Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff
Since March of 2023 Rachel Prancer has been putting out homespun indie music that flits between ebullient hyperpop, escapist dance-pop, and delicate singer-songwriter fare. This May she released her first EP, Ways Parted, which doubled down on the latter end of her sound, and she’s followed it with a couple additional singles that take her even farther down that path. She’s one of the most exciting new voices in the indie rock world, and her sensibilities aren’t terribly far from someone like Sufjan Stevens who’s mastered both expansive, world-conquering art-pop and devastating acoustic balladry. We caught up with Rachel Prancer to discuss her origin story, her recent name change, and connecting with fans.
You’ve been putting out music since about the start of last year. How did you get started?
I’ve been writing songs since I was a kid. I had a YouTube channel where I’d upload covers and original songs on my ukulele, and I’ve done community theater since I was a kid. I’ve always loved performing, writing stories, putting on plays. I’d been trying to make art and music however I could. Beginning of last year I put my first song out on Spotify. I’d made friends in the music community who helped me start actually producing, mixing, mastering. I wrote a song on piano and I had a friend who helped make it into something else, and that started my official music journey. Before that I had stuff on SoundCloud or YouTube.
A lot of your first songs were different–a lot more electronic–than what you’ve been putting out lately. What accounts for that shift?
I was always making guitar music since I was a kid, but I didn’t know how to put it out professionally. I got into dance and pop, but I’ve always liked a lot of genres. I was able to put out music first through that dance-pop avenue, but lately I’ve been able to work through my guitar demos more. I’m always looking to grow and experiment with different sounds. I think it’s cool to work those sounds together.
If you’re pitching your music in three words, what would you say?
I would say “ethereal,” “glittery,” and “glossy,” maybe. I like a lot of glittery pianos and I have a lot of harmonies in a lot of my songs.
You changed your name fairly recently. Why did you choose to move away from Spiderblush?
I made that name on SoundCloud a few years ago. It was my way of reinventing myself, trying to be a different person. I was experimenting with music for the first time. It was just an alias. It felt like me at the time, I guess, but as I got more professional and found my sound it didn’t feel like me anymore. It didn’t resonate. I felt separated from it. Spiderblush holds a special place in my heart, but Rachel Prancer feels right for me right now and going into the future. Thankfully people like my new name–Rachel is my real name. And Prancer is to honor my friend J.D., who passed away two years ago and had a song called “Prancer.” He was an inspiration to me, and he made incredible music. I’m glad for that name to represent me.
Have you done a lot of touring to this point?
I went on tour with Abby Sage, this incredible indie artist, in May this year for her album The Rot. I did the San Fran and LA shows with her, and then I did one in New York separately.
How has your material been received?
The show in LA was sold out, and I met a lot of cool people that night. In San Fran it was really fun. Those were my first shows, so I was trying my best. In San Francisco a lot of people asked for pictures and bought the bracelets I made. That was nice.
What’s your favorite tour snack?
Maybe barbecue chips.
You’ve got a fairly robust Discord–with a fairly popular gaming channel–how did that start?
I just started that, actually. We all play Dress to Impress, and we need to play Minecraft soon. I like connecting with the people who listen to me. I’ve been talking to them more since I’ve been able to do the broadcast channel on Instagram. Some of them have even met through Discord.
A lot of the songs you’ve put out have references to a lot of times when you were younger, and I know you’re only a couple years younger than I am. I understand when a 45-year-old writes songs reminiscing on the good times, but that seems to be a common lyrical thread through your music, and I’m curious where it comes from.
I have always been a very introspective person, I guess, very existential. I feel like that’s common. I moved a lot as a kid, moved schools, and then moved to a different state when I was twelve. A lot of my life, I think, has been defined by change and the solitude of that, being alone and writing a lot. Something you connect to is these certain periods of your life, you reflect on how you’ve grown. It’s something I’ve always done in my writing, and it’s part of who I am. I also like to share that experience with people listening. Listening to other songs other artists wrote ten years ago–it’s cool. It’s like my own little time capsule, a special piece of me captured in time.
Up until Ways Parted you’d only put out standalone singles. Why did you decide those five belonged together as one piece?
I wanted to make an EP, so I started working on different songs I had written. I had “Big Deal” written and melodies for “Nobody Else” and I think “Bad Dream.” I just started working with more producers for the first time together–like putting our ideas together–instead of just working off a beat. I think it just came together being at a certain stage of my life, and I wanted five songs together. Two of those songs were the same producer, and the other three just fit well together. I showed them what I was going for–it just ended up more rock-based, and that was cool.
Since that EP, you’ve put out a couple more singles. What was the writing for those two like?
For my last two singles, I had written “see-through” out on my guitar. I co-produced “see-through” and “backwards,” which was cool, and I played guitar on them. They came together really easily, and I had a pretty solid vision for both of those songs. I think they came together naturally for me and the producers. Some songs take more time, though, and I’ve worked on some that haven’t ever come out. They were important to me, especially “see-through.” It was this story that I wrote out, and it was important, so that’s why it was the first one out after Ways Parted.
Will those two be part of a larger project?
They’re set to be, yeah.
What have you got planned for the future?
I’m working on my next project. I’m also working on merch. I’m worknig with my friend Lyn, who’s a graphic designer. Hopefully I’ll do some shows next year.
If you could tour with anyone, living or dead, who’d it be?
Probably Billie Eilish. She’s someone who’s inspired me since I was a kid. I found her music when I was, like, fifteen. I’m not very attached to artists personally–I love a lot of artists–but I’m not a superfan, but Billie’s the one person I’d really want to meet. I’ve been a fan of hers for so long.
If there’s anything else I didn’t ask about, feel free.
I appreciate you, and I want to say thank you to everyone who’s stuck with met to see me grow as an artist. I’m excited to show you what I’ve been working on.
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Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
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