Not your average country girl, In fact far from it! Rachael Fahim takes aim at the cliche’s as a city raised, blue-eyed country-pop singer of Lebanese-Australian descent!
The 2017 Toyota Star Maker winner & CMC Music award nominee has consistently been one of Australia’s most streamed female country artist’s for the last three years, with over 13 million streams to date across past singles not to mention topping the Australian Country radio charts more than any other Aus female with a collective 19 weeks in the #1 Country Airplay position.
After a short hiatus whilst working on her debut album, Rachael is back with a vengeance and ready to unleash her BEST MUSIC TO DATE, kicking off with the Country-Rock anthem ‘City Girls In The Country’, A song born from collaboration across multiple timelines with hit songwriters Rosi Golan (Little Big Town, Christina Aguilera) in LA, Nashville’s David ‘Messy’ Mescon (Ariana Grande / Nicki Minaj) and Sydney’s (Banton Brothers) whilst a who’s who list of Producers including Greg Stace, RedCurl, MJH, David Mescon and Robby Desa gave the production its legs!
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
I really love the vulnerability aspect of being an artist, I guess it’s probably the best and worst part actually. As an artist, you can be so open and so honest, but the other side of that means you open yourself up to a whole lot of hurt.
I love writing songs about how I’m feeling and having those vulnerable conversations with people who I work with, and those that listen to my music. The closeness aspect here is so special.
What does your music say about you?
I have always wanted my music to represent who I am and I feel the best way to do that is to be real. I want my music to be relatable – we all go through the same stuff, I just write songs and sing about it all!
What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Are any releases planned? Future gigs?
In the next 6 months, my team and I have lined up a few singles that we are planning to drop pretty rapidly. I want to be like BAM BAM BAM, SONG SONG SONG and then hit the road with some more shows and festivals so I’m pretty excited!
What is your current music project about?
My next single ‘City Girls in the Country’ is one for all of the misfits out there. I wrote this with a bunch of friends because I was tired of defending myself as being a girl who lives in Sydney, who also LOVES to listen to, and perform, country music. I want this to be an anthem for anyone who feels me on the ‘trying to fit in’ front.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your current releases?
The most challenging aspect of this release is that there has been such a gap between this single and my last single. After a short break, and not releasing music for a little bit there I am excited but also nervous to be jumping back into it. I’ve got an awesome new team and I’m really excited to face this challenge with open arms now!
What draws you to your preferred genre?
Country music is such an underground genre, I love all of the attention it’s been getting recently and I think it’s so deserved! The thing I love most about country is the lyrics and the way they make me feel – the stories they tell.
The other night I was at CMC Rocks which is a country music festival in QLD, and the thing I noticed the most was people singing along and just how happy they were to be there listening and vibing with the artist on stage.
Does your music fit into your local scene? If so, how do you take advantage of that? If not, do you see that as an obstacle and what do you do about it?
Sydney isn’t a well known area for country music to be fully embraced – yet! I think people are coming around to the idea of listening to this genre, and that makes me so happy. This is a part of the reason why I wrong ‘City Girls in the Country’ – I want to open people’s eyes to the Australian Country scene and help facilitate the love of country music at city-based festivals and on city radio stations. There is so much awesome, raw talent this genre has to offer.
What is the most useless talent you have?
If a water bottle isn’t clear, and I’m filling it up – I can tell when it’s just about full by listening carefully. (Tell me you have an emotional water bottle, without telling me you have an emotional water bottle🥲 lol)
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
I’m currently watching Outlander, I know I’m late to the party here but I finally made it, and that’s the main thing – right?
If you were a member of the Spice Girls, what would your spice handle be?
Sleepy Spice – ya girl loves a good time but ya girl also gets super sleepy and will throw hands at anyone who wakes her up before she is ready to get up 🥰
Which are cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
This one is a really hard one for me to answer! I was listening to a podcast the other day about the evolution of dinosaurs and I honestly geeked out for a bit – I was fascinated. But then Dragons are SO COOL and also a huge part of the Game of Thrones world.. so I’m stumped.
I guess if I had to answer – I’d have to say Dinosaurs because evolution is sick.
Do you shout out the answers on the TV whilst watching quiz shows?
Unfortunately. I do – my partner hates it. I also ask waayyyy too many questions when watching a movie or a show. ADHD things… I always think I’ve missed a detail and I get super confused easily haha