As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 23 – Fall 2023
Rachel Lorin is a singer, songwriter, and fashionista who started modeling and exploring different forms of creative expression at an early age. At the start of her career, she spent a lot of time traveling to Los Angeles and New York from her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. These experiences allowed her to start delving deeper into her dream of becoming an artist and exploring different art forms. While her path to becoming the dazzling pop star she is today was not easy, Rachel’s passion for music did not stop her from achieving her dreams of becoming an artist. For Rachel, being creative is an integral part of who she is. She mixes her passion for music, songwriting, and fashion to create a distinctive style that fans will instantly recognize. Read more about Rachel’s inspiring story of finding herself and chasing her dreams in this exclusive interview!
What made you fall in love with creating music and songwriting? Can you take us through your journey as an artist? What moments of your life have become the catalyst for some of your songs?
First, thank you so much for having me; I am honored. I’ve loved music since way before I could even walk. It has shaped my life and has always been there for me. My parents told me I would hum myself to sleep before I could even speak, haha! Initially, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but that dream quickly rerouted when I got scouted by Elite models at the age of eight or nine. I fell in love with it, so much so that I wanted to dabble in more art forms and creating. So simultaneously, I became a singer, dancer, songwriter, and actress as well and started singing in choruses and doing theater. I traveled to Los Angeles and New York to work and go on more auditions than what was available in Atlanta, where I’m from. I am blessed to have a supportive family who helped me accomplish my dreams and never gave up on me. We eventually moved to NYC after I was getting job after job and getting bullied in school for it relentlessly. I lost every friend I ever had, and my classmates (and some teachers) did not like me traveling and working this dream career, so moving was for the best. We moved when I was 13, just after I sang the national anthem at the U. S. Open. From there, my life took off so quickly from being on a reality show to doing a song with Pitbull and then charting on Billboard, working with incredibly talented producers worldwide. I had a blast and developed my work ethic fast.
As far as music goes and genuinely becoming an artist, music is the one thing I have loved and will always love more than anything, so I dropped everything else to focus solely on that. It just felt right. Making music was always where I felt safe and most comfortable. It helps me heal from my pain, and I can romanticize life and vent about life depending on where the wind blows. Things aren’t always perfect; they hardly ever are. I have experienced love and immense joy but also dealt with my fair share of heartbreak, disappointment, and fear. We all have. All of my experiences I continue to want to write about, and they are the catalyst for my songwriting, such as losing my father to being bullied in school to very rocky relationships. I write as a form of creative therapy to help others. I feel being able to write and sing about your life experiences is what truly makes someone an artist.
How would you describe your aesthetic as an artist? What do you want people to remember about you when they hear your music?
My ‘alt z’ aesthetic revolves around edgy femininity with power in one hand and softness in the other. On the surface, I might be ‘glam’ and fashionable, but on the inside, I’m raw, truthful, and like to bare it all. I like adding a sexy flare to everything I create, but I mainly focus on empowering others and women, which in turn helps me empower myself. Although some of my songs are darker, the hidden message in all my music is that I never give up. I continue to make it through dark time after dark time, no matter how dark it gets. My goal is to help others who listen to my music feel they can do the same when the water rises in their life, and they feel there’s no way out. While some of my music is ‘ feel good ‘ music, the majority of it is written with intention and written with a purpose. I genuinely hope people remember me for having good songs but on a deeper level, and I hope they remember me for what I write about and they can gain something good from it.
In your biography on your website, there is a line that says, “Especially going through many traumatic events in her life, as embarrassing as being open and vulnerable can be, she only speaks truth in her music in hopes to help others and also to help her heal as well.” How do you feel music has been a source of healing for you? How do you hope to inspire healing in others through your music? What are the pros and cons of expressing vulnerability in your music?
Even though my life has been a blessing, thanks to my family, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, it has had its ups and downs. After being bullied in school, I didn’t have friends and kept to myself, mostly even after we moved to New York. I always felt like an outcast with my insecurities that I still have today. Right after graduating, I was in one abusive relationship after another and dealt with physical and psychological abuse that no one should ever deal with. I had business relationships that were not what they appeared to be, and then I lost my father at 24 years old, which was by far the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life. I have dealt with a lot of negativity, but music has always been my primary source of therapy and a place to open up. It has always had the power to heal whatever is going on in my life, whether listening to music or creating my own.
As tough as expressing certain things and being vulnerable, especially publicly, I feel it’s my job to my friends and fans to be raw and honest. It’s okay to be human. I want to be a role model somebody can look up to. It’s not easy expressing anything because it opens you up to judgment and skepticism, people questioning if I’m telling the truth or being genuine. But the rewarding feeling from the people who listen and even message me about my music’s impact on them makes it all worth it. I just want to be there for people like music has been there for me.
Being a girly girl, I enjoy embracing my feminine side and the thought of being spoiled by a man and indulging them in the ways I know how.
Let’s talk about your recent single, “Sugar Baby.” What was the inspiration behind your song? Why does singing about a luxurious lifestyle feel so dangerous but appealing to listeners and songwriters? Why is escapism so alluring to songwriters and listeners alike?
Traveling, owning beautiful things and homes, and having a champagne taste, a LOT of people love the idea of a luxurious life. I’m certainly one of them, haha; shameless, I know. Being a girly girl, I enjoy embracing my feminine side and the thought of being spoiled by a man and indulging them in the ways I know how.
“Sugar Baby” is a fantasy inspired by some reality, but I took it a few steps further. The song is meant to be fun, playful, flirty, sexy, and cute. As I mentioned, I enjoy making music with intention, but sometimes I just want to have fun. I can’t blame a girl for that 😉 Having Call Me Karizma put his spin on it was awesome, and it’s been an honor having it on Spotify’s playlist ‘SALT’ for over three weeks now.
With social media and how prominent celebrity lifestyle is and has become, the topic is more and more appealing to write about and for all types of listeners. Luxurious lifestyles, brands, and people dominate our culture these days, and there’s no way around it, but I like it. Escapism is so important to artists and listeners, and it’s one of the things you get out of all art forms. The ability to escape reality, even for a bit, is crucial. Every person has daily struggles no matter who they are, so it’s necessary to turn everything off occasionally and escape or fantasize. Music is one of those imperative ‘escapes’ we need, whether you’re an artist or a listener. It’s like a tool to have in your back pocket when you need it.
Can you name a few artists who have shaped your style and sound? Where does your passion for music come from?
My taste has radically changed throughout the years with my favorite singers and my favorite genres, but they all shaped who I am and how I sound today. I have also been trained in different styles, which has also affected how I sing. Between Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and big powerhouses like that, I enjoyed studying them and learning how they sang at a very young age. My mom also had incredible taste in music, so every day she’d drop me off or pick me up from school, she’d play some unique and inspiring stuff from Prince, Michael Jackson to Journey, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. As I started to grow up, I started loving Fall Out Boy, Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars, Panic! At The Disco, and recently, I’ve been really into The Weeknd, Post Malone, Maroon 5, Miley Cyrus, SZA, 070 Shake, Mäneskin, and the list goes on.
You support many organizations and charities like Joshua’s Camp, Golden Voice, and Gritty in Pink. Why do those organizations have your support, and why is giving back to those in need essential?
Giving back is one of the most important things we can do. It’s essential because who else is going to do it? We can’t always assume someone else will. You may not make a difference in the entire world, but you can make a difference in somebody’s world, which means everything to me. When you have the power to help and blessings someone else doesn’t have, the honorable thing to do is share. What goes around comes around, and karma is real. Treating people how you want to be treated is a value I’ve always held near and dear to my heart. Those are just some of the charities I’ve worked with; they’re amongst many I care about. My parents always gave, and I learned what’s truly important in life. There’s nothing more rewarding than giving and the feeling of joy someone else gets because of something selfless you did. From cancer patients to underprivileged students to victims of domestic violence, I just want to help make a difference, even if it’s one person I’m helping on my own, apart from a charity. Every life matters.
Music, music, and music.
What is next on the horizon for Rachel Lorin? What goals have you set for yourself and your music in the near future?
Music, music, and music. I just put out the music video for “Sugar Baby,” and all I want to do is keep releasing song after song. I have tons of albums worth of material, just eagerly waiting in the wings. Hopefully, I’ll be touring soon, but looking to release something special before Halloween 🙂
Are there any words of inspiration you would like to leave our readers with about songwriting and musicianship?
If you are out there and you want to be an artist or a creator of any sort… never give up on that dream. The world can never have too much art. Be clear and steadfast in what you want and drive for, and don’t take anything less. You become what you think, believe in yourself, and what you’re capable of, so don’t lessen your worth with negative thoughts. Do not let others drag you down. Unfortunately, when you put yourself out there, you open yourself up to judgment from others. Not everyone will love you, and that’s okay as long as you love you. Some people will just be out to ruin your day because they have nothing better to do — ignore them! 🙂
~ By Guitar Gabby, Jennale Adams, and Fayola Waithe
