Biography
Drawing on her folk, country, and rock musical influences, Rachel Lee Walsh creates songs that are beautiful and soothing because of her voice and melodies, yet powerful and moving due to the compelling stories within her lyrics. With just her guitar and a soulful voice, she delivers encouraging songs about her own life and the world around her. The variety of interesting characters in her lyrics can be heard in such songs as "She's Not Waiting" written about a NYC bike messenger who serves as an inspiration for living fearlessly, to "Elizabeth Dawn" where she writes from the voice of a young girl figuring out what family she can depend on. She even throws in a love song occasionally, as in "Please Come to Brooklyn". She is influenced by American Songwriters such as Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Lucinda Williams.
After years of playing guitar and singing in various bands in New York City, Rachel stepped into the front with her own writing as a solo singer and songwriter in 2001. In addition to the cultural influences that living in New York half her life has had on her work, you will hear some of the musical influences she gained from growing up in the South. She sometimes shares the stage with her back-up band, which has been known to include such instruments as violin, drums, electric guitar, upright bass, and pedal steel.
Rachel attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and also Hunter College in New York City where she received her degree in Music Performance. She has just released an EP entitled "She's Not Waiting". The 3 songs on the EP are guitar and vocal versions of songs she intends to include on her upcoming 10 song full-length CD with her complete band. She was recently featured on a podcast interview with HeyBrooklyn.com and her song "She's Not Waiting" is currently being played on WomensRadio.com.
Instrumentation
Can perform solo, as duo, or with full band. Solo shows are just Rachel and her acoustic guitar. Other members can add electric guitar, pedal steel, violin, and upright bass.
Discography
2004 Self-released solo EP, "Peasant Stock and Trash"
2009 Self-released solo EP,
"She's Not Waiting"
Links
| http://www.rachelleewalsh.com |
| Rachel Lee Walsh on Twitter |
| Rachel Lee Walsh on MySpace |
| Rachel Lee Walsh on YouTube |