Picture this, it’s 2012, you’re watching Jane By Design and you fall absolutely in love with the soundtrack, most of which was graciously provided by pop icon Rachel Platten. Life is good! That’s how we discovered Rachel Platten, and since then she has become huge worldwide for songs like ‘Fight Song,’ ‘Stand By You,’ and ‘Collide,’ just to name a few! And while Rachel Platten has put out so many incredible songs, I Am Rachel Platten, her newest album, is a whole new ball game. This record is so deeply personal, and it feels like we are seeing the truth of who Rachel Platten is as an artist for the first time. We got to dive into this album, past music, and what’s next with Rachel, so let’s jump in!
Listen to me I Am Rachel Platten here!
Hi Rachel! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us! To kick us off, how would you describe who you are as an artist to anyone who hasn’t yet explored your music?
I’d describe my music as soulful, deep, empowering, anthemic, honest, raw, and organic. It’s a blend of soul, pop, and roots with a hint of country elements. It’s broad, but you may know me from ‘Fight Song,’ which was an empowering anthem I wrote about not giving up on myself ten years ago. While my music still holds themes of inspiration, it’s now more mature, embracing the full range of human emotions.
I Am Rachel Platten is out now! How are you feeling? What emotions go through your mind in the days after releasing such a personal album?
It took a lot of courage to put out a body of work that is so deeply personal. It was challenging to prepare myself to share these almost journal-like entries with the world, but it’s been freeing, too. It was nice to give this part of me that I’ve been holding onto for five years to the world and be able to release what has almost felt like a secret and see the impact that it has had on others. Overall it’s been incredible to share, and see the responses, hope, and inspiration it has given others. I’m proud.
Naming the album I Am Rachel Platten signaled that this record represents you and your story. That’s a beautiful thing, but telling your story can be challenging. Were there moments while writing this record where you could feel that weight?
Absolutely. There were moments while writing this album that were incredibly raw, where I felt exposed, scared, and broken. But songwriting didn’t cause those feelings—it was actually what helped heal them. I was already going through a lot, and songwriting was often the medicine I needed. Telling my story and transforming pain into something beautiful was exactly what brought me peace.
This record takes listeners on an emotional journey, experiencing nearly every feeling possible. How did you decide on the tracklist order?
I thought of the album as a story, almost like a musical or a movie. There’s a story that weaves through it of a woman who loses herself and hits rock bottom and then finds herself again and finds her own power by facing what she has been pushing down. It’s my own take on the heroine’s journey. I sequenced the album with that in mind, starting with a feeling of disillusionment—like, “there’s got to be more out there.” It then delves into pain from a crack in a relationship, before shifting to focus on the woman facing her inner struggles and demons. She reaches a peak and cries mercy and then after finally surrendering she realizes the answers were always within her!
Let’s go back in time! ‘Fight Song’ was a massive moment for you and pop culture. Is there a specific memory you have of realizing how big the song had become?
Yes, there were quite a few of those moments that came one after the other, but the biggest one was the first time I played ‘Fight Song’ live and heard the audience singing it back to me. I was the first of four musical acts, with just 15 minutes on stage, and when I started, almost nobody knew the song. By the end of the tour, though, everyone was screaming it, and it became the highlight of the night. The headliner even graciously let me perform it at the end of the show! It was quite a ride. Another unforgettable moment was performing it at the Billboard Music Awards three months after its release, looking out and seeing artists I’d admired singing along—it was surreal.
Speaking of earlier music, we have to ask about your 2011 album, Be Here, with songs like ‘1000 Ships’ and ‘Take These Things Away.’ Has any song from that record taken on a new meaning for you over the years?
Not necessarily, but I’ve always loved ‘1,000 ships’ and while rehearsing for the first I Am Rachel Platten shows, we were messing around with new arrangements for that song. Even though we didn’t end up having that song on the setlist it was really interesting to see how I could reinterpret the song to reflect the artist I am today.
You’ve been in the industry for a while. What’s the biggest artistic growth you’ve experienced?
Definitely in producing. My first venture into production was actually with ‘Fight Song.’ Finally, after running out of money and options I had to learn how to produce myself to get the version of ‘Fight Song’ you hear on the radio. Most of it came from a shell of a demo that I had produced. On this record– I returned to that and the record started with just me producing piano vocal demos. It’s been really cool to flex that muscle again and to continue to create when I wanted to create. I’ve been so lucky to partner with my collaborators Jason Evigan and Gian Stone. When I brought them on to produce the whole record it was important for me to maintain that creative control but in a partnership.
Making an album takes a village, and it’s often hard to give yourself credit. If you had to pinpoint one thing you’re proud of during the creation of this album, what would it be?
Two things—co-producing the album and my vocals!
Your last album was Waves in 2017. How long after that did you start working on what would become this new record?
I wrote ‘I Know’ in May 2018, so about seven months.
Thank you so much for talking with us! Before we go, is there anything fans should look forward to as 2024 wraps up? Will there be live shows in the future?
Yes! Stay tuned for more updates—I’m excited to share what’s next.
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We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of I Am Rachel Platten? Let us know by commenting down below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
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