Rachel Bochner is currently our phavorite burgeoning queer pop icon in the making. We’ve been Twitter mutuals for a little while and I found out recently that she’s besties with likeminded queer pop phenom Xana, who we got to know earlier this year. The two actually played Philthy mini metal mecca Kung Fu Necktie last October together… Tonight Rachel Bochner kicks off a run of dates supporting English singer/songwriter girli (another brilliant sapphic pop sensation), which will have the two appearing at our “major league” metal mecca, Underground Arts, this Thursday, December 5th. Just prior to the start of her jaunt with girli, Rachel Bochner took some time to chat with me about her first five years in the business and why you should definitely show up early to catch her opening set at Underground Arts on Thursday.
Izzy Cihak: First of all, how was your Thanksgiving? I don’t generally celebrate in any traditional way, but I do enjoy watching my favorite Thanksgiving films, like The Ice Storm, The House of Yes, and The Daytrippers.
Rachel Bochner: My Thanksgiving was lovely, thank you for asking! Getting cozy with your favorite movies sounds like a perfect way to celebrate. I was home visiting family – we ate a ton of delicious food and saw the new Wicked movie… no complaints at all.
Izzy: This October you released your first full-length, Lovergirl. How do you feel like the album compares to your earlier EPs and singles, in terms of sounds, influences, and even the process of writing and recording it?
Rachel: There was some unintentional, but tangible, shift with Lovergirl. It felt like so much more than writing an EP – I kind of felt like I found part of myself while making the project, as cheesy as that sounds. It’s the most honest body of work I’ve ever made, and it feels by far the most special. In terms of writing, so much of the project began as little ideas that came to me while writing alone on my apartment floor, slightly out of tune guitar in hand. I think I was more concerned with saying what I needed to say than anything else, and then when I took the songs to my producer to actually flesh out, this beautiful world sort of appeared before us.
Izzy: You recently released a music video for “Creative Liberties,” which I guess makes it your latest single. How did that particular track come about?
Rachel: “Creative Liberties” came about because I was down horrendously bad for someone. I think I always knew that I was more into it than she was, and this song is sort of sitting in that moment of delusional, self-soothing to cope with feeling like an option.
Izzy: You’ve actually released a number of really cool music videos from the album. What is it that inspires the visual elements of your work? You also have a really amazing sense of fashion!
Rachel: Thank you! I worked with such an amazing creative team on the visuals – from stylists, to directors, to make up artists, and so on. The visual world of Lovergirl felt romantic, but not in a frilly way… Dark, but not somber… Nostalgic, warm, intimate, surreal. I made so many Pinterest boards to really hone in on the vibe I wanted to achieve. We played around with a lot of interesting symbolism in the videos with really intentional prop choices and scenes. It’s really cool to see the fans pick up on those little things too – it always makes me smile when I get mentioned in a tweet or get a DM of a fan being like… “Omg, I just noticed the *insert easter egg* in the *insert song* music video” followed by whatever their theory of the meaning is.
Izzy: I also saw that you’re pretty huge on TikTok! How do you like the platform? Do you have a particular approach to it? I hear so many mixed things from musicians about it…
Rachel: I think it can be a great tool to connect with people, but I also think right now we’re all a little bit in TikTok purgatory. Something about the way artists push their art on the app has to change, because the way viewers want to consume media is constantly changing. The types of videos that appealed to people two years ago don’t necessarily have the same impact now, and I think we’re all just trying to figure out what may stick next. It’s kinda an impossible game, so I try to mainly use it as a way to connect with people who already follow me and have fun.
Izzy: You’re getting ready to open a handful of dates for girli! How excited are you for that? Matriarchy is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year.
Rachel: I love girli and I love playing shows, so I’m literally so excited to be joining her on these shows. Getting to tour with inspiring, talented, queer artists is so cool – little Rachel would be so proud.
Izzy: What can be expected of your live show when you play here at Underground Arts? What would you tell girli fans to ensure that they show up early?
Rachel: If you are a clinically insane lovergirl, you do not wanna miss it!!!
Izzy: Do you have a particular favorite type of venue? Underground Arts is actually my favorite venue in the city. It’s a 650-capacity basement venue that is normally home to big metal and hardcore shows, but I’ve definitely seen some great pop shows there, too, like Xana (who I know’s a buddy of yours), JoJo, and Halsey (That one was a while ago…)
Rachel: I love a basement venue!!! Opening for Xana we played the Basement in Mesa, AZ, and it was one of my favorites of the run. It was one big, hot, sweaty party… it literally felt like I was at a house party with 300 friends. As I’ve gotten the opportunity to play bigger and different venues, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that the crowd is usually what sticks with me. I love when I’m able to see fans and interact with them. I’ll take a crowd of 75 people absolutely rocking out over a crowd of 400 people who can’t let loose.
Izzy: I just realized you’ve officially been doing music professionally for half a decade now. Congrats! What have been some of the biggest personal highlights for you, whether reactions your music’s gotten or experiences it’s afforded you?
Rachel: That’s crazy. Wow. Feels like yesterday I was making my Distrokid account to upload my first little single with absolutely no idea what I was doing. Some highlights include: going on my very first tour with my now bestie girl Xana, signing to my awesome and super supportive label, Handwritten Records, getting matching ghost/lovergirl tattoos with fans, and finally feeling like I found my stride with the creation of Lovergirl.
Izzy: And is there anything you think is especially important for fans, and potential fans, to know about you as an artist, whether relating to your background, your aim, or just your process of making music?
Rachel: Sharing the music I make is so much of the fun for me. It’s so rewarding to see lyrics I’ve written resonate with listeners, and I love hearing people’s interpretations of my songs. We take what we need from music, so the significance or takeaway from songs can vary from person to person, or even evolve as we do as listeners. Especially now, I write the music I feel like I need, and I hope that by sharing those songs, it might reach someone else who needs it too. It feels very sacred.
Izzy: Since the year is quickly coming to an end, I have to ask your picks for the best music of 2024! Any releases that you especially loved or performances that you caught that especially impressed you?
Rachel: Whenever someone asks me what songs I’m listening to, I feel like I forget every song I’ve ever listened to. BUT, off the top of my head, some of the songs/projects I’ve played a ton this year: “Legs” by Annie DiRusso, the new Suki Waterhouse record, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan (obviously), The Sex Was Good Until It Wasn’t by Xana, and every video I’ve seen from the Short n’ Sweet tour.
Izzy: Finally, what are you hoping and planning for 2025? Anything in the works you’re especially excited about?
Rachel: Hoping for: all of my dreams to come true. Planning for: SO much that I can’t talk about quite yet, but I promise it’s going to be a very exciting year…
*Get your tickets here.
