When I was first introduced to “lo-fi” music, Rebecca made me listen to Blanketarms, Tinyfolk, Super Famicom and a lesser-known artist named Rachel Doe. Listening to her now reminds me of my first year at UCSB and the endless possibilities that were in front of me. Her voice is strong and simultaneously soothing. Her more traditional music background reveals itself often; usually weaved in and out of the simple forms of acoustic folk-pop. Like her voice, this creates contradictory feelings that are perfect for a freshman struggling to find a foothold in a giant university. She hasn’t “released” an album or EP of her music yet, every few months or so I’ll just be happy to discover a new song on her myspace (Today I found a cover of Feist’s “So Sorry”).
The song “Claptrap” is an early classic back when I was introduced to her in ’06. Containing sketches of desperate warning, the song almost seems operatic. The guitar is messy, but it echoes fiercely. She even manages to make the phrase “ASAP” melancholy, which is quite a feat.
“Sisyphus” is a downright strange, mysterious song. Sung in a rather low register, it feels peaceful during the verses, but jumps out at you with intensity during the verses (Kind of a deconstruction of the grunge song format). Again, Rachel’s lyrics appear like flashes of ideas and feelings. Things like Valentines Day, unions, a Greek myth, and complementary colors all swirl around you never quite forming something concrete, but leave you with a desire to investigate further.
“Gorgey Porgey” is one of the sweetest songs that someone could write about another person. The chorus is simple and infectious, the chords themselves feeling perfectly familiar and with the lines repeating over and over again, “I think you’re gorgeous, baby baby,” you could swear she’s singing about you. Or you want her to be singing about you.
Rachel Doe is a perfect example of an artist making beautiful music that nobody might ever hear. She isn’t in it for anyone else, no glitz and glam of the collective like all of us here. Regardless, she is someone who should be heard and I hope she will start making music more often.
Links:
Rachel Doe on myspace
