Singer & songwriter Rachel Brown just released her debut album, “Building Castles” and she’s already caught the attention of music superstar Wyclef Jean, one of her favorite musical influences.
The week after she graduated Harvard, yes, that Harvard, the singer received a surprise when Jean brought her up on stage to perform an impromptu duet of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” at a fundraiser held at New York’s legendary Cipriani 42nd Street.
And then most recently, Jean joined her onstage at her residency at NYC’s famed supper club, The Darby.
The New York City born and raised musician with Ethiopian, Bermudian and Southern roots, fuses pop, Caribbean, Hawaiian, country, hip-hop and world sounds into Building Castles‘ six self-penned songs.
The EP’s first single, “Bumblebee,” will be accompanied by a music video directed by Rex Arrow Productions founder Ian Wolfson (Mac Miller, Nelly). Another track from the EP, “Four Leaf Clovers” is featured on Glamour.com here: glmr.me/TGlu3f
With no formal musical training, Brown who was selected as one of Harvard’s “15 Most Interesting Seniors” in 2010, found her voice organically. “I would pick up my guitar and teach myself how to play by writing songs,” says Brown. “I just played until it sounded right.”
Rachel plays The Darby Friday, September 28.