Check Out Rebekah Gilbert’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Gilbert

Hi Rebekah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I developed a love for music at a very early age. Mama was always singing, playing the piano, or listening to the radio, so music was part of the fabric of our home. By the time I was in second grade, she’d taught me to quietly hum to soothe my fears. In addition, Daddy was a preacher so we went to church every time the doors were open, and I always enjoyed hearing the congregation and choir harmonizing. Hymns are the foundation of my musical journey.

I began taking piano lessons when I was seven years old and continued on and off for the next seven years. It was a struggle for me as theory never clicked in my brain. Still, I somehow managed to learn and memorize “Fur Elise” and play it in recital. Not long afterwards, I quit piano. That’s one of my biggest musical regrets.

As a teenager, I became obsessed with lyrics. That was back before we had the internet, so I’d record songs from the radio onto a cassette tape, then listen back, pausing the tape every few seconds, so I could write down the words to songs I loved. I had notebooks full of lyric pages. Back then, it never occurred to me that one day I’d be a songwriter.

In high school I discovered I was a decent writer. That became my focus for the next decade. While music always played in the background, writing became my primary love. It took me through college where I majored in English. My goal was to work in publishing and one day be an editor. As it does, life took some twists and turns, and I only worked in publishing one year.

While I sang in church choir most of my young adult years, music didn’t take a front seat until I was almost thirty. I started taking inventory of my life — what I’d accomplished so far and what I wanted the rest of my life to become. That’s when I realized that I’d always been writing little songs, even as a young girl: a birthday song for my sister; a love song to a boy I secretly had a crush on; a farm ditty my best friend and I wrote to the tune of “Dock of the Bay,” just to name a few.

In 2012, I finally made the decision to pursue my love of music and writing songs and see where it took me. It’s been a long, bumpy journey with a lot of learning opportunities along the way. If it weren’t for friends in the music community who invest time and energy into me, encourage me, and collaborate with me, I wouldn’t have music to share with the world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think any life journey is necessarily smooth, especially if you’re passionate about what you’re doing.

My biggest struggles have come from not trusting in my abilities and from self sabotaging. I’ve given up more times than I can count. For example, several years ago, I knew I needed to learn how to play guitar. I didn’t want to depend on anyone to play for me, and I knew it would enhance my writing, so I signed up for two lessons per week. Learning to play guitar might be one of the most difficult things I’ve done in my life, and for the first couple of years, I’d frequently consider quitting. Even now, five years later, I continue taking two lessons per week and still find it a struggle to learn advanced chords and rhythms. But I’ve learned to override the voice in my head that tells me to give up because I know if I keep trying, I’ll eventually be able to play what I’m practicing.

On a deeper level, it’s comparison that stops me in my tracks. When I allow my mind to wander and compare myself to someone who’s further along in their musical journey than I am, the urge to give up creeps in. The little sabotaging voice in my head says, “You’ll never get to that level.” That’s when I have to take a moment, re-center, and look back at how far I’ve come. The only comparison I really need to make is between where I am now and where I was when I began. I think our only real competition is with ourselves.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
After all these years, I finally feel confident enough to call myself an Americana musician and singer-songwriter, as well as a poet.

This year, I published a poetry book, “Poems from the Back Pew,” and its companion EP, “Year of Jubilee.” I’ve long had a nagging desire to share the story of my spiritual journey and these works do just that. I’m proud that I published art that speaks to and resonates with people who are on their own difficult spiritual journeys. In a way, I feel like I got that out of my system, and now I can move forward.

I’m preparing to go into the studio soon to record a new and completely different EP than anything I’ve released so far. I’m excited to make new music and see what lies ahead for me.

I’m currently playing shows regionally and looking for ways to expand nationally. I’m having the time of my life. It took me a long time to realize playing music would bring me so much joy and give me the opportunity to share that joy with others. I enjoy connecting with people through music and storytelling in intimate settings.

In addition, I travel to Nashville several times per month to continue collaborating with other writers, playing songwriter rounds, and networking. I’ve learned that surrounding myself with other songwriters enhances my own creativity.

I’ll be releasing new music in 2025. I don’t know what else the future holds, but I’m excited to see what happens. Maybe there will eventually be another book as well. I know now that there’s no limit to the possibilities when you believe in yourself and your passion and you’re willing to put in the work to see your dreams come true. It’s tenacity that sets people apart.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Well, I don’t really know. It’s changed so much just in the last few years. I see musicians who’ve been with labels choosing to go the independent route and be in control of their own musical destiny.

In addition, social media has become a major route for musicians to gain exposure. It’s both a blessing and a curse. It requires that artists and creators become content creators, too. While it’s a great way to reach an audience that we might not otherwise contact, it requires a great deal of time and effort. The trend also seems to be utilizing social media as a means to finance making art. I think as long as we can find a balance that makes us happy, it’s a useful tool.

With AI on the rise, we can’t discount how it may affect music, too. I know songwriters who absolutely refuse to use AI (and I’m of the same opinion), while others use it as a jumping off point in their writing. To each their own.

Mostly, what I see in the industry (and I don’t think this will change) is love and support for one another among the music community. I’ve never come across someone who didn’t wish success for another songwriter. It’s a chosen family that supports one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rebekahgilbert.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahlgilbert/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gilbert.rebekah
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gilbertrebekah
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rebekah-gilbert/586096755