Interview by our guest writer Elizabeth Jacobsen
Being a critics' darling at the age of 17 is a rare feat;
reviewers usually do not approach adolescent musicians with kid
gloves. In fact, most of them are given a stinging dosage of
reality for the slightest flaws on their records, a baptism of
fire into the music industry. But Florida-based singer/songwriter
Rachael Petit has received a handful of A grades over the Internet,
quite an accomplishment for such a young talent. Drawing from
both guitar-based alternative rock and contemporary Christian
music, Petit is trying to reach a wide audience but only on her
terms. She recently took the time to answer my questions.
Elizabeth Jacobsen: You write like a poet. Are there any
poets among your influences?
Rachael Petit: I see all songwriters as poets. The lyrical
content of most songs tends to flow like a poem, so I view all
of the people that I have drawn inspiration or admiration from
as poets.
EJ: Do you feel that your music crosses over into a mainstream
audience?
RP: Even though my music is a bit more in the worship realm,
I feel that even people in the mainstream audience can relate.
I don't hold back how I feel in my lyrics and melodies; I let
the emotions flow, and I think that's what people are looking
for now.
EJ: Wilted Flowers is a pretty dark choice for an album
title on a Christian album. Was it a conscious decision to have
a title that would be open to interpretation?
RP: I don't necessarily consider my album "Christian."
It talks of God, love, life, hate, depression, and just getting
through the every day struggles. Yes, this was a conscious decision
to select this title. "Wilted flowers" came from the
first two words in the song "Letters." They were a
representation of a bouquet of flowers that I received from an
ex-boyfriend. The flowers signified my inability to let go. The
flowers were once beautiful but when they died and began to wilt,
they just got more and more rotted until I eventually needed
to throw them away. Same with many things in life, hardships
and bad habits - you have to learn to let them go.
EJ: What is your background in singing and playing guitar?
RP: I have been singing for the majority of my life. I was
involved in choir from pre-k to 10th grade and have taken random
voice lessons. I had started playing guitar for about two and
a half years and began by self-teaching. I have been slowly but
surely been progressing forward in the development with various
lessons.
EJ: How old are you and where were you raised?
RP: I am 17 years old and was born and raised in sunny Florida.
EJ: What artists do you listen to?
RP: I mainly listen to rock and hardcore/metal core musical
artists such as Norma Jean, Underoath, Senses Fail, The Used,
and Silverstein, to name a few.
To find more about the artist visit http://www.rachaelpetit.com
