Interview Flashback - The 9513’s Interview With Singer/Songwriter Rachel Proctor

I have been blessed to write contributions/reviews/interviews/opinion pieces for several country music and roots-oriented websites and publications over the years including Saving Country Music, Nashville Scene, Country California, Country Weekly, American Noise, The 9513 and Engine 145. As a regular contributor to the last two in that list, I did close to a 100 interviews with different artists- and since both of those great sites have come down, I will reprint some of those interviews here to give them a home in perpetuity. This interview was originally published in July 2010 on The 9513.

Rachel Proctor was born in West Virginia almost quite literally into music. She began singing in front of crowds at the ripe old age of six and traveled all over the country to participate in talent competitions- culminating in her starring on the American Idol show of 1989, the hit TV show Star Search. At eighteen, Proctor moved to Nashville and became the youngest staff writer ever signed to Warner-Chappell Music. She spent the better half of the 90’s singing in a band with a then-unknown Blake Shelton. But she continued to hone her songwriting skills and artists such as Tanya Tucker, Lisa McCann, Danielle Peck, The Lynns, Nashville Star winner Erika Jo, Kenny Loggins, Katrina Elam, Blake Shelton and Martina McBride all recorded her penned songs in those early days.

Proctor signed to BNA Records finally in 2002 and released her debut album Where I Belong. It spawned chart hits "Days Like This" (#24 in 2003), "Didn't I" (#43 in 2003), “Where I Belong” (#37 in 2004) and her highest chart hit, "Me and Emily" (#18 in 2004). The last track, a song about a young parent escaping from domestic abuse, became an anthem for abused women across the world and earned a direct commendation from then-President Bush.

After losing her record deal after BNA was purchased, she kept with her songwriting roots, co-writing country/pop singer Jessica Simpson's 2008 singles "Come On Over" and "Remember That" and Jesse Lee's 2009 debut single "It's a Girl Thing". This last October, she went the indie route and self-released a brand new album called What Didn’t Kill Me.

“This album is a collection of songs from the last 5 years of my life. There have been a lot of ups and downs & loves and losses that have made me grow both as singer and as a songwriter. I've always believed in writing from the heart about my own life experiences.”

Each of the 11 songs of the album are written or co-written by Proctor and that life experience from the last few years is poured out best on the title track off of the album. She uses the loss of her major label record deal and her scrape for musical relevance as inspiration on a great autobiographical song about getting stronger from the stuff that knocks you down. Overall, Proctor has focused more on striking equilibrium between fast up-tempo numbers and those introspective ballads that marked her radio success the first go-around.

The 9513 caught Rachel for a quick interview in between songwriting assignments to talk about her album and upcoming projects.

Ken Morton, Jr.: You just launched a brand new album of all new material called What Didn’t Kill Me. What will fans will hear on the album?

Rachel Proctor: What Didn't Kill Me is a little edgier and more personal than my previous releases. I wrote most of the songs with Bruce Wallace so the album definitely has its own sound. Somewhere between Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

KMJ: You’ve mentioned before there’s a deeper meaning behind the album’s title. How so?

RP: I went through a lot of ups and downs after leaving BNA Records. There was a lot of soul searching and healing that happened in the years between "Where I Belong" and "What Didn't Kill Me." I've found that it's true what they say... Everything we go through good or bad makes us who we are and hopefully makes us stronger.

KMJ: I would say it’s decidedly more up-tempo and edgier than your previous release- is that fair assessment?

RP: Absolutely!

KMJ: Any favorite songs on the album?

RP: It's a toss up between "Wrong" and "Don't Let It Hit Ya"

KMJ: You’ve had a tremendous amount of success as a songwriter, a more moderate amount of success as a singer and performer. Do you envision yourself as one or the other or do the two things go hand in hand?

RP: They most definitely go hand in hand. I don't think I could do one without the other.

KMJ: On your first release, you had four charted hits, but one single in particular really resonated deeply with America. Talk to me about “Me and Emily.” What did that song mean to you and to those that identified so much with the song?

RP: The song was a gift from God from the very beginning. I feel blessed to have written it. I met so many wonderfully strong women because of the song and I'm very thankful for that.

KMJ: What was it like touring around as nobody’s with Blake Shelton back in the 90’s?

RP: It was an absolute blast. Blake is so fun to work with.

KMJ: Jessica Simpson certainly caused lots of discussion with her release of your song “Come On Over”- most of it fairly polarizing on both ends of the argument spectrum. What was it like being the songwriter behind that track?

RP: It was one of the most exciting times for me as a writer. Jessica is an amazing girl and working with her was a great experience. She recorded two of my songs and I am very proud of the cuts. Her whole album is really well written and produced. People are missing out if they don't at least give it a listen. They may find they really like it. I still listen to it myself.

KMJ: Any other songs out there either in the recording process or on-hold that we should keep an eye out for?

RP: I have two songs on Jennette McCurdy's album. I co-wrote her first single "Not That Far Away" with her and Blair Daly. I also have a cut on Jewel's new album called "Bad As It Gets." I'm excited about writing a song with Margaret Durante called "Maybe Tonight" that is available as a free download on her website www.margaretdurante.com

KMJ: What new projects are you working on?

RP: I'm focused on songwriting right now. I've been trying to write by myself more which I have never really done. I feel a new project on the horizon with some of this new stuff.

KMJ: Are you still hopeful for another major record deal opportunity?

RP: If the right deal came along I would truly consider it but I'm not actively seeking it out. I love my life as a songwriter.

KMJ: What is country music to Rachel Proctor?

RP: To me country music is about real life. It doesn't matter to me if it's stone cold country or contemporary country. It's all about a great song.

Hear it Here- New Music From Rachel Proctor- "Heartbreak Hall of Fame"

Known best for her 2004 album Where I Belong and her big smash hit, "Me and Emily," Rachel Proctor just released a new track entitled "Heartbreak Hall of Fame." Take a listen below.

Free music player widget at ReverbNation.com

Hear It Here- New Music From Rachel Proctor- "Lovebird"

Rachel Proctor first signed to BNA Records in 2003, releasing her debut single "Days Like This" that year. This song, which peaked at #24 on the country charts, was the first of four singles from her 2004 debut album Where I Belong. Proctor's only album for the label, it also produced her highest-charting single in the #18 "Me and Emily". Since that time, she's written and recorded two self-released albums and has written hit singles for Jessica Simpson and Jesse Lee.

Check out this great little groovy number she's just shared with fans called "Lovebird."

Rachel Proctor Unveils Five Brand New Songs

Rachel Proctor has unveiled five brand new songs she's written or co-written and has made them available for streaming on her mySpace page. That Nashville Sound has the link to the player below. If you have a daughter, "The Blossoming" is HIGHLY recommended.

Proctor was originally signed to BNA Records in 2002 and released her debut album Where I Belong. It spawned chart hits “Days Like This” (#24 in 2003), “Didn’t I” (#43 in 2003), “Where I Belong” (#37 in 2004) and her highest chart hit, “Me and Emily” (#18 in 2004). The last track, a song about a young parent escaping from domestic abuse, became an anthem for abused women across the world and earned a direct commendation from then-President Bush.

After BNA closed after being purchased, she kept with her songwriting roots, co-writing country/pop singer Jessica Simpson’s 2008 singles “Come On Over” and “Remember That” and Jesse Lee’s 2009 debut single “It’s a Girl Thing.” This last October, she went the indie route and self-released a brand new album called What Didn’t Kill Me.

TNS Video History- Rachel Proctor- "Me and Emily"

New Music Video From 40 Nashville Artists- "City of Dreams"

40 Nashville artists and musicians joined together with a production/engineering team and film crew to record the flood relief song City of Dreams. All participants and facilities donated their services and all proceeds from the song will benefit the Red Cross.

The video features Victoria Banks, Emma Mae Jacobs, Rachel Proctor, Marcus Hummon, Danielle Peck, Kate and Kacey, Mallory Hope, Buddy Jewel, Jesse Lee, Pam Tillis, Sarah Darling and many more.

New Music From Rachel Proctor

Rachel Proctor, whose "Me and Emily" was a Top 20 hit back in 2004 and whose What Didn't Kill Me was received well critically, has released four new songs posted on her MySpace page They include tracks written with co-writers Tommy Lee James, Phillip Larue, Blair Daly, Victoria Banks, Kate and Kacey Coppola. New tracks include:

A Different Kind Of Gone
A Sign
Broken Mirror
Don't You Wanna

CD Reviews- Emma Jacob- 2232 Miles

The Background:
Emma Mae Jacob grew up in Costa Mesa, Calif., and as a child, she enjoyed listening to Aretha Franklin and Patsy Cline. She took vocal lessons from the legendary Seth Riggs- she once ran into Ray Charles at a lesson- and earned a spot as first soprano in the Pacific Symphony Children's Choir. At age 11, she sang a Franklin song, "You're All I Need to Get By," on Showtime at the Apollo and received a standing ovation. The family was living in Colfax, Calif., when Jacob and her parents took over the ownership of a local theatre owned by Jacob's grandfather. Music producer Paul Worley heard her perform there and encouraged her to move to Nashville. Worley also pitched a song that would become the teenager's first single, "What If We Fly," included on her debut album, Breaking All the Rules, in 2008. Her new digital album on the Black River Music Group label is titled 2,232 Miles. The album represents the distance between Emma Jacob’s hometown in California and Nashville, Tennessee

The Review:
Dolly Parton once said that “country music is ordinary stories told by extraordinary people.” For young Emma Jacob, she has half of this equation nailed. She has the pipes for the job- Jacob is a very talented vocalist. Anyone who has seen her perform live (as I have on multiple occasions) knows that she has a big strong voice that has a Rebecca Lynn Howard type of sassy inflection. The part she is missing on the album, however, is the story part. Her label-mate, Sarah Darling came out with an album in 2009 that was full of great storytelling of personal and revealing prose that gave some insight into her own soul. On 2,232 Miles, Jacob is more the performer instead of the songwriter/storyteller. And as a perfomer, she does terrific. But it sure would be nice to have both sides of that coin. ”Julianna” is the lead single from the album and easily the one big exception to the comments above. It’s a story of woman empowerment that has a strong protagonist in a story of esteem, personal validation and the ability to feel beautiful. “Julianna, you don’t have to do that to be loved, Julianna, Oh I wish you knew you were enough.” The Rachel Proctor penned “Didn’t I” also turns the camera inwards on a song about love lost- but not too personally. It seems a little more about hitting notes than revealing her soul. And on an album with a title that represents her journey from Northern California girl to Nashville star potential, that’s the story I want to hear in some of the songs. What she has created is a showcase for her vocals and some fun uptempo dance numbers like “Sunday Paper”- a fun blow-off song of all the places her man should put his apology including billboards, informercials and the newspaper. Overall, it’s a good album that has signs of lots of potential from Jacob. She’s worked extensively with longtime and celebrated Nashville songwriter Karen Staley and hopefully, with more time with great songwriters like her and more life experience in Music City, we’ll hear more of Jacob in her music.

Sounds Like:
Sass Jordan and Rebecca Lynn Howard

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Julianna
Wrong
Sunday Paper

The Verdict:
Two & A Half Stars Out Of Five

CD Reviews- Rachel Proctor- What Didn’t Kill Me

The Background:
For those not familiar with Proctor, before signing to a record deal, she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2002 single "Where Would You Be". By 2003, Proctor had signed to BNA Records, releasing her debut single "Days Like This" that year. This song, which peaked at #24 on the country charts, was the first of four singles from her 2004 debut album Where I Belong. Proctor's only album for the label, it also produced her highest-charting single in the #18 "Me and Emily". Although she has not charted a single since 2004, she has written charted singles for Jessica Simpson (“Come On Over”) and Jesse Lee (“It’s A Girl Thing”). This October marks the return of this young singer/songwriter with a new indie release, What Didn’t Kill Me.

The Review:
How Rachel Proctor hasn’t hit it big is a puzzle. The beautiful blonde released a generally critically well-received album earlier this decade and has proven to have some serious songwriting chops with mid-level hits by herself and songs covered by bigger artists. On What Didn’t Kill Me, Proctor does a great job striking an equilibrium between fast propulsive numbers and those introspective ballads that marked her radio success the first go-around. Her appearance belies her music. She sounds older and wiser, singing stories about life's journey with a “kick butt and take names” attitude. Says Proctor, “This album is a collection of songs from the last 5 years of my life. There have been a lot of ups and downs & loves and losses that have made me grow both as singer and as a songwriter. I've always believed in writing from the heart about my own life experiences…” Each of the 11 songs of the album are written or co-written by Proctor and that life experience from the last years is poured out best on the first and title track of the album. She uses the loss of her major label record deal and her scrape for musical relevance as inspiration on a great autobiographical song about getting stronger from the stuff that knocks you down. She gets very sensual on “Your Hands On Me” and the album has great production elements like the very cool electric guitar bridge on “Why Wait.” Her voice is a versatile alto and a powerful instrument. She displays emotional depth matching that high quality songwriting. The West Virginia native’s vocals rival that of any of her contemporaries with all the sincerity and emotion to convey the meaning of these songs and really pull the listener in. Imagine a Carrie Underwood album written, produced and sung by Carrie Underwood with all the personal connections to each and every track. That is what you can expect on Proctor’s What Didn’t Kill Me album. Overall, it’s a fantastic CD that belongs in your collection for sure.

Sounds Like:
Rebecca Lynn Howard’s Songwriting with Carrie Underwood’s Voice

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
What Didn’t Kill Me
What Goodbye Looks Like
That’s A Lie
Your Hands On Me

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five