Rachel Zylstra profile picture

Rachel Zylstra

About Me

Midwestern-bred, Manhattan-residing Rachel Zylstra reins in listeners with a uniquely modern alto, diverse songwriting, and lyrics that meander thoughtfully before they ring the doorbell and run. With one foot on the rural mile and the other on a city block, her songs belie the experiences of yearning and curiosity of one who can’t claim a hometown. Her voice fitting to winsome autobiography and imaginative fiction, Rachel unfolds these stories over the notes of her classical-infused alt-pop melodies.In 2001 Rachel received an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the song "Contentment" from an early self-released album. Since that early honor, she has garnered other marks of distinction, including first place at Calvin College’s 2002 battle of the bands; winner of the 2002 Freedom Fest new artist competition sponsored by Northeastern Illinois' Shine 89.7 radio; a nomination for best local folk album at the 88.1 WYCE 2003 Jammie Awards in West Michigan.Fall 2005, Rachel released her first full-length album, Most of It Is True, which has seen critical acclaim and listener-supported radio airplay in geographical pockets from coast to coast, having reached a whole new world of fans via the online music store, CDbaby.com.Chuck Eddy of The Village Voice mused in Fall 2005 that Rachel may be “Michigan’s answer to Nellie McKay,” while this past May Flight of the Conchords ’ Jemaine Clement wrote of her music, “I really enjoyed it.”Rachel opened for David Bazan and Over the Rhine in Pennsylvania in 2007. She’s played NYC venues ranging from hot spots The Living Room and PIANOS to the legendary Bitter End, and has become a regular fixture at “the home of anti-folk,” The Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village. December 2008 she released her highly anticipated second album, Before You Could Decide which is available for download on iTunes, Amazon , eMusic and Rhapsody.For more information or updates please visit www.rachelzylstra.com or join the mailing list .

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 29/05/2005
Band Website: www.rachelzylstra.com
Band Members: Become a listener on


Request Rachel Zylstra at your radio station:

KNBA – Anchorage, AK
(907) 279-5622

WZEW – Mobile, AL
(251) 433-9236

KXCI – Tucson, AZ
(520) 622-5924

KHUM – Eureka, CA
(707) 786-5486 or (707) 923-7799

KWMR – Pt. Reyes, CA
(415) 663-8492 or (415) 663-8317

KFOG – San Francisco, CA
(800) 300-5364

KCMV – Breckenridge, CO
(970) 547-1063 or Go Here

KDNK – Carbondale, CO
(970) 963-2976

KSUT – Ignatio, CO
(970) 563-0255

KVNF – Paonia, CO
(970) 527-4868

WWUH – West Hartford, CT
(860) 768-4701

KKCR – Hanalei, HI
(808) 826-7771

KDEC – Decorah, IA
(563) 382-4251

WFPK – Louisville, KY
(502) 814-9375

WWHR – Bowling Green, KY
(270) 745-5350 or Go Here

WERU – East Orland, ME
(207) 469-6600

WDBM – East Lansing, MI
(517) 884-8989 or (517) 355-4237

WYCE – Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 742-9923

KCLC – St. Louis, MO
(636) 949-4891

WRHU – Hempstead, NY
(516) 463-9748

WEHM – Long Island, NY
Go Here

WOUB – Athens, OH
740-593-1771

WCBE – Columbus, OH
(614) 821-9223

WYSO – Yellow Springs, OH
(937) 769-1998

KRVM – Eugene, OR
(541) 687-5786

WSYC – Harrisburg, PA
(717) 477-1480

WPSU – University Park, PA
Go Here

WUTC – Chattanooga, TN
(423) 265-9882

WETS – Johnson City, TN
Go Here

KFAN – Fredericksburg, TX
(830) 997-2197

KPFT – Houston, TX
713-526-5738

KWCR – Ogden, UT
801-626-8800

KRCL – Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 359-9191 or (800) 359-9191

WNRN – Charlottesville, VA
(434) 979-0919 or (877) WNRN-ROCKS

WRRW – Williamsburg, VA
Go Here

WNCS – Montpelier, VT
(877) 367-6468

______________________________
Triple A/Americana Radio Promotion:
Kyle Meredith
Influences: Here are some bands/solo artists/composers that I listen to/dig/respect:
Radiohead
Rufus Wainwright
Ben Folds
Patty Griffin
Denison Witmer
Sufjan Stevens
Harrod & Funck
Sam Phillips
Bonnie Raitt
Billy Joel
Elton John
Sigur Ros
Regina Spektor
KD Lang
The Postal Service
Annie Lennox
Sting
Paul Simon
Debussy
Chopin
Over the Rhine
Dave Bazan
Andrew Bird
Joanna Newsom
Elena Kats-Chernin
Record Label: Join The Mailing List: [email protected]
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

The Wrap-Up - Radio Update 3

Below is the complete list of radio stations that have begun playing Rachel and/or have Before You Could Decide available for listener requests. Please check out the station in your range and be sure ...
Posted by on Tue, 19 May 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Pandora & More  Radio Update 2

Radio Update 2 - 3/28/09Nationally: BYCD has now been added to the Music Genome Project of Pandora (Im personally a big Pandora fan, so I'm pretty stoked about this :). Go to Pandora.com to be able t...
Posted by on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:04:00 GMT

RZ hits the airwaves - Radio Update 1

Radio Update 1 - 3/3/09 The triple A national radio campaign for Before You Could Decide is now underway, and so far I am happy to report that the stations listed below have either added BYCD to their...
Posted by on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:37:00 GMT

Radio Promotion for BYCD

Hey,So I have recently begun working with the Louisville-based company Kyle Meredith Promotions, for the radio promotion of Before You Could Decide. What does this mean exactly? Well essentially, Kyle...
Posted by on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:02:00 GMT

A Happy New Year, A New Blog.

so, I have a history of abandoning blogs.I had a couple that went on for quite a while, and a third one that never had a chance. They all lost their luster. Or, I ran out of steam. Or, we collect...
Posted by on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:16:00 GMT