Conversations with Heather Rae

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Rae.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello! I’m excited to be here, thanks for having me! My name is Heather Rae. I’m an Alternative Pop singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist and I’m based in Nashville, TN. I was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota and I started playing piano at the age of 3, which was just the beginning of my love for music. After attending and graduating from the University of Minnesota, I had my first break in the entertainment industry as a figure skater, singer, and emcee in professional ice shows. While singing and skating alongside some of the best figure skaters in the country, I learned how to perform while maintaining a grueling schedule of 3 to 4 shows a day, 7 days a week. That first show contract was a pivotal moment for me; it forced me to question if performing was worth all the work, and in the end, I decided that it was!

In 2018, I attended a songwriting conference in Nashville that inspired me to pursue the songwriting of music. Within days of returning home, I bought a guitar, joined a local songwriting group, and never looked back. In 2020, I moved to Nashville permanently and found my place within the songwriting community. Since moving, I’ve become a Nashville recording artist and have performed in various venues, including the famous Bluebird Café and the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) added my name to the list of “Ones-to-Watch” amongst today’s rising songwriters, which was a huge honor to me. With the momentum from my latest releases this year, “Limbo,” “A Song I’ve Written,” and “Con a Con,” I’m currently preparing to release my next project in December 2022.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think my biggest obstacle, especially in making music, has been myself. I’ve struggled a lot with a need for external validation and growing up, that caused me to be very unsure of myself. Seeking out validation is interesting because I would spend half the time thinking I was invincible and the other half thinking I was worth absolutely nothing. Requiring other people’s praise puts you in a vulnerable position with way too many emotional roller coasters. It took me a while to realize that I don’t need someone else’s praise to justify doing something that I love; simply enjoying music is reason enough. That realization gave me a lot of freedom in my songwriting, and other people’s opinions no longer feel quite as harsh.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I tell people I’m a singer/songwriter, but as any small business owner knows, that’s only a small part of what I do. I’m also a musician, producer, band leader, show manager, booking agent, tour manager, marketer and social media manager. It’s a lot of work, but I love being able to create music and share it through live performances. I also love the camaraderie I have with all the people I work, play and write with. It makes it all worth it.

What matters most to you? Why?
Four things are significant to me.

1. First, my professional and personal relationships matter a lot to me, and I do my best to ensure each person knows how important they are to me. For my professional relationships, I do my best to ensure they know how much I appreciate their work by supporting them however I can. For my relationships, I prioritize reaching out and spending as much quality time with them as possible.
2. Second, my relationship with God is significant to me. It keeps me grounded and helps to set my priorities.
3. Third, if a person or animal walks into my life needing help, and I can help them, it is my responsibility to do what I can for them. If every person took on that responsibility, no one would go to bed hungry or need a place to sleep. Life is hard enough as it is. The least we can do is help one another through it.
4. Fourth, I believe everyone has equal value regardless of their contribution to society, gender, or birthplace. This belief influences everything I do, from how I vote politically to conversations with strangers in coffee shops. It’s an important distinction to make.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://heatherraemusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherraeofficial/
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/heatherraeofficial
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/T_enPlRqFUw
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/heatherraemusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pWr5IEbMOwomvVH3OzRXH?si=M43DbePRT7-cUOiRQUZuoA&nd=1

Image Credits
Elm Hill Studios, Jeff Ross Photography