NEWS: Rachel is proudly a member of Global Music Group signed act Mustang Sally. To see a complete tour schedule, listen to original songs, and more, visit Mustang Sally's MySpace Page or www.mustangsallyband.com .
Rachel Solomon naturally took to the piano when her dad taped the the letter names to the corresponding keys on their family's piano. But when Rachel started writing her own songs, it was about as hard to put her music into one genre as it is when you ask her where she's from. She's lived everywhere, and has been influenced by everything. As her craft developed through the years, the influences from having been born a northerner, raised a southwesterner, reared an Austinite, and schooled a Bostonian came together in songs that are as deep and detailed as they are accessible and mainstream. And to top things off, she doesn't live in any of those places anymore - she lives and works in Nashville, TN.
To really understand the depth of Rachel Solomon's musicality, one must start at the beginning:
As most pianists do, Rachel began with classical piano training and after learning jazz saxophone began to incorporate the jazz language into the piano as well. Rachel competed in and won most local classical piano competitions, including the Austin Symphony Youth Award for which the prize was performing with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Rachel's jazz and classical saxophone skills were similarly praised, as she consistently sat first chair in the All-Region Jazz Band of central Texas and even sat first chair in the Texas All-State Band.
Upon being bitten by the songwriting bug in her teens, Rachel was most drawn to singer/songwriters of the intuitive type like Fiona Apple and Duncan Sheik, but felt a strong connection to melodic rock writers such as Freddie Mercury of Queen and Billy Joel. When it came to singing, she was more often influenced by male troubadours than female power belters. Determined to spend her college years doing the very same thing she wished to have a profession in, Rachel saw it best to attend Berklee College of Music and received a Bachelor of Music degree.
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Though somewhat reserved in person, on stage Rachel Solomon transforms into the performer within. The piano becomes an extension of her being, and her voice an extension of her emotions. In March of 2004, Rachel was named Fostex.com's Artist of the Month. On Garageband.com, her song "Drive" placed 179th on the charts out of over 1000 Pop/Rock songs. More recently, national songwriting contests have begun to take note of her as well. So has Nashville - Rachel's keyboard work is increasingly being requested for recording sessions.
Discover her yourself, and enjoy.
Read the review from the 2005 show opening for Jump Little Children in Providence, RI - Static and Feedback Concert Review
Rachel's song "Off You Go" was a Runner Up in the 2006 Singer/Songwriter Awards - I!
Rachel's song "Burgundy St." was considered Honourable Mention in the 2006 Singer/Songwriter Awards - II!
Rachel's song "Rain On Me" is a Runner Up in the 2007 Singer/Songwriter Awards - VI!
