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Having an 'overthink literally everything' kind of day? Maybe you're finding yourself typing out paragraphs in the Notes app (relatable) or scribbling down a stream-of-consciousness onto the pages of your diary. Well, for singer-songwriter Rachel Grae, she's turning everything that's on her mind into raw, heartfelt music. 

In celebrating her newest single "The Best," we sat down with Rachel and got the inside scoop on this heartbreak-slash-self-love anthem (it may just be *the best* song to scream-sing along to...no pun intended).

At 22 years old, Rachel navigates her IRL experiences through music—much like what you might do with a thought-dump journal entry or an hour-long debrief with your bsf. From sharing what she's learned so far as an artist to her biggest goals for the future, Rachel is giving us one big therapy sesh. Tissues? Out. Ice cream? Scooped. "The Best"? On repeat.

Girls' Life: Tell us about your new single "The Best." What's the story behind that?

Rachel Grae: I actually wrote "The Best" over a year and a half ago. It's funny because it's a ballad, but it's also an empowering self-love anthem. I was getting over a person and found myself again after a relationship that was twisted. It got to a point where I was like: Wait, you already had me and you let me go—you can't now rethink and come back because that's just not how it works.

GL: Where do you draw inspiration for your musical style?

Rachel: I've been drawing inspiration from `90s music. But real-life experience is where I really draw inspiration for my music. I explain my music as a journal entry—you're just reading my diary and I'm just sharing it with you.

GL: What does your songwriting process look like? 

Rachel: With "The Best" specifically, I had the line "I wish you the best but you already had it," and I walked in with that. Sometimes it starts that way, where I have one lyric that's just really resonating with me that day. It starts on just the emotions that I'm feeling that day. Other times I start writing the chorus and create a world around that. 

GL: Are there certain topics you write about the most?

Rachel: Generally, a lot of my songs have been about guys, but with future music I talk about body image insecurities, growing up. I've written about relationships with my mom, my family and my friendship breakups. I write about everything and anything that speaks to me. I've written about conversations that I've had in passing that have just stuck with me. 

GL: You've mentioned that you see your fans as more of a "friend base." What do you love most about connecting with your listeners?

Rachel: First of all, I love talking to them. They're my favorite people in the world. But I also feel like the more emotion that I show, the more I could actually help somebody and that's always been my goal—just to be able to help as many people in the world as I possibly can. So when I see a community that's relating to everything I'm saying, it's the most rewarding feeling in the entire world. 

GL: Do you have a piece of advice you would give your younger self, when you were first starting out?

Rachel: I think it's just to live for myself than worry what other people's opinions are of me. I think everybody needs to do that more often. It doesn't matter if you're nervous and you're scared, that's when you should do it. Live your life with a little fear, and you're gonna be rewarded for it. 

And emotions are normal. It's okay to be sad some days and be happy the next. You're allowed to have a roller coaster. That's just human. And when it comes to the music industry, authenticity is the most important thing. Don't try to be somebody you're not—that's the biggest thing that I could say to anybody and everybody. 

GL: Where do you ultimately hope to see yourself as you continue making music?

Rachel: I just want to connect with as many people as I possibly can. Hopefully that is selling out Madison Square Garden and all of us having a huge therapy session together. That's my biggest goal. It's always going to be that. 

Get into your feels and stream "The Best" now!

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Images: @rachel.grae

by Anne Chen | 8/9/2024