Phriend of PHILTHY and sapphic pop superstar on the rise Rachel Bochner recently let me know that Pride Month 2025 will officially extend to this coming Wednesday, July 2nd, when she wraps her current tour at Silk City for her first-ever headlining show in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. The last we saw Bochner was in December when she opened Underground Arts for girli (who’s providing direct support for Scene Queen at Brooklyn Bowl on July 13th). This past Friday, Rachel dropped Lovergirl (Deluxe), an expanded edition of her 2024 debut LP, accompanied by a sold-out release show in Chicago. And just yesterday she appeared at Milwaukee’s Summerfest. I got a chance to catch up with Rachel Bochner from the road on release day, where we talked about all of this and more, including a run of October dates opening for David Archuleta, which concludes with a stop at The Foundry at The Fillmore on October 17th.
Izzy Cihak: I know that you’re currently on the road. How have these dates been going so far? What have been some of the standout moments, whether from the shows themselves or just being on the road… or both?
Rachel Bochner: The shows opening for Nicotine Dolls have been so fun! The guys are all really fun, and these have been some of the biggest venues/crowds I’ve played to yet. Getting to be on the road with my band/team is truly so fun. We just giggle 24/7. I got really emotional the first night thinking about how far we’ve come from the very first show I played at The Delancey on the LES in 2021… It’s nice to remind yourself to take a moment to appreciate the growth. Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in all that I still want to accomplish, but if 2021 me saw 2025 me, I think she’d be really fucking proud. I love meeting people at merch – I have also had some really special and emotional moments getting to hear people’s stories of how they found me and why they resonate with my music.
Izzy: Actually, what have been some of your highlights of Pride 2025 in general?
Rachel: Filming a music video for a song I wrote about my perfect girlfriend (who also directed said music video) was for sure a highlight. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. Getting to play shows in general during pride month is so awesome – it just makes everything feel extra celebratory and safe and comfortable. It’s really special.
Izzy: And Lovergirl (Deluxe) just dropped! How did that idea come about? It seems to be getting to be a huge thing to do recently and I find myself talking to artists about it kind of all the time.
Rachel: After releasing Lovergirl, there were a few songs that I couldn’t stop thinking about. As time passed, and especially after releasing the “Guilty as Sin?” cover, it just was clear that the project wasn’t complete without them. I wasn’t ready for the Lovergirl era to be over either. It just felt right.
Izzy: Do you have any particular favorite “deluxe” or “expanded” editions of albums in your own music library?
Rachel: I’ve been sooo in love with Role Model’s Kansas Anymore: The Longest Goodbye recently. “Some Protector”??? Yeah.
Izzy: You’re signed to Handwritten Records, which seems like such a cool label (I just saw KiNG MALA opening for Lights and she was totally great!) How is it working with them and being a part of that whole family?
Rachel: I love the team at Handwritten! I feel really lucky and grateful to work with them. I feel really supported and trusted in my vision, which is huge. I never feel pressured to do anything that doesn’t feel authentic to me, and it really feels like we’re in this together. It’s awesome.
Izzy: Your current dates actually wrap right here in Philly, or Philthy. What can be expected of the headlining show?
Rachel: We’re celebrating the release of Lovergirl (Deluxe), so we’ll get to sing all of those songs together. I’m considering the DC and Philly shows as part of pride month still, so it’ll just be one big lovergirl party.
Izzy: The last time we spoke, we were talking about venue settings, and for your Philly show, you’ll be playing the bar/nightclub of a diner that was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so I’m curious how you like playing extra quirky spaces like that? It’s actually one of my favorite rooms in the city.
Rachel: First of all… love that show. Playing bigger rooms like the ones I got to open for Nicotine Dolls in is so sick, but there’s something so intimate and energetic about a quirky bar/club. It really feels like we’re all there together.
Izzy: Finally, what are you most excited about in the second half of 2025? I saw that you’ll be back, opening for David Archuleta, in October.
Rachel: Took the words out of my mouth! I cannot wait to hit the road again with David. I can already tell those shows are going to be absolutely amazing. Other than that… I’m finishing my album… Get ready.
*Get your tickets for 7/2 at Silk City here.
**Get your tickets for 10/17 at The Foundry (with David Archuleta) here.
***Listen for Rachel Bochner on the June episode of Philthy Radio, my show for Y-Not Radio, now streaming.
