Soulful pop songwriter, Rebecca Moreland’s new single, Freak Soul, is fun and upbeat with a message of embracing individuality. The song is available on iTunes, and has been accepted to Pandora, featured on AllAccess.com and on New Music Weekly.
“I began songwriting as an outlet to sort through who I was and where I fit in,” Rebecca says. “And to help give myself and the peers around me a voice through the stories I wrote into songs.”
Rebecca plays regularly in Nashville, tours colleges, and plays events and clubs across the country. She has performed live on WSMV NBC News Midday, Nashville, SALiving, ABC News San Antonio, Fox Morning News San Antonio, and ABC News Memphis. Rebecca was a featured songwriter in episode No. 6 of The Songwriter: Nashville, a documentary web series that debuted on RollingStone.com.
Rebecca is going to be performing Saturday, October 17, 2015 at The Sutler in Nashville, TN at 9PM and in support of her upcoming performance, NMG had a chance to get to know a little bit more about Rebecca with our lucky 13 that she has decided to share with us.
Lucky 13 with Rebecca Moreland
NMG: What is a typical day/week like for you?
Rebecca Moreland: I usually have a couple of writing sessions, band rehearsal, either a show in town, or out of town I’m promoting, prepping or traveling for. If I have a free night off, I also really like to go support other Nashville artists and listen to live music.
NMG: If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose this career? Would you do anything differently?
Rebecca Moreland: Even if I worked 9-5 as a dental assistant, I still would be going around the office singing and making up songs daily like I was in the middle of a Disney musical. I sing about getting dressed in the morning and sing walking up the stairs. Honestly I’m pretty annoying about it, so I don’t think any other profession would be able to stand me for long.
NMG: What would be your advice to artists that are new to the touring circuit?
Rebecca Moreland: Stay organized and budget your money wisely. Remember that it’s half fun, half business and don’t lose your head in the party aspect of it, because I’ve seen people get off track so fast after working so hard to get to where they are.
NMG: What are 3 things that you have to have with you at all times/never leave home without?
Rebecca Moreland: Well, I forget everything constantly, from my keys to my phone, so haha.. ideally I always have my 1) phone/keys/wallet 2) lipgloss 3) Extra CD’s.
NMG: What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Rebecca Moreland: Listening to James Taylor in the back seat of the station wagon as a five-year-old.
NMG: If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry what would it be?
Rebecca Moreland: The way money is distributed for online streaming.
NMG: Do you have other interests or talents you would like to share with us?
Rebecca Moreland: I’m obsessed with interior design and it’s also a goal of mine to become a certified herbalist at some point.
NMG: How do you like to enjoy your relaxation time away from the music?
Rebecca Moreland: I really like eating Thai food, drinking wine or bourbon, and watching Netflix in my pjs. All three separately or all three together. 🙂 I also love love vacation time in Texas visiting my family. I have three nephews and a niece now, and the time home is always so refreshing and precious to me–Nothing centers me like being in my hometown.
NMG: Who does most of the songwriting?
Rebecca Moreland: I do all of my own songwriting– either alone or with co-writers. It is very very important to me that all of my songs be taken either from my personal life, or from true stories I know of the people around me. I don’t see the point in writing if it’s not raw, exposed and honest. To me, those are the songs that are going to stick with people and last in the long run.
Check out Rebecca’s Episode from the web-series the songwriter {Nashville}
NMG: Someone once said write what you would want to perform over and over. With that in mind, what song do you love to perform the most?
Rebecca Moreland: I really love singing my new single, Freak Soul, because it gives me confidence and energy no matter how many times I sing it. I wrote it as an encouragement to myself and to others, so the message really never gets old.
NMG: If you could perform with anyone in the world – either dead, alive, or broke up – who would it be? Why? (Name up to 3)
Rebecca Moreland: 1. James Taylor….he’s one of my original inspiration for writing music in the first place. 2. Beyonce…because she woke up like this. 3. Katy Perry.. because I used to make fun of her music, but now I literally listen to it everyday and freaking love it.
NMG: How do you think you would like to be remembered by everyone if something were to happen to you suddenly?
Rebecca Moreland: As someone who loved big and sang loud–Who really took the time to care about people, and who’s music lasted long past my own years here.
NMG: When things seem to go negatively at times, how do you turn things into something positive?
Rebecca Moreland: I look at maybe what I’m doing that could change the circumstance. Am I spending too much time on opportunities that have just become a drain? Am I putting too much into one avenue that’s just not serving the music or the over-all artist goals anymore? It’s easy to get stuck on things you WANT to have happen, but I find that when things are not working out in a certain area of the music process, it usually means it’s time to change things up, move on, or take a different approach. In that sense, it’s always positive because you’re always learning what works, and what doesn’t and improving.
NMG: As an artists, how would you define SUCCESS?
Rebecca Moreland: Making a comfortable living off of doing what I love and being able to wake up every day and share my music with people. Hearing from listeners that my songs impacted them, made their day, or best of all — changed their perspective on life. When I get a letter from a fan telling me my song helped them through a hard day, a hard breakup or life event, to me, that’s what it’s all about.
NMG: Do you currently have an agent, endorsement, record label, sponsor, etc that you want to give a shout out to?
Rebecca Moewland: I love working with my producer, Johnny Garcia. There is nothing this man can’t do or music genre he can’t master (except for maybe rap, sorry Johnny). From being a killer guitar player for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, to producing country and pop records, to running a publishing company on Music Row, he’s really taught me a lot about pushing myself, not limiting my dreams, and believing in my own unique sound.
Check out Rebecca’s New Video for “Freak Soul”
Without music, I would be … in a much darker place. Music took me through some of the hardest moments of my life and writing has brought a lot of healing to me. When I didn’t know how to process what was going on, I wrote, I sang, I listened to music. It is truly the language of the soul and I believe God’s gift to us all. Music is …the language of the heart. My music makes me feel .. understood. I write the songs because … it’s an extension, an expression of life around me. Support music because .. it’s something we all need, use and enjoy on a daily basis. ~ Rebecca Moreland
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