Rachel Bockover

Rachel Bockover
Singer/Songwriter/Musician and Performer
rachelbockover@yahoo.com/ (www.myspace.com/rachelbockover)

A natural performer since she was a kid, RACHEL BOCKOVER began building a fan base for her folk-rock/alternative music on the Internet by posting her original composition “MY EVIL TWIN” on MySpace (www.myspace.com/rachelbockover). In her song, two identities are conflicting within her: the responsible young woman working a fulltime job vs. the artist/singer/songwriter wanting to create more music. Rachel’s lyrics and music resonate to a whole generation of would-be artists, who have to make that same difficult choice. In the end, she did make the choice – to follow her heart and take her music to a wider audience.

As one of nine children born into a musical family (her dad played guitar for the late Norton Buffalo and is a longtime sound engineer and composer; her folk singer mom raised the kids with song), Rachel’s creative talent was always encouraged. At age 13, she began writing her own songs and at 14, started belly dancing. Finding it a great form of expression, she learned to play the djembe, dumbek, mandolin, guitar and piano to accompany her troupe, known as PANDORA’S TRIBE. Over the years, the TRIBE has performed at many public and private events related to the arts and entertainment including the annual Harmony Festival.

At age 16, Rachel stepped out as a solo artist when she sang at a Fire Department Benefit Show in her small town of Cazadero, CA (north of SF). Encouraged by the fanfare she received, she continued to write and perform at events including the Strawberry Music Festival, where she, for the first time, performed her original songs at their Open Mike and Radio Station.

With a penchance for writing soulful ballads, Rachel’s style can best be described as “Folk-/ Alternative” with Middle Eastern influences. Rachel credits her parents as her first musical influences, followed by The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Alison Sudol (A Fine Frenzy), Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple.

While building her career, Rachel has faced some challenges. After leaving home to strike out on her own, she met a hot-shot, San Francisco music producer who asked her to write songs for other artists he was producing. At first, it seemed like the career break she was hoping for. However, when he asked her to change her style to accommodate less skilled vocalists, she decided to take her music elsewhere rather than to lose her musical identify, For awhile, this setback caused her to doubt herself.

Ironically, it was an English Teacher at Santa Rosa Junior College, where Rachel was taking art and design courses, who helped her realize the importance of sticking to her goal of making music. In doing so, she realized that writing and performing music was in her blood and she would never be happy until she went after her dreams.
With her renewed drive, Rachel began writing new music and taking a more active role in her career rather than waiting for someone else to validate her. On “My Evil Twin,” Rachel plays piano, bass, djimde, synthesizer, sings, arranges and executive produces the recording. In addition to that, she recently uploaded to YouTube her first music video for another song she has written, “TIGHTROPE WALK,” on which she sings, dances and accompanies her dance troupe. Not only is she the subject of the video, but she also did all of the video and editing work for this release.
With a firm grasp of what she needs to do to take her music to the next level, Rachel is now copywriting and licensing her music with ASCAP. Along with her producer, Paul Carlsen (who engineered Nirvana’s platinum-selling NEVERMIND), she is executive producing an EP that will be entitled MY EVIL TWIN.
Looking ahead, Rachel’s goal is to put together a band to take her music on the road where she can perform to wider audiences. Currently, Rachel performs as a solo artist at locations around CA.
To get updated information on Rachel Bockover or to hear & see Rachel’s performance on “My Evil Twin” and “Tightrope Walk” go to: www.myspace.com/rachelbockover.