Interview with Rachel Ann Weiss @ the Rockwood Music Hall

Rachel Ann Weiss, a young and promising singer/songwriter, released her new EP “Always” at the Rockwood Music Hall on September 8th. She was joined on stage by Dominic Fallacaro on keys and Conor Meehan on drumsThe place was packed and the audience was loving Rachel’s songs. The band had great energy and even sad songs about heartbreak and lost love sounded more positive than you would expect. Rachel’s voice is powerful and she knows how to get the best out of it. Check out her music and come out to see her perform if you get a chance.

We caught up with Rachel after the show for a little chat before she went back to her fans to celebrate the EP release.

Flowers In A Gun: What came first – singing or songwriting?

Rachel Ann Weiss: Singing, definitely. I was singing as early as I can remember. First movie my parents took me to was “Little Mermaid” and for years following that I was convinced I WAS The Little Mermaid. I spent all my time by the ocean, or by the pool or sitting on the rocks in Central Park … So, yeah.

FIG: You mention elsewhere that Buckley is a big influence on you and a source of inspiration. What touches you about his music? And how does it translate into your own work?

RAW: When I fall in love with some music, I tend to listen to it on repeat forever. When I first heard “Grace” I pretty much listened to it straight for three solid months. I think his lyrics are stunning. And what I really take away is that he is leaving a piece of himself behind in every song, he puts all of his soul into every song he performs to the point that some of it can’t come back to him. And it is just left for everybody else to ingest it on their own. And I want to sing like that. I want to perform like that.

FIG: I am sure you get this asked a lot, but still. Your mom is a famous actress, have you ever entertained the idea of acting as a career?

RAW: I do get asked this question a lot and I usually give the same answer. One of the reasons I didn’t go into acting was because people were asking me “Are you gonna be an actress?!!” since I was born. Especially when you are a teenager and people ask you “Are you gonna be just like your mom?” …  And the answer is “No way!” … But it’s also that my dad is a guitar player.

FIG: So you are daddy’s girl?

RAW: Well, it’s a combination. My dad hates performing, he just hates it. To the point when he would play with his back to the audience. And his friend used to say “There are very few artist that could get away with that. Miles Davis is one, you are no Miles Davis Jay Weiss, turn around!” So I really take after both of my parents.

FIG: You been touring a lot lately, any memorable experiences?

RAW: Well, when we went to London we got to record three songs from our New LP. So we had 5 shows in London, and then two days off, and then 5 more shows in Scotland. And of course we decided to use those free days to go into the studio … and believe me after singing for sixteen hours in the studio, doing the last five shows was not easy. But the recording turned out great!

FIG: And what do you like today in your free time?

RAW: I do yoga and I write. And it’s this fine line between turning something that you love into a career: it is my profession and it is my favorite thing in the world. That’s what I do most of the time. I read a lot too.

 FIG: Nice! Thanks a lot Rachel.