Rachel Loy

Rachel Loy is transparent and emotionally evocative. Like KT Tunstall or John Mayer, you sense that Rachel is sharing something deeply personal when she performs. Raised in Austin, educated in Boston, Rachel is the real deal. She’ll never get caught performing a song she doesn’t believe in.

As an in-demand singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Rachel Loy has been wooing fans across the country over the last 5 years. In 2003, while enrolled on a full electric bass scholarship to Berkley College of Music, Rachel got signed to Sony Epic Records for her single, “The Same Man”, becoming the first full-time female Berkley student to be awarded a major record deal. In the course of 6 months she had a #44 charting song on the Billboard Singles Chart, a live performance on NBC’s Today Show and a chance to team up with heavy-hitting producers such as Cliff Magness (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson) and Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Jewel). After graduating, Rachel moved back to Austin to independently record her first full-length CD, “Love the Mess”, a shimmering collection of pop introspections that highlights her elevated musicianship (she plays all the instruments except drums). Since then, she has released another acoustic EP, “Being Little” and has been touring nationwide, mesmerizing audiences with amazing vocals, groovy bass lines and songwriting skills beyond her years.

Now, after a year of intense writing and touring, Rachel is releasing her new CD, “Tongue and Teeth” independently, with help from the Austin Music Foundation’s Incubator Program. Although keeping the pop sensibilities of her previous CDs, “Tongue and Teeth” introduces a darker and more raw side of Rachel, brought about by a year of loss and spiritual confusion. “Tongue and Teeth” is not only down-to-earth, it is also a “family” collaboration of Austin musicians. With contributors like producer Carl Thiel (Bob Schneider, Monty Montgomery), songwriter Johnny Goudie (joining Rachel on a heartbreaking duet they co-wrote) and her band of Austin instrumental badasses, the resulting sound resembles the effortless conversations of close friends.

At the ripe old age of 23, Rachel has written and released 4 CDs, toured nationally and performed live on national television. Yet, her performance remains remarkably down-to-earth. She sings and writes to accurately expose her emotions and experiences with no holding back. Once you see Rachel you’ll know. She’s not only not faking it, she can’t fake it.