Rebecca Minor

I was humming melodies before I could talk.  At age 4 I climbed onto the bench of our old upright piano and played a song that was currently playing on the radio.  Thus began many years of musical training in piano, violin, voice.  As I am a supreme ham, any spare time was spent in theatrical productions, dance classes, and the occasional costumed performance given in my house, starring my best friend and me.  I can only pray that certain camcorder cassettes are never converted to DVDs.

I started taking voice lessons with a woman who insisted I have a classical foundation, and I ended up falling in love with the repertoire, and pursued opera in college and beyond for my first few years in NYC.  Life in the city was tough, and I found myself suddenly writing angsty songs at the piano.  My compositions had, up to that point, included only a pianistic musing and a Mozart-ian lullaby.  Apparently, I was now writing as a sheer coping mechanism for the extreme highs and lows of urban life.  I'd zone in on an issue until I had woven it into a musical web, and often this led me to a breakthrough.  (I wrote some happy songs too!)  After a couple of years I had two albums worth of songs, which only family and roommates had laid ears on.  I finally braved an open mic, and was genuinely surprised at the enthusiasm shown by complete strangers.  These people men and women of all ages and backgrounds - were identifying with these intimately specific songs about my life?  Um, AWESOME.  It only confirmed for me how universal our pains and joys are, and if we're willing to tell our stories, they can resonate, even heal others, regardless of age, gender or background.  This notion drew me into the desire to share my music, and Ive been hooked ever since.  

My debut EP, Chasing Light is a sampling of autobiographical songs- musing on the past, grappling with the present, and calling for a brighter future.  Chances are, one of these songs will speak to your heart, and if not, well, I hope you at least enjoy the tote bag!