download print quality (high-res) version -
b&w sky farm
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RachMySpace
Press
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Trad and Now Magazine Review of Rachel Dillon's CD, by John Williams
[+ Show ]
In the June/July 2009 edition of Trad and Now Magazine, Reviewer John Williams wrote, “Rachel Dill...
Setlist
A mix of originals and covers.
Any combination of set lengths can be accommodated to total up to two hours.
My typical repertoire includes originals as well as folk, country, americana and bluegrass covers.
Current set could include any of the following:
ORIGINALS
Hell for leather
Life moves on
Today is not that day
Iguana Skin Boots
Cemetary Bend
Kentucky Miner's Song
Boab tree
West of the Great Divide
Laurie and Margaret
Staying in tonight
Feet of clay
Cruel
No place like home
My imagination
Surround me with trees
Goodbye goodluck goodnight
Never tell another lie
COVERS
Michaelangelo (Emmylou Harris)
Red dirt girl (Emmylou Harris)
No one knows my name (Gillian Welch)
Orphan Girl (Gillian Welch)
Everything has changed (Gillian Welch)
Look at Miss Ohio (Gillian Welch)
Dear Someone (Gillian Welch)
One little song (Gillian Welch)
Long Black Veil (Wilkin & Dill)
Folsom prison blues (Johnny Cash)
I still miss someone (Roy and Johnny Cash)
Angel of Montgomery (John Prine)
Hello in there (John Prine)
Sunday Morning coming down (Kristofferson)
L&N don’t stop here anymore (Jean Ritchie)
7 Miles to Wichita (Carrie Hassler)
Now I’m easy (Eric Bogle)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Wagon wheel (Dylan/OCMS)
You aint going nowhere (Dylan)
It aint me babe (Dylan)
Gathering storm (Paul Kelly)
Everything’s turning to white (Paul Kelly)
Hickory wind (Gram Parsons)
Drag Queens and Limousines (Mary Gauthier)
Nullabor song (Kasey Chambers)
Wildflower (Kasey Chambers)
I still pray (Kasey Chambers)
Dusty boxcar wall (Eilen Jewel)
In the end (Eilen Jewel)
Rich Man’s world (Eilen Jewel)
If you catch me stealing (trad)
Freight train (Fred Eaglesmith)
Leaving on a jet plane (John Denver)
This old guitar (John Denver)
Sunshine on my shoulders (John Denver)
Landslide (Stevie Nicks)
Losin’ my blues tonight (Slim Dusty)
Crow on the Cradle (Sydney Carter)
Bellfast Mill (trad)
Hard Times (Stephen Foster)
Gentle on my mind (John Hartford)
Snowbird (Ann Murray)
Diamantina drover (Redgum)
Tennessee Waltz (Stewart & King)
This mountain (Steve Earle)
