About Me
Chris Rael's acrobatic vocal style was influenced by years of classical music study in Varanasi, India. The sitarist/guitarist is leader of NYC Indo-pop band Church of Betty, founder of indie label Fang Records, and producer of dozens of CDs and hundreds of live events in downtown New York. Composer of 300 songs and 25 CDs since 1989, he is currently developing the chamber musical 'Araby' (inspired by James Joyce's 'Dubliners'), composing feature songs and soundtracks for film (Outstanding Score Award at Outfest Film Festival, Los Angeles 2005), and collaborating with Sydney-based tabla player Bobby Singh. Church of Betty was part of the first wave of progressive acts through the original Knitting Factory, and later became a regular favorite at Greenwich Village's legendary Bottom Line. Rael has performed at Town Hall, Lincoln Center & Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Sydney Opera House, the Secession Building in Vienna, the National Mall in Washington DC, the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Berlin, London, Dublin, Glasgow, Mexico City, Varanasi, Eastern Canada and across America, with numerous appearances on National Public Radio. He has collaborated with many dozens of artists, including Penny Arcade, Oasis, Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow), David Byrne, Najma, Johnny Society, Elliott Sharp, Curt Smith (Tears for Fears), Jayne County, Samir Chatterjee, Amar Nath Mishra, Steve Gorn, John Kelly, Rebecca Moore, Stew, Richard Fearless (Death In Vegas), Frank London (Klezmatics), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), Tom Scott (the Muffins), White Magic, West Indian Girl, Ida, Gordy Goudie (Echo and the Bunnymen), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Charles Henri Ford, Marty Matz, Ira Cohen, and Life in a Blender. He co-produced the underground classic 'Acorn' by the Mommyheads, and played in one of the great underground rock bands, The Hand (see myspace page in 'top friends' below). See Chris's CD catalog at www.fangrecords.com. Sample reviews: "Chris Rael has consistently blended rock and Indian music better than any western guitar guy, ever." - Village Voice. "Sliding, scalloped phrases shape Hindustani music to the concision of pop hooks... irresistible." - New York Times. "Conjures and cleanses, swoons and seduces. If otherwordly rock exists, surely this is as lofty as it gets." - All Music Guide. Videos: CHURCH OF BETTY "JOY" live in NYC: CHURCH OF BETTY "BIG RED SEAHORSE" video about addiction: CHRIS RAEL "SYMPATHY" video about Penny Arcade:
