Meet Rachel Curtis of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Curtis

Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started with a passion for singing and the belief that music is a form of therapy. From singing to my bedridden mom during her recovery to seeing the impact on listeners during shows, I witnessed firsthand at a very early age how music can uplift and heal. My family was very supportive of my passion and got me voice lessons where I was classically trained. I started singing at church, in school musicals, and auditioned for American Idol and The Voice. Once I gained some experience and overcame horrible stage fright, I started singing at a neighborhood bar down the street from where I grew up. I was a junior in high school at the time, and that became my first paying gig. From then on, I started performing more covers and eventually got the bravery to perform my own original music. I joined a folk duo, did that for a couple of years, and then learned guitar. I performed solo for gigs, weddings, and opened for acts like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Around the same time, I had the opportunity to be part of American Idol in 2018, where judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan gave me a ticket to Hollywood. I got to live my childhood dream and learned a lot from the experience. That opportunity gave me a little buzz, and I got to open for Grammy Award-winning Gladys Knight prior to the show and released my first solo EP. I sang, played guitar, foot cajón, and tambourine all at once for my shows, but this took a toll on my body over time. I was lucky to find some amazingly talented band members in my hometown who stuck with me for years and were able to play on my 2022 album.

I have been consistently releasing original music since 2018 and have gotten to perform live for some cool shows like Tracy Lawrence, Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses), and Mat Kearney, Will Hoge and at the CMA Fest on the Spotlight Stage at the Music City Center in Nashville. Playing the Common Ground Music Festival, I was able to cross off one of many bucket list items by playing the same festival as my inspirations—Brandi Carlile and City and Colour. Most recently, my husband moved to Nashville, TN in June 2023 to meet more like minded people in music. I got to open for O.A.R. at Meijer Gardens Amphitheatre in Grand Rapids, MI, my home state in June 2024! I have some big plans for the upcoming year, starting with recording new music in the fall.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
During my journey, I have seen many highs and lows. I have received those rejection emails like every single artist in the world trying to push through this difficult industry where all music is subjective. When my husband and I first moved here, we got into a car accident, and I went through six months of physical therapy. This was a setback since I have a chronic diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and many other underlying conditions. While difficult to manage, this was a full-circle moment. Finding music as therapy when I was young and now seeing it firsthand with my own battles with a rare chronic illness facing life’s daily challenges and triumphs, I’ve found release and expression through songwriting. All I want to do is continue my passion in hopes of helping or inspiring others and finding how I can keep it rolling here in Nashville, my new hometown.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an artist, singer-songwriter, and performer. Out of all three of these, I would say my specialty is singing since that is where I started and where I am most trained after years and years of lessons, practicing, performing, and also teaching. I feel an energy pull when I get to sing. It almost feels like a spiritual moment for me. I am proud of the journey I explained in the first two questions. I would not be here today without the amazing opportunities or the struggles that made me strong enough to keep going. I think everyone is unique and special, so I hope that my unique story and challenges come through in the emotion I have behind my songwriting and performances.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that Nashville is a huge city with a small-town feel. I love that you can be in the heart of the city and then drive 20 minutes out and go for a beautiful hike or feel like you are in the country with rolling hills and suburbs. With living in a more saturated and growing area, the food, drinks, farmers’ markets, and entertainment are unlike any other place I have been. There is never a boring day here. The only negative is traffic and not being able to see my family or friends with a short 10 min drive down the road.

Thank you!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelcurtismusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelcurtismusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelcurtismusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLHQDN2_sbnzOo73bsCjMw
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelcurtismusic