Rachel Smith

Rachel is a poet and a prophet. Listen to any of her work- at first you hear hooks, you hear catchy tunes, interesting phrasing. Then you think about what you're hearing, and you realize she is talking about something that most people don't know how to discuss. She's talking about war. About guilt. She's asking what love is supposed to look like when everyone is tired of trying. It almost feels like you've been tricked into feeling something.

Rachel's style has taken its shape over the past ten years. Now a twenty three year old woman living in Orlando, Florida, she has become quite a fiery songstress, gracious with her words. She grew up in rural parts of central Louisiana, first dusting off her mom's 1970s Yamaha acoustic when she was eleven years old. She began writing immediately, and recorded her first rough originals at fourteen. These songs were born from an early tension Rachel felt between her religious upbringing and a mind constantly wondering about those who didn't see God the way she did.

By sixteen, Rachel and her family had moved to Orlando, and she had self-released a seven song collection that is ("fortunately," she says) no longer in print.

In early 2008, she recorded and released her first five track EP entitled "Songs Made for Listening." These songs are deeply introspective, born in very transitional, unstable times in her life- a move to Orlando, then one to Tampa, FL, where she attended the University of South Florida.

2010 brought much change, when Rachel recorded another five track EP, "All of Me," with Jeff Owen, who is a member of the hugely popular CCM band "Tenth Avenue North." With this she took a spin in the CCM world, taking time to play several stops with Tenth Avenue that Fall. As a Christian artist, Rachel's music still maintained that quality of uneasiness, doubt, vulnerability that has been embraced by so many who hear her music.

Now in 2012, Rachel has notebooks and computer folders full of countless songs she has completed. She is a songwriter at heart more than anything. She continues to write constantly, releasing new songs via BandCamp, NoiseTrade, YouTube, etc. She plays regularly in her hometown of Orlando, collaborating with other local artists, while also playing shows in other parts of the Sunshine State.