What people are saying about Rachel Borovik
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“Rachel uses her voice the way that an artist uses his brush. With it, she creates new worlds and co...“Rachel uses her voice the way that an artist uses his brush. With it, she creates new worlds and colors that stir the heart and the imagination."
-Panos Panay (founder/CEO of Sonicbids)
"Borovik, who released her debut record last month at this world-renowned jazz club, is part 50’s lounge singer and part R&B radio starlet, with some neo-soul to wash it down."
-Berklee Groove
"Rachel Borovik is a gift to anybody within earshot. I knew from the first time she sang in my radio studio that she was the real deal. She is a song stylist and writer in the classic mold, yet she sings in colors never seen before. Brilliant!"
-Ron Jolly (WTCM radio)
"New vocalists and musicians appear constantly, but uniquely talented professionals with a fresh approach to their music are hard to find. Rachel Borovik is one of those breaths of fresh air who’s making her mark in the music world. It’s like she’s telling a story, complete with the emotion, that transports her listeners to their soul."
-Cheryl Landes (Marketing and Travel Writer)
"Rachel Borovik is a very talented and dedicated young musician. Jazz needs her. "
-Sheila Jordan (Jazz singer & Songwriter)
"Rachel excels at songwriting. She possesses a very organic and mature approach to crafting enduring melodies and engaging lyrics. Rachel's knowledge of jazz theory and her innate pop sensibility give her the skills that enable her to create pop-oriented music with depth of purpose and meaning while appealing to a broad audience. Add to that Rachel's soulful vocal interpretations and the result is a very high quality and engaging style of music that feels at once unique and familiar. In addition to her hard earned talent for singing and writing memorable songs, Rachel is one of the hardest working people in the business. She absolutely makes the best of every opportunity her hard work brings her!"
-Jeff Haas (musician, composer, educator, public radio show host)
"Rachel Borovik took the stage second, performing Middle Ground with her band behind her. She showed off a great vocal range and writing skills. Just nineteen years old, Rachel has a bright future ahead of her, considering that she has already recorded live sessions for National Public Radio and performed with famed jazz pianist Bob James."
-Gerrit Hagen (Women's Musician Network)WTCM radio)
ALBUM REVIEW
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If you stroll by Wally’s on Massachusetts Avenue and hear original music coming out of the doorway i...If you stroll by Wally’s on Massachusetts Avenue and hear original music coming out of the doorway instead of “Giant Steps”, you might be lucky enough to hear the jazzy-cool stylings of Rachel Borovik. Borovik, who released her debut record last month at this world-renowned jazz club, is part 50’s lounge singer and part R&B radio starlet, with some neo-soul to wash it down.
Untangled, Rachel Borovik’s first full-length offering to the world, is a strong album. On the surface it harkens back to the female songstresses of the 90s like Linda Perry, Joan Osborne, or even early Sheryl Crow with feel-good hooks and poise. But when you listen a little closer, a modern jazz nouveau edge is revealed, not unlike Corinne Bailey Rae or Alicia Keys.
The beef of the instrumentation comes from Tom Kain’s tasteful keys, Rhodes, and organ playing. He leaves space, embellishes the dynamic with subtle textures, and knows when to let it all hang out. Mark Hadley’s guitar playing follows suit. His picking and strumming are always in service of the songs, but he lets it rip when necessary, adding a nasty solo to “Unsatisfied.” Meanwhile, bassist Bryan Percivall and drummer Ricardo White lay down grooves that would make both Norah Jones and Prince quite pleased.
Riding on top of the solid instrumentals, Rachel’s voice is the face of the sound. She’s not afraid to lay down some old school scatting, such as in the opening bars of “Middle Ground.”
The album’s standout track is “How To Be A Woman.” The vocals shine as the age-old story of Adam and Eve is funked out and re-harmonized to the ear’s delight.
Untangled came to life at Flying Dutchman Studio. The production has a touch of edgy R&B flavor, which comes as no surprise, as it was produced by Owen Ross of Re-Up. Mixed by Berklee faculty Rich Mendelson and mastered by former Berklee professor Tom Carr, the sound has a radio-ready sheen that is crucial for a young artist starting out.
“My plans for future are to be able to support myself doing what I love most: connecting with others through music,” Borovik says. “I am open to wherever being able to do that takes me.”
At 20 years old, Rachel Borovik is taking her music very seriously; you should too.
For more on Rachel Borovik and her upcoming shows, visit her website: www.myspace.com/rachelboro. Catch her Friday July 2 at Cafe Luna, Cambridge.
Creative Spotlights Interview
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Rachel Borovik-singer/songwriter interview
1.What inspired your passion for music and who has bee...Rachel Borovik-singer/songwriter interview
1.What inspired your passion for music and who has been there supporting you from the beginning?
For me music and songwriting in particular have always been my outlet. I am lucky in that I am a very fortunate person, but we all experience pain, loss, and heartbreak. I have always felt very effected by other people’s emotions and deeply connected to my own. Sometimes that can be overwhelming, especially when you are young and don’t know what to do with all that emotion. Music inspires me to connect with myself and to be a better person. It is my goal to do the same for others through my connection with music and the people I share it with. I’m very grateful for my outlet and my mother, who is my number one groupie.
2. How do you feel about people downloading music rather then buying physical copies?
If people are listening and connecting with my music I’m a happy girl. I guess it just means musicians will have to be more creative in finding other ways to support themselves with their art, like being fantastic and interesting live performers.
3.How do you feel about the music industry today?
Hmm. I think it’s an interesting and exciting time to be involved in the music industry. Artists and listeners have access to SO much music and technology, which has its advantages and disadvantages. I think there is a lot of amazing music out there and a lot of stuff that I don’t personally connect with. That being said, I believe there is a reason for everyone’s success and just because I don’t care for something does not make it good or bad to others. I try and keep an open mind to every aspect of the industry, take in what I like and leave what I don’t care for.
4.Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Ou. I see myself with a lot more journals full of experiences and men problems. I love men. I see myself connecting with more and more people of all ages, genders, races, religions, and personalities. I see myself playing and creating with more and more musicians, traveling, eating delicious and ethnic foods. I really just want to walk down the street and hear someone humming my song. I think that is when I will feel successful. Right now my focus is on creating an album that really captures who I am and my growth as an artist. I don’t feel I have yet to make a recording that really embodies who I am and what I am trying to say. I look forward to finding the right producer and sharing who I am with the world!
5. Do you think singer/songwriters are the best interpreters of their own work or do you believe some cover versions can be better then the original?
Oh I love hearing people’s interpretations of songs! I think that is the ultimate compliment to a songwriter, to have someone want to sing/play your song. So to answer your question, it just depends, sometimes yes sometimes no.
6.Who have you always dreamt of working with and why? How would you go about accomplishing this?
So many people, I love collaborating! I’ve always dreamed of being on Oprah actually. I think because I used to come home from school and my mom would be watching Oprah. Oprah has made so many people’s dreams come true and it has always been a secret fantasy of mine to be invited on the Oprah Winfrey show, but her show is no longer running so I’m going to have to be real creative with accomplishing this one.
7.As you are starting out your career in the music industry what steps do you plan on taking to reach your goal?
My Uncle Mike once told me “Rachel, there is no such thing as luck. Luck is where opportunity and preparation meet.” I think that sums up my approach to reaching my goals. I work very hard and I love what I do very much. I’m just going to keep running into doors until I find one that opens, and by running into doors I mean creating opportunities for myself: recording an album that fully represents what I am capable of, touring, meeting people, collaborating, writing, building a fan base, getting my music placed on film and television, all of that good stuff.
No matter how hard it gets, I don’t have it in me to ever give up something I love this much.
8.Have you found that as you are starting out your career in the music industry there are aspects that have taken you completely by surprise. If so, what are they?
You know I haven’t been too surprised by anything. I have always known that the path I have chosen is going to be difficult and I am going to have to do most of the paving myself. You run into all kinds of people in any industry, but I suppose the Entertainment industry attracts a real…eclectic bunch, especially being a young female in the industry. I’ve got some stories but I’ll just leave it at that for now.
9. What is the greatest thing about working in the music industry? And what would you change if you had the opportunity?
There are so many reasons why I love what I do. I think my favorite thing about music is that it is limitless. I will never feel like I have accomplished all that I want to with music because there is always something new to discover. Every single time I go into the studio, perform, write, or have a rehearsal, I learn something profound. Music is the best boyfriend I have ever had. I could never be bored with our relationship and as we all know that’s not always the case with relationships.
If I could change one thing, I guess I would try and make the industry more about the music and have it only consist of people that are honest and have good intentions. One thing I have learned, especially in moving to Los Angeles (which I just did 2 weeks ago) is that getting opportunities don’t always have to do with talent, there are a lot of other factors. Most industries are driven by money and the music industry is no exception. Sometimes it’s hard to look at your art like a business and I think this turns a lot of amazing musicians bitter, but I don’t want to turn bitter.
10.If you could have asked anyone for advice when you were starting out. Who would you have liked to ask?
What would be your answer now?
I’ve always asked a lot of questions. In fact my teachers used to call my mom and complain that I was constantly “questioning authority,” but I’m really just a curious girl that questions everything. I still do and I think it’s important to ask questions but the thing is you don’t really understand the answer to a question unless you’ve experienced it yourself. For a long time, I thought I could write songs and feel through other people without having to experience it myself. I thought I could avoid pain and heartbreak and all that but you can’t avoid it and nor do I want to avoid it because it’s through discomfort that we grow. I guess I would tell myself now, “you’ll find the answers as you go along Rachel and don’t worry so much. Live in the present moment.” I try and tell myself this everyday but with my personality it is very easy to loose sight of.
11.From your experience in the entertainment industry what advice could you offer people looking to get where you are today?
Find your voice, and when I say voice I’m not just talking to singers. Really spend time with yourself and your instrument and think about what it is you have to share with the world. Once you find the answer to that, never give up. Give the people you until they demand it.
12. What courses/classes would you recommend someone take if they want to be a professional in the music industry?
Knowledge is power. I would say take as many classes as you want/ can afford on every aspect of the industry BUT those classes aren’t worth a penny if you don’t create opportunities for yourself, apply what you learn, and experience life.
13.How many years were you fighting to get to where you are today and what was that time in your life like?
I’m pretty sure I came out kicking, so 21 years.
14.From your experience so far, what have you found to be most challenging? And how are you dealing with it?
Balance, balance, balance! I think creative people are a little crazy to begin with and then we enter this world that feeds and encourages our craziness and ya it really doesn’t surprise me that so many entertainment people and politicians go crazy. It’s really hard to lead a balanced life when you’re an addictive and passionate person. How do I deal with it? I surround myself with good people, do yoga, and eat pickles.
15.Share with us your proudest moment in your career so far?
It was very recently, at my home CD release party in Traverse City, Michigan. I had just had my heart broken a couple days before this big performance I had been gearing up for. It was a sold out show at a great venue, and I was very flattered and proud to have all of that support from my home town. I was on stage singing my first heartbreak song, “You Don’t Belong In My Tomorrows” and I allowed myself to be completely open, more open then I have ever been with anyone, and I started crying while I was singing. I looked out in the audience and I locked eyes with this girl that I had never met and she was crying also. I could feel that she was going through a similar experience as me. I will never forget that moment, because it was in that moment of allowing myself to be completely comfortable with my discomfort that I felt set free and ever since I have found that I relate with people on a much deeper level than I ever have. Ok, if Oprah reads this she’s totally inviting me on the show because this is some intense Power of Now shit right here, but in all seriousness I do mean and believe in sitting with our pain so that we can be better people and contribute to goodness. That is an important message that is underlying in most of my songs and who I stand for as an artist.
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