Rachel Wagner Everyday Things CD

Everyday ThingsRachel Wagner“…my tired eyes are mesmerized; after days filled with babies and laundry…you say ‘sing for me…’ and I fly again…”Rachel Wagner has spent years making music in and around the everyday things of life. It seems appropriate that her first full length recording “Everyday Things” was made within the same walls where this music was born. With a life long passion for music, writing songs was a natural progression in pursuing her love of music. Through the years, Rachel enjoyed discovering the creative paths carved out by the artists that inspired her to try her own hand at songwriting; artists like Julie Miller, The Innocence Mission, and Sam Phillips. She practiced songwriting for the pure joy of the craft, and began to occasionally perform at local establishments, usually just Rachel and her piano. After marrying and having kids, she continued to write and perform as time allowed, waiting for the right time to make a recording. Rachel started hosting annual “Living Room Concerts”, packing in as many people as could fit into her living room. These house concerts were always crowded and cozy, but had a wonderful, intimate and almost magical quality that enveloped everyone present as Rachel, and occasional other musical guests, shared their music“Everyday Things” began as a conversation on a cold winter night in 2004. Rachel and her husband were catching up after a long day. The children tucked in for the night, they sat on the couch and shared their thoughts about the kids and each other…dreams and plans…and music…it finally seemed like the time to try a recording. Not long after, they purchased a computer and dove headfirst into the world of recording. Having no experience with computers or microphones proved a challenge, but they learned by doing, and asking many questions along the way. Rachel recorded all piano and vocals for “Everyday Things” and was joined by good friends and talented musicians Andrew Browne on acoustic bass, and Josh Grayem on guitar. The use of drums and cello round out the acoustic sound that is richly layered throughout the album. All tracks were recorded in the living room and upstairs playroom of their home, and if you listen very carefully, you can hear “house sounds” in the background to the likes of the dog’s toenails on the wood floor and the kids or the phone making an unexpected entrance. One cannot help enjoying even these “slips” as all of this music embraces the realness of life. The sweetness and the heartache of everyday life come out in a simply real, yet poignantly poetic meandering throughout the album. Rachel doesn’t merely sing about motherhood, marriage, and the ups and downs of domestic life; she sings of the joys and struggles that are common to the human experience. Each song represents a small snapshot of life, introspective and explorative, yet inclusive as she voices the sentiments of us all.