We met up with Rachel Faith in the hip downtown Chicago coffee shop Asado to catch up and discuss her newest track “11:09 p.m. ( Bad People Wasting My Good Time)“. Glowing and kind, Rachel walked us through her project and her musical endeavors:
Cougar Microbes: How and when did you start creating music? Why did you start?
Rachel Faith: Well I got my first guitar when I was six, and I have been playing ever since then. My first real introduction into the music industry I think was the first song that was released under the “Rachel Faith” name was my song “Start” which I actually created for a movie called “Ask Me Anything”. It was an independent film and I saw a Tweet from one of the actresses asking for artists to send in songs to be in the movie. The movie was actually based on a book so I read the book and wrote a song about it and sent it in.
CM: So tell us more about that, how did you manage for your first release track to be featured in a film?
RF: I was actually at the farm my family owns in the middle of nowhere Kentucky with no instruments or equipment when I found out about the opportunity to create a track for this movie. Basically what ended up happening was I recorded the song in my bathroom at 2 a.m. using Garageband and my voice as the background instrument and the producers loved it!
CM: That is actually quite the unbelievable story! Alright so I see you’re very resourceful. So how about the Rachel Faith name? How did that come to be?
RF: Faith is actually my middle name so no fun story about how I created that one.
CM: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
RF: I woke up at like noon…but I woke up at 8 am to answer a text in my sleep but then I woke up and read my weird sleep texts. I then woke up at noon because I felt like I have to by that point. I’m a little bit nocturnal.
CM: Why is this genre (indie pop) the genre that you chose?
RF: I think I sort of fell into it. When I started using a midi device to achieve the sounds that I was looking for they were more or less the sounds that I was drawn to and when I think of producers that I really love, someone like Jai Paul, that has only a few public songs but uses the craziest sounds and I want to focus on something different and bring some indie and hip hop together.
CM: So let’s talk about the song, “11:09 p.m.” What’s the inspiration behind that? Give us the background story.
RF: So I am currently working on a 3 song EP and “11:09 p.m.” is going to be the first song on it. The inspiration behind it was that I want each song to have a timestamp and I want it to follow someone’s really shitty night. It’s not necessarily my story, it’s more of a combination of things that I have been through and my friends have been through. It’s just about a night that maybe you’re not in your best state of mind and you already don’t want to go out then you get a little drunk and you’re like “why did I do this, this is a terrible idea” and everything after that falls to shit.
CF: So other than working on your EP, what have been some highlights of your year musically?
RF: Personally I’m the most excited about working on my new music, however as tiring as it is my favorite things are the really late nights and early mornings in the studio not talking to anyone and just working. I’m hoping to play more shows once this EP comes out because it would be a great thing to deliver live.
CF: Where do you see yourself going music wise?
RF: I would love to release a full album. It just takes me such a long time to create my sound because I don’t really have anyone else working with me and it’s just me doing recording and production. I feel that you’re always your own worst critic and I end up sitting there for hours doing takes and not releasing anything until I am 100% tuned into it. I also want to really take my live shows to a high engagement level with my audience. I’m as curious about were my career will go as much as I am excited for it, so we just have to wait and see where it goes. Who knows what will happen.
CM: What are you up to when you’re not making music?
RF: I’m a pretty chilled out person. I just go to school and that takes up the bulk of my time: I major in music business. I’m just hanging out usually and doing me.
CM: What is the last song that got stuck in your head?
RF: Ooo good one! Let me check my “recently played” to see what I’ve aggressively played lately. “Gemini” by Banks, “500 Horses” by Cousin Stizz, and “Lemon Pon Goose” by Smino.
CM: Is there anyone in your local artist scene we should keep an eye out for?
RF: Yes there is this guy that is also Chicago based named Appleby and he is incredible. Also the greatest guy ever so much love going out to him, and his music is excellent!
CM: Any last words?
RF: I just hope everyone listens to and enjoys my new track.
Well that’s all there is to say! Go check out “11:09 p.m.” from the incredibly talented Rachel Faith, and keep an eye out for that follow up EP.
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