While her music is built on truth, realness and storytelling, Australian country artist Raechel Whitchurch spent many moments questioning her own talents and her ability to connect with others through music.
Despite growing up in a musical family (who performed together as The Lees) immersed in country music that led to her own solo EP release in 2016 as well as working a day job as a booking agent, Raechel found her confidence in her own music wavering.For awhile it stagnated her growth as a musician and songwriter before the arrival of two people in her life changed everything.
"The thing that changed things for me was when I had kids and I realised that one day I was going to have to look them in the eye when they said 'hey mum why didn't you ever do music?'. I was going to have to tell them the reason why is because I got scared.
"I can't stand here and raise brave, forward-thinking, secure children but at the same time be a walking contradiction. I have to show them, I have to model to them, what it looks like to take risks and maybe fail.
"That became a big catalyst for me to make this record: at the end of the day to tell them I tried."
That album is titled 'Finally Clear', which Raechel released this past autumn having initially recorded it at the start of 2019. It landed at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart its first week of release.
The journey you undertook to finally release your debut album earlier this year; the ups and downs, self-doubts, COVID interruptions etc. etc. – to get to the finish line must've felt pretty epic?
I released 'Finally Clear' on 16 April 2021, but the crazy thing is I recorded it in Jan 2019, so it was almost a year and a half of work to actually get to release date.
COVID definitely played a part in that, and while that was really hard, the harder part was the years I spent searching for the courage to actually give this music thing a real go.
The album landing as ARIA's #1 Australian Country album... that must've been a pinch-yourself moment, right?
It was such a crazy feeling to have 'Finally Clear' take the #1 spot for Australian Country album the week it was released. I had a few goals for this album and one of them was to have it land somewhere in the top 10, so getting #1 was pretty surreal.
Since it's a sales-based chart, I really owe it to every single person who bought a copy of the album and connected with my songs. Such a dream come true.
Matt Fell's role with this collection of songs; it seems he was an integral part of 'Finally Clear' seeing the light of day; having such a person with you in the studio, throughout the recording process was it akin to having a security blanket of sorts?
I have never worked with Matt before, so to be completely honest I was really nervous about whether he would understand my vision for the album and songs, or if we'd even get along.
I really had nothing to worry about though, because he is one of the most creative, insightful, thorough people I have ever worked with. He really looked at each song and made sure it got exactly what it needed, so that the story could be told in the best way possible. 'Finally Clear' wouldn't be what it is without Matt Fell.
The different collaborators (musicians) who assisted the making of 'Finally Clear' – how did they shape, influence the final recordings?
Matt (Fell) did a lot of playing on the record as he is not only a great producer, but also an excellent musician.
We also had Josh Schuberth on drums, my husband Ben Whitchurch on dobro, plus a few other iconic Australian musicians like Stuie French and Lawrie Minson. I also had Kevin Bennett (of The Flood) sing with me on my current single 'I Used To Think I Was An Outlaw' and that was a pretty cool collab as I've grown up admiring him as an artist, and now he's singing on my record.
You also managed to write a song with one of your heroes, Colin Buchanan. Was that a fan girl moment?
I grew up listening to Colin Buchanan and admiring his songwriting from the time I was a little girl. He just has a way of writing about rural Australia that captures the real beauty and heartache, and not many people in country music do that anymore.
I was so honoured to write a song with him for my record. It's a special one for me because I was thinking a lot about some families that lived on properties back when I lived in Broken Hill. Country life is hard man.
Are collaborations an important part of your music making?
I haven't been very big on collaborations in the past, but I think that stems from an unwarranted fear that my peers wouldn't want to collaborate with me, and so I've often missed out, I think, because I was working from that place of fear. I'm not doing that anymore. . . I'd rather ask the question and have someone say no, than to miss out on something amazing because I'm scared.
What are some of the themes, subjects you like to explore with your songwriting?
I usually write about the things I'm going through in my life, and I think I've been lucky that my parents always encouraged me as a child to embrace people from all walks of life.
This has really helped to broaden the scope of my writing and to help me find experiences that other people might not have noticed. The big thing for me is authenticity and honesty. If it's not real, people can tell. I think a sustainable career as a songwriter, or singer-songwriter, has to be built upon truth. If it's not, then you've got a lifetime of acting ahead of you.
You've opened for Adam Harvey as part of his tour this year; it must be a joy to return to the stage despite the constant stop-start-stop nature of live events currently?
I have loved being on the road this year. It's the first time I've seen people singing the words to songs that I've written and that is a really weird but beautiful feeling.
I still get incredibly nervous before every show, but I'm lucky that my husband plays music too so we do all my gigs together. If I make a mistake, I usually blame it on him, and since he doesn't get a microphone he can't tell the audience what's really going on.
You also teamed up with Fanny Lumsden for the Country Halls tour; how enjoyable was that experience; any funny moments from the tour you can share?
We love Fanny Lumsden and her husband Dan Freeman. They are just the most real people and they have been nothing but supportive to me and my music.
The great thing about being on the road with them is that it reminds me of my childhood, growing up in a caravan. They are super family friendly, so we can bring our kids, and they are never fazed by challenges. The cutest moment was seeing my kids snuggled up in Fan and Dan’s bed in the caravan every night watching movies. They didn't even know a show was happening.
Your bio explains your life-long association with country music; is the genre like oxygen... you need it to live?
I love country music so much. The storytelling is just beyond anything else I've heard in other genres. I think that if you can make someone feel something real, or change their opinion on a topic, or make them see things from another person's perspective, in three minutes flat, then that’'s pretty incredible.
I have grown up listening to a huge range of genres (for example, I'm listening to The Cure while I've been answering this interview) but country music does hold a special place in my heart.
Being from a musical family – The Lees – was a career in music always the #1 goal you had?
A career in music was the last thing I thought I'd be doing now. I walked away from music after my time in my family band, and I decided to get a real job in the music business, which seemed like the next best thing to an actual career as an artist.
I love the music business so much, but in the end it was one of the things that pushed me back towards a career as an artist.
I called my album 'Finally Clear' because it really was the culmination of a lot of discussions, thoughts and unfilled dreams that lead me back to music. Things finally became clear that I at least needed to give it a shot, and not die wondering what could've been.
Thanks for your time; anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for taking the time to get to know my music and career, and for asking such great questions.
Raechel Whitchurch 2021-2022 Tour Dates
Fri 17 Sep - Memorial Hall (Ariah Park, NSW)Sun 19 Sep - Memorial Hall (Wombat, NSW)
Sat 25 Sep - Outback By The Sea (Karumba, QLD)
2-3 Oct - Savannah In The Round (Mareeba, QLD)
Fri 8 Oct - Capitol Theatre (Bendigo)
Sat 9 Oct - Commercial Club (Albury)
Fri 22 Oct - Inverell RSM Club (Inverell, NSW)
Sat 23 Oct - Ex-Services Club (Armidale)
Fri 29 Oct - Caloundra RSL (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 30 Oct - Kedron-Wavell Services Club (Brisbane)
Thu 4 Nov - Bairnsdale RSL (Gippsland)
Fri 5 Nov - The Top Pub (Gippsland)
Sat 6 Nov - Wonthaggi Workmans Club (Gippsland)
13-14 Nov - Groundwater Country Music Festival (Gold Coast)
Fri 19 Nov - Astor Hotel (Goulburn)
Sat 20 Nov - Oaks Hotel (Illawarra)
Sat 15 Jan - Blazes @ West Leagues Club (Tamworth)
Thu 20 Jan - Events Centre @ West Leagues Club (Tamworth)
Fri 21 Jan - Blazes @ West Leagues Club (Tamworth)
