Check Out Rebekah Foster’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Foster

Hi Rebekah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all starts with my family. I grew up in a very large and musical household – my dad led the music in my church, which included singing, playing guitar and writing melodies for the Psalms. My oldest brother played and taught piano, my next brother played and taught drums and my oldest sister followed suit with opera and vocals. My other siblings are all musical as well (I’m the middle child of nine, haha). Looking back, it’s kinda crazy to think just how unusual and special my upbringing was….for example, one of my earliest memories is of me at a birthday party, wondering with shock why everyone sounded so out-of-tune singing Happy Birthday. “Why can’t these people sing?!” I asked my mom.

When I became a teenager, I had my first realization that music was something I should actively pursue. I took guitar and voice lessons, and soon after I was visiting a local coffee shop every Thursday night for their open mic nights. That public exposure was a crucial turning point for me, as my name quickly spread throughout the area and I was soon being asked to play at weddings, restaurants, private parties, etc. Around that same time, an Artist Co-op emerged in my hometown to which I frequently visited. Not only did I get to perform onstage at this venue, but more importantly, I got to connect with many amazing and talented artists. Some of those artists would later become my band-mates.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ahh man, I wish! haha. But no, it has not always been smooth. As a teenager, I struggled a lot with my mental health, fatigue, and a mysterious health issue later identified as SIBO (i.e small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). I found solace and confidence in my music though, like so many musicians do. But it was still hard. Thankfully I was introduced to the concept of “micronutrient deficiencies causing depression” when I most needed it, and it completely changed my life for the better. Addressing nutrition as well as targeted pharmaceutical support has honestly given me my life back, and it’s been a huge part of my journey and inspiration for my music. Health wasn’t the only thing I struggled with though. As an artist in the spotlight, it was tempting to succumb to internal as well as societal pressures, such as perfectionism, hustle-culture, “appealing to the masses,” and saying “yes” to opportunities that only look good on the surface. The anxiety of it all really got to me at times. But I’ve since realized that long-term happiness and contentment beats any kind of fast-fame or unrealistic expectations. It’s more about working hard at your craft, BECAUSE you have a gift and you’re passionate about it, and from there on letting the doors open to whatever opportunity presents itself. And I’ve had some cool opportunities – playing at The World Café and Uprise Festival in Philadelphia have been just a few.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Until recently, I worked at a small family-owned dairy farm starting in 2021. I’ve always loved supporting local, so my job preferences have reflected that over the course of ten years and they’ve been my main source of income. However, I’m in the process of becoming completely self-employed, as my music career has been slowly building. I’m also exploring how I can use my passion for nutrition, as well as supporting the body structurally, in helping others.

As far as what I’m most proud of? I would have to say my music. I’m especially proud of my recorded albums and singles. My first album was a collaborative project with my earliest band, Run The Willow, that we released in 2018. The album was named A Living Dichotomy, to which I was the drummer and back-up vocalist in.
A year later, I released my own personal record called Empty Sky. Again, I had the pleasure of working closely alongside many talented artists. That was one of the happiest times of my life!
Last but not least, I released two singles with my current band, Two To Fly, in 2022. Our genre is predominantly Rock ‘n’ Roll, and I’m the lead singer. We’re hoping to release a full-length album in the near-future.

You asked what sets me apart from others. I believe that would be my unique upbringing alongside my ability to write songs, play drums, sing different genres and create intricate finger-picking styles. I’d be remiss to say that my faith in God doesn’t contribute as well. It’s been my teacher and anchor through it all.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I’d say, first and foremost, figure out what kind of songs or musical genres inspire you, and just start messing around with your instrument of choice. This will help you to get your “feet wet,” as well as take some of the pressure off. 2nd, it doesn’t hurt to take some music lessons, just to get started on basic technique (this was SUPER helpful). 3rd, once you’ve created something, get some feed-back from people who are both honest yet encouraging – it’s easy for people to flatter you, and than never actually care to listen to your music again, so choose wisely. 4th, start playing at open mics. Exposure forces you to not only get out of your shell, but also forces you to get better, because playing music in your room is different than hearing yourself in front of a crowd. It shows you your blind spots.

As for what I wished I knew? I wish I knew that learning how to read music and learn my scales early on was not a waste of time, haha! That probably could have saved a lot of future heart-ache when working with other musicians on a project. I also wish I knew that an all-or-nothing approach won’t actually progress you into the artist you truly want to become. Nothing is worth it if it’s not sustainable. Slow and steady wins the race.

Pricing:

• Solo: $85-100 per hr.
• Band: $225 per hr.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahfostermusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebekahfostermusic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-foster-2ab074173/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QSHz6QfWEoCrhZFafe0Hw
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-354565388