RACHEL FLOWERS – Hearing Is Believing

1. You have an interesting new album with a cool pet as a cover artwork, first of all which is the concept behind this cover?

The concept is that big things can come out of things that appear to be small. My mom got the idea for the title from the show Doctor Who. It’s the Doctor’s TARDIS, it’s Mary Poppins’ bag, it’s the magician’s hat. 

2. There are many music influences on your new album, ranging from Jazz to Prog and other exciting music genres. Which is the “umbrella” that features all these influences?

These are all of my favorite genres in music, and I’ve always wanted to incorporate these elements and bring them together to create my own sound.

3. Why did you call your latest album “Bigger on the Inside”?

I always liked music with big sounds. I wanted a title that reflected that idea, that you don’t have to be big in order to create something big.

4. How and where did you record the album?

I recorded it all in my bedroom studio using my computer, keyboards, guitars, basses, and sound libraries.

5. Why did you decide to incorporate more of the organ on this album?

I’ve always loved the sound of the organ, whether it was a pipe organ or the classic Hammond B3 sound. What I loved about artists like Ambrosia and Keith Emerson is how they recorded both pipe organ and Hammond organ in their music and I wanted to find the right time to create music that would really bring those sounds to life in a new way.

6. Which is the conceptual section of the lyrics on this album?

Each song is its own story. There really isn’t a concept binding the whole album together. People can just take it one song at a time.

7. “Hearing Is Believing” documentary was produced about your unusual life and talents, would you like to comment on the creation of this documentary?

It was fascinating to have someone film different aspects of my life. They were there shooting ordinary, everyday events like going to Braille Institute on the bus, and also some very special events like meeting Dweezil Zappa for the first time and then getting to perform with him. That was fun!

8. Do you create images on your mind by creating music sounds?

The images that I create in my mind along with the music are sensory images like what I experience in real life, things like hearing the sound of ocean waves or birds singing.

9. Which is your best concert experience as a musician?

That’s tough! Every experience is different, but the ones that immediately come to mind are performing with jazz trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval, the Dweezil Zappa show that was featured in the film Hearing is Believing, and the two Keith Emerson Tribute concerts.

10. What about your next plans?

I have a lot of plans for future albums! Most of the songs are completed for a couple of jazz vocal albums and a hip-hop style album. I completed some instrumentals for some more rock inspired tunes that will show up in some future project. I just like to keep creating. It’s fun creating music!

Information: http://rachelflowersmusic.com