We recently connected with Rae Rumbelow and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rae, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I quit my full time job 2 years ago, got sober, and began picking up gig work so I could pursue music.
It had been years since I’d been in a band and it was honestly taking a mental and emotional toll on me. I was diagnosed with adult onset Bipolar 1 with psychosis at 30. My symptoms began at 28 during covid. The working under someone’s thumb and not being able to get it out was absolutely exhausting. I did every job I could. Insurance agent specializing in medicaid/Medicare dual qualificants. Chef. Wrapping cars. Co owning a coffee shop. Delivery driving. A million lives in which nothing worked out. Eventually I actually had a break from reality. Then, my wife told me to concentrate on myself and healing and my purpose.
The purpose has outlasted my marriage. And several friendships. And living situations. But it’s been worth it.
Rae, 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?
Currently, I front a queer-punk band called BOOF. When I was growing up, I always played music and sang. But I’m the 90s and early 00s, girls weren’t prominent in punk and hardcore music. Girls played acoustic or sang for cutesy indie or electronica projects. Nobody would recruit a female bassist for a band.
When I got into my 20s, I started being asked to join projects, and it allowed me to hone my stage presence and confidence. Outside of shows, I practiced constantly.
At 28 I moved to Dallas, and being the new kid again meant starting all over to gain traction with musicians. I wasn’t known or respected or even listened to when I told people I had the skills they needed to complete a lineup. So, at 31, I started my own project with a friend. It took a couple of years to get the lineup just right. I was looking for something, but I really didn’t know what.
Then I found them, one by one. My forever partners. Other queer folks and allies who wanted nothing more than to empower others like us and talk about real life. It allowed us all to be allowed to channel that healing, reciprocal energy off the stage and into our fans and friends.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think that artists need to be taken more seriously. As an experiment, I think folks should spend a week without photos, music, paintings, movies, tattoos, poetry, and books. See how far you can get without them. Study how it effects your mental and physical health.
Then think about how much you would spend to feel that enrichment and the health it generates.
Thats what you should be willing to give back to those who are providing these things. The nontraditionals and the folks who bleed their souls onto canvas and can’t hold a regular job because it smothers them are still just as important, even if you don’t see their contributions as practical.
Everyone deserves food, water, shelter, health care, and education. So why aren’t we providing it so that those who can give us these gifts aren’t working 60 hours a week to starve in a crappy apartment?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
NFTs are honestly not new. What do you think graphic designers do??
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/booftheworld
- Instagram: @booftheworld
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/booftheworld
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@booftheworld?si=JhSeeyehFDQpKx6G
- Other: Bandcamp: booftheworld.bandcamp.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6CfviBozMREmTTLJp1dZI8?si=G-8jsCEHSNOEdHidAwLdkg
Image Credits
Millicent Veigl
Dee Dee Kohl
Austin Marc Graf
Rebecca Webb