Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Forehand. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I started my songwriting and live music journey in 2019 when I was a sophomore in college. Everyday as a musician, singer, and songwriter feels like taking a risk to me, but a risk worth taking. Fast forward to graduating during the Winter of 2020, the COVID year, I felt like my future was up in the wind.
Picking a career during that time was interesting, reason one being I had a BA in studio art and reason two being a new musician, the gigs were up and down, bars/restaurants were opened then closed. I decided to work for my dad’s chemical business for sometime while I figured things out, watching what was going to happen next after COVID.
While working for him I was with a band, playing gigs, and released my first EP titled “Six Strings & Day Dreams” in the summer of 2022. The time was odd at the releasing of my EP because I was worried about a career and there was a “teacher shortage” that somehow roped me in and the week after the release of that EP, I started a new job as a first grade teacher.
That EP really lit a fire inside of me. I knew in my heart that music and songwriting was more than just a Saturday night good time for me. It was what I had to do to feed my soul, it was my mission to touch someone else’s heart, make them feel something through my music.

Time rolled on, the band and I went separate ways but I continued to play solo shows, teach first grade, and write songs. Being a solo artist and songwriter in Macon, Ga trying to reach the masses with less than 1k followers feels like risky business but boy so does teaching them COVID babies. Everyday truly feels like a risk, but everyday it feels like a risk worth taking. In year 4 of teaching now, I’ve somehow managed to write a full length 10 song album titled “Blackwater” and record it at Capricorn Records in Macon, Ga. It will be released in April of 2026 and it’s every bit of faith, love, and family. The Lord put this dream in my heart, not the dream to be famous, but the dream to touch someone’s life for the better through my music, and through being an educator. Where the times are now, it feels like a huge risk releasing a new album in 2026 when you don’t have a huge social media presence but I know it’s possible. Some questions that continuously run through my head are “how am I going to get this album out there? How can I get press coverage? On and on, all while being a teacher 180 days out of the year. One thing I know for sure is that God blessed me with the ability to songwrite, pick a guitar, and sing, it’s not my will but his will be done. He’s also, at the same time, blessed me with the opportunity to teach children. I am truly grateful for the opportunity that he allowed me to have, recording at Capricorn with some amazing musicians, and getting to work with Charlie Gilbert to hone my craft of songwriting and him producing my album.I pray deeply that this new album touches the lives of others when it releases in April of 2026, so until then and probably for the rest of my life, I’ll be taking that risk, writing that song, and doing my best to make a difference is someone else’s life and the life of a child. At the end of the day, you can do so many things, but making a difference in the life of a child is a legacy worth having.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been playing live music and songwriting for 6 years now. I am an independent artist from Macon, Ga who can be associated with a few different genres, ranging from country to southern rock, blues, and rock n roll. I am super excited to be releasing a full length 10 song album titled “Blackwater” that I recorded at Capricorn Studios earlier this year. I think it will set me apart from the rest in the terms of it being really unique. It doesn’t sound like anything I have heard from the new release radar on Spotify or anything I’ve heard on instagram. It’s an old sound, with a new twist on it, as I reflect on my southern rock background with a new age inspiration. I hope to set a new stage with this album in the term of southern rock being thought of something of the past, when it’s really apart of our future. Southern rock and soul music that came from Macon, Ga has changed my life and I love it. I hope to highlight Macon, Ga and its music history in my new album, showing that new music is still coming from Macon, Ga.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I would love it if press outlets and individuals would give singer/songwriters a change if they don’t have 100k followers. I would love being given a chance based off of the music, the sound being good, the idea being relatable, and the old fashioned making a good impression with a phone call or in-person meeting. As a musician as well, it’s always great support to come out to live shows and buy merch!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to the touch the lives of others through my music, for someone to stop in their tracks when they hear one of my songs, and it touch them for the better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelforehand.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelforehandmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelforehandmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RachelForehand
• Other: Spotify and Apple Music – Rachel Forehand

  Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HMM1cHdTC3DeGxZdelslO?si=tZP7SB9qQT-8B0w6m2bb5Q
  Apple Music – music.apple.com/us/artist/rachel-forehand/1614469284

Image Credits

Gunner Robinson