We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Fang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My first client was a peer musical theater writer I met at a New York Music Month conference. She specialized in writing books and lyrics, while I had experience in songwriting and production – our skill sets complemented each other.

She told me she was working on her first single release but needed help with polishing the vocals, such as tuning and noise reduction. After I shared my background with her, she hired me to do the vocal production. It felt really fulfilling when she told me she loved the result. She was so pleased that she later brought me back to record harmonies and create a piano arrangement.

What I learned from this experience is that even as emerging musicians, we already have something valuable to offer. Opportunities might not always arrive in obvious ways, but when we’re willing to take that extra step — attend that event, start that conversation — meaningful collaborations can happen.

Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Rachel (Xinyue) Fang, a bilingual singer-songwriter, producer, and music journalist based in New York.

My creative journey began with a deep love for storytelling—first through words, and eventually through music. Inspired by artists like Taylor Swift and Sara Bareilles, I write pop and folk songs that explore themes of love, growth, and healing. My sound ranges from intimate acoustic ballads to layered synth-pop productions. Lately, I’ve been diving headfirst into R&B and musical theater, expanding my artistic voice in both groove and narrative depth.

Beyond my solo work, I compose music for film and theater. I love embedding songs within a larger story, letting the music serve and elevate the emotional arc. Collaborating with artists across disciplines has helped me become a more empathetic listener—understanding where others are coming from and striving to meet their creative needs while staying true to my own voice.

Outside of making music, I’m passionate about documenting creative journeys through audio and video. I host a podcast and run an Instagram channel called ‘Echoes from Afar’ where I interview emerging musicians and music industry professionals. Through these conversations, I aim to share their insights and experiences to inspire others who are walking a similar path.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One important lesson I had to unlearn was the habit of constantly comparing myself to others.

From Oberlin to NYU, many of my classmates had been studying music since they were very young. In contrast, I spent my undergraduate years studying film and media, and only discovered my passion for songwriting at the age of 20. At first, I felt discouraged — it seemed impossible to catch up or reach their level of skill.

But over time, I realized that my film and media background has equipped me with equally valuable skills — telling stories, writing narrative lyrics, putting music in a visual context, and communicating with artists across disciplines.

I realized I didn’t need to become a multi-instrumentalist or a well-rounded arranger overnight. Instead, I could lean into my strengths — acting as a bridge between artists from different fields, and helping bring larger creative visions to life.

That mindset shift allowed me to embrace my own path with greater confidence and creativity.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

In the beginning, I experimented with many different content formats — from doing covers and sharing vlogs to blending my music with personal hobbies. Eventually, I discovered that short interview videos featuring conversations with peers and industry professionals about their musical journeys resonated most with my audience. These videos not only help me connect with fellow artists and learn from their stories, but also organically expand my reach by tapping into their existing fan bases.

What makes this direction sustainable for me is that I’m always gaining something valuable regardless of the view count. Whether it’s learning new industry insights, honing my interviewing skills, or experimenting with new editing workflows, each video I post feels like a small but meaningful step forward in my career.

One piece of advice I would say is: social media should be something you genuinely enjoy, not just a marketing chore. When it feels authentic and fun, it becomes much easier to sustain over time — and your audience can feel that sincerity too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xf8579.wixsite.com/rachelxinyuefang
• Instagram: xinyue.fang
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xinyue-rachel-fang
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/rachel-fang-800075980

Image Credits

Michael Hull

Tonie Groh