Music is the very making of my soul. I have been signing this since I was very young. I have no idea where it came from. It’s just how I’ve always explained my love for music. Everything has given me has molded me into who I am today.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing
Rachel Stacy is a dynamic world-class performer, songwriter, fiddler, and country music recording artist. When you see Rachel perform, you are struck by the extreme confidence that she exudes. Whether she is belting out a rocker, a heartbreaking country ballad, or absolutely mesmerizing the crowd with her show-stopping fiddle chops, Rachel Stacy commands attention.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
My mother and father were also musicians, so by the time I was really able to walk, I had already been introduced to music and early on my family realized I could sing. My mother put me in dance at young age. We had no money, but she put me in dance and then I started competing in pageants, singing, and dancing. A couple of years later, I started writing poetry and that led me to the violin. I had seen my mother play after piano, guitar and sing for years, so it came very naturally. My elementary brought the symphony to the school one day and allowed us to check out one instrument and take it home. I walked straight to the violin, because it was the smallest one, and took it home. Little did I know it would become my best friend. Also, little did I know that my mother would eventually marry a man who would begin abusing us, and that my instruments and my music would ultimately save my life. The abuse began young, and the creativity helped me escape. I owe so much to music, it helped heal. It still does.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
In seventh grade, I signed up for the talent show to sing, and when I walked out on the stage, I saw my friends in the audience, I was shy enough that I turned around and sang to the curtain with my back to the audience. It’s funny because I’m the one who signed up to be on a stage, which I had done for most of my young years, but got scared to death, and did my whole performance to the curtain. Wow how things have changed!
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
It’s a tough business. Work ethic is everything. The further I got into this business. The further I saw I could go if I did the work, and if I didn’t do the work, and I relaxed, then my career remained stagnant. Even on the days I’m discouraged, I still work. I have to plan my day out, just like you would a daytime job, and most of the work that we do is behind the scenes, the payoff is the performance.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
I will always give credit to my mother and her musical skills. We had a very turbulent childhood and music saved me from a lot of the pain that most kids would experience. If my mother had not been the musician, she was, I may have never wanted to do it like I do. She never pushed me into it, she encouraged me. She became my manager many years later, and as that didn’t work out, I remained grateful that through all the childhood pain that I experienced that she brought me music.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
One of the subjects I speak of is sobriety and spirituality and being a woman in the music industry. I got sober November 6, 2011, and hopefully I can have a profound and meaningful impact on everyone, but especially women. Being a woman in this industry is hard, as I’m sure it is an any industry, however, this being an artist industry, and women, being a little bit more sensitive, it can be tougher on us. So, I was not only an empath and sensitive, but I am also an alcoholic and drug addict. Since I’ve sobered up, the miracles that happened left and right and the people that have helped me and now that I’ve helped just by remaining sober is all the reason for me to stay sober. With that being said, it’s also my mission to encourage women not to give up their dreams. I have met too many women who have given up their dreams, because they were told they are too old, too fat, too skinny, not talented, etc. etc. There are many people in this industry who make it from drive alone. If you want something bad enough, it will come to you, however, there is always a price to how much work you put into something. I have sacrificed many things to do this industry, and some I do regret, some I don’t. But I’d like to encourage more women to not give up. There is room for everybody, don’t compete. Don’t give up.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I was touring a lot and playing music all over the United States, and my drinking and drugging was becoming more of an issue due to the fact, I did not know how to say no from fans, and people who attended our performances. I’m someone who had no idea I had addiction problems, and little did I know I was destroying myself day by day. So, when I made the decision to get sober on November 6, 2011, I knew it was going to be a challenge. I take pride now that I am a musician and an artist that does not drink or drug. I tried to remain an example to all people in our industry and others of course that we don’t need chemicals to cover up stress, pain, heartbreak, happiness, etc. etc. We don’t need chemicals to cope with life. Following my dreams has always been hard, and it was distracting every bit of my goals to be a successful artist, so I had to stop. And luckily, I did before I died. Bottom line, I didn’t have the ability to cope with what it happened to me and my childhood so most of the time I was covering up the pain with drugs and alcohol, which was killing me, and now I can share with others, the truth, and hope that it saves someone’s life
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
There is a particular artist in mind, that I watched for years and years struggle with her addiction. She would call me and talk to me and really want to get sober. She came to all my shows, and she is an incredible artist. I just found it a few days ago that she’s had almost a year of sobriety, and posted on social media that I’m the one who encouraged her and she’s forever Thankful for me staying sober and believing in her. That’s the stuff that makes my heart pitter patter. When I help someone like her who I never thought could get sober, nor go back to her career of music, and see them strive, I know I’m on the right path. In my 12 1/2 years of sobriety, I’ve been lucky to witness the light coming on in many alcoholics and addicts I have been around, and I’ve helped others two who don’t have problems, by encouraging them to follow their dreams and their art, and to believe in themselves. I have to remind myself to believe every day even on the days I want to give up.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
Addiction can be a stigma. Don’t exclude us. We aren’t different. We have a disease that we have to face daily and on top of being an artist, being an addict just means we have one more bit of work to do to create. I have seen over and over people look down upon us addicts because we choose not to drink or drug in our industry, we just can’t. SO sadly, we are excluded. I’ve seen it happen, over and over and personally been affected by it as well. So, one thing that I could ask society to do is, if someone doesn’t drink or drug, it’s not weird, it’s just what they choose to do. I’m still the same fun-loving person. Just because I don’t drink or drug “anymore” doesn’t mean I’m no fun, and it definitely doesn’t mean I can’t put a show on and sell alcohol. I know that I put on one hell of a show, and I don’t need a substance to help me. In fact, I get better and better without all of that in my system. I guess you could say I’m looking for more encouragement from others for those that struggle with addiction. Instead of exclusion, lift each other up, no matter, if there is addiction or not.
Why do you think music in particular has the power to create social change and create a positive impact on humanity?
Music is art; therefore, we are creating, and keeping Hope alive. Music brings people together; lyrics bring people together. And pain, strife, happiness, celebration, music is everywhere. It has a huge impact on social norms, etc. Sometimes people don’t listen until a song comes out that speaks truth. I feel right now we are in a chaotic world, but Music still keeps us together. Personally, as a songwriter, I strive to write songs/lyrics that touch lives so that we can all relate and heal together whether it be a positive song or a negative song. When we do this together, we can create a positive impact!
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?
I was lucky enough to always be told what the industry was going to give me. Good and bad. I sometimes wish they wouldn’t have told me what they told me. However, it probably made me work harder. Anything that scares me usually makes me work harder and face it! Here are a few.
1. Get ready, it’s a bumpy ride. So, hold on.
2. Music business (not music hobby) is one of the toughest out there
3. Take care of Mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
4. Constantly work on your craft and know your instruments (means your voice too)
Perfect practice makes perfect performance, don’t be half ass. Train, train, train.
5. Surround yourself with like-minded artists. Encourage each other. (Surround yourself with the winners)
Dreams come true but there is work and a price to pay. it’s all worth it in the end.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I have thought about this over and over. I’m already part of a movement that is based on helping other alcoholics and addicts which involves support groups and reprogramming. In essence they teach how to live a new way. What I have seen in this industry, yes, as men and women who struggle with the diction, but the women go down quicker. I would love to somehow continue being an example of sobriety for those who struggle, but women that are musicians and artists. Being a creative and being lost through addiction can be extremely hard, and I’ve seen several suicides in my lifetime. I would love to somehow create a society of women who are always available, and somehow create leadership with Sobriety. My own personal experience is not everyone’s experience, of course, but due to having experience the rejection already in the music business, or the entertainment business in general, being rejected because of my addiction problem that I had in the past still exist today. I have a program that has taught me how to love myself enough to not let that stuff affect me, but I am human so of course it still affects me. I can only imagine the defeat of someone who doesn’t have programming of some sort. And not everyone can find the program or support groups, so wouldn’t it be cool to have a group of women to always know you can come to. This may be far-fetched, but it would be great for the world to know that there’s a group of women you could always come to when you are struggling with any kind of addiction. And not be rejected but loved, supported, and lifted up, especially in art. Not sure if that makes sense. I sure hope it does.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
Many who know me know I have two sayings.
“Carpe diem” and “music is the very making of my soul.”
Carpe diem, seize the day, gives me strength and reminds me to stay in the present. Today is all I have — yesterday is gone — tomorrow isn’t here yet, so do want you can do in this day. Tomorrow may never come.
Music is the very making of my soul. I have been signing this since I was very young. I have no idea where it came from. It’s just how I’ve always explained my love for music. Everything has given me has molded me into who I am today.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Dolly Parton. I’ve admired her since I was a little girl and not because she’s beautiful and talented, I mean that’s a given, but how She continually works on her craft, her business, networking, helping others, and so on and so on. It would be a dream of mine to pick her brain, and yes, work with her. Knowing what she has conquered in her amazing lifetime keeps me going.
Oprah Winfrey — I always wanted to go on her show as a young girl after dealing with my abusive stepfather and dealing with almost death situations with him. I always wanted to ask her how to help others never go through this again. I distinctly remember trying to find a contact to get on her show so I could share my story and help other abused little girls. I was too young to be thinking like that, but something triggered me to contact her and I’m not sure what it was. I saw how she took a lot of adversity and turned it around and helped others. I wanted to do that too. Which I’m doing now, but of course she had a larger platform. I wanted the world to know that I did music to cover up the pain of the abuse, and I wanted her to help me get the message out so I can help others, maybe other little girls who may be struggling with the same situation. I always wanted to pick her brain and ask her how she continued to grow as a businesswoman.
I have many other influences that I could list here that would probably take up most of this interview page. I do hope for some kind of movement in the areas I’ve spoken of. This may sound cliché, but I write music to help others heal while I heal. Also, I’m still the little girl who has the visuals in my brain of abuse and violence, neglect, being unsafe, and much more. Music is my safe place. I know I’m not the only one out there who struggles. My music has helped me face so many things, and I hope that I can help as many people as I can continuing to do what I do best, and that is “create music!” Music makes the world a much better place, and I love being part of that.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
Music Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Rachel Stacy Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.