Born in the UK, this diminutive diva didn't, in fact, consider singing until she was 13. 'Dad took me to Nashville and it was a real eye-opener, what struck me most was that with Country music all the songs told a story. In England, there didn't seem to be much music that did that.'
Struck by the heartfelt tales of Country stars like Dolly Parton and Billie Jo Spears, the wide-eyed Rachael dove enthusiastically into her first studio session - paying $10 to record You Were Always On My Mind (made famous by Elvis, of course) at Barbara Mandrell's pay-as-you-go studio in a Nashville theme park.
Back in the UK, lack of musical support at school frustrated the teenager, so she decided to do something about it: 'I had a real urge to be on stage, so I spoke to my drama teacher to see if we could put on a musical.' Accordingly, the school staged their first-ever musical, Grease, with Rachael playing Rizzo - and, thanks to her, musicals became part of the school's annual itinerary after that.
After leaving school and undaunted by budget restraints, the resourceful Warwick spent the next few years swapping time in a local studio. Rachael would sing backing vocals for visiting bands in exchange for studio time for her own material.
Rachael formed her own touring band, Hype (not to be confused with U2’s previous moniker, The Hype) in 1996. They toured for about a year, until Rachael decided it was time for a musical diversification, so she stripped the songs back to basics – just vocals and acoustic guitar and began playing low-key but packed out gigs in friends cellars. She made her own acoustic EP that sold enough copies – 700 self burnt CD’s hawked round her gigs – to finance a trip to Nashville. That, after all, was where the flame had first been lit, so that was where Rachael evidently needed to be.
Nashville warmed instantly to Rachael’s distinctive voice and unique style . In particular, producer Mark Moffatt – who, apart from working with INXS and the Finn brothers, was also a keen country fan (having worked with Australia's answer to Bryan Adams, country boy Keith Urban) – was so impressed with the honest, unfettered sound that came out of the CD that he took her under his wing, and put her straight into Nashville’s legendary Emerald Studios with illustrious country singer/actress Reba McEntire's band, the resulting session was a spontaneous success, gleaning six songs in just hours.
Wisely at this stage, perhaps, The Impressive Records label was formed around Rachael and, in September 2004, her debut single, Mistake, was released, launching her right into the heart of the invincible country market. It was an unprecedented success for this British ‘outsider’. The single shot up to No 17 in the Texas Music Chart, 47 in the Music Row Chart in Nashville, 14 in the MPAK chart and spent Christmas 2004 topping the European CMA chart …and that’s just to name a few.
Rachael supported the single with gigs in the US, whipping up a storm wherever she played. 'She sings like a goddess, this Brit Diva belongs on a major label...', reported Robert K Oermann (Music Row) of this spellbinding young lady, and The Telegraph has praised her as ‘a diminutive figure emboldened with feisty energy’.
Following the single, the full six tracks recorded with Reba McEntire’s band were released as an EP entitled Maverick, and Highway 109 was released as the 2nd single charting at number 33 in the Texas chart and Number 1 in the British Independent chart.
Review after review throughout the established country media (and some mainstream magazines), Rachael has received not a shred of negative press, either in the US or the UK. She’s been featured favourably in Music Row, Radio & Records, Maverick Magazine, Country Routes, Southern Country, Up Country, CMDS, Country Music People, The Stage and Country Music Switzerland and been interviewed by countless US and UK DJs… No mean feat for a small, feisty English lass to be so heartily embraced by the biggest music industry market in the world.
During the Country Radio Seminar 2005, Rachael returned to Nashville and immersed herself in Masterfonics Studios, again with Mark Moffatt, to record nine new tracks for a full album, this time enlisting the help of George Marinelli on guitar, (Bonnie Raitt, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks), Bruce Bouton on steel (Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks) as well as McEntire’s band. The album titled “Anglo Americana” is nationally distributed in the UK . Although ten of the songs are her own, two have been penned by other songwriters. Most notably, one of those songs, (One Last Look At Love), was written by Mark Moffatt, Jon Robbin (Chris Cagles # 1 "I Breathe In")and Alex Call (Huey Lewis' "Power of Love, and Tommy Tutine's 8675309). The other is (Rodeo Man) written by Nashville hitmakers Amy Mayo and Marv Green (Lonestar's "Amazed").
Feted in the US – where she was asked by the all-powerful CMA to host and perform at the 2005’s Global Artists Night (the un-official kick off to the CMA Music Festival / Fan Fair Nashville)
During the run up to the CMA Awards 2005 in New York, Rachael was invited by 3C digital Radio (New Yorks biggest broadcaster of Country Music) to perform at their "Salute to New York" show. Whilst in New York she also performed for Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and his Key Executives at their private party at the W Hotel in Times Square.
She’s also won several UK awards, most notably her debut album "Anglo Americana" won "Album of the year" at the 2006 UK Country Radio Awards. In 2005 Rachael received the "New Music Award" and "Presenters Award" at the UK Country Radio Awards. She was also nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year category by the European CMA 2005 & has been nominated in 5 award categories in the European CMA 2006 Awards (Songwriter award, album of the year, European Country Music artist of the year, Female vocalist of the year, ECMA Future star).
During 2006 Rachael performed for 200 V.I.P’s including Sir Cliff Richard, the USA Ambassador for Great Britain and George Hamilton IV amongst others at the USA Ambassadors residence in London, at a special Country Music reception, highlighting the importance of Country music in American culture.
Rachael recently debuted on National French Television, when she appeared on the Prime Time Show, TNT, from the Direct 8 French TV Network. Warwick performed 2 tracks from her album and was interviewed by host Laurie Cholewa.
Rachael has been warmly embraced by France. “Dreamwest” France’s No 1 Country Music Magazine featured Rachael on the Front cover as “The Star of 2006” plus a 3 page feature inside the September 2006 edition. France2 (the largest French public TV network) has regularly featured Rachael Warwick on their music site.
Rachael is endorsed by Epiphone, Peavey and Vocal Eze.
Pippa Lang Biographer and ex-music journalist (Melody Maker, Metal Hammer, Mojo, Sounds, What Hi-Fi...)
EXTRA INFO
Rachael Warwick's musical genre is Anglo Americana
Anglo Americana is a blend of all the best elements of rock, pop, country & Americana performed by a dynamic Brit band and the ultimate Brit Chick, a rarity in the country and americana genres.
Rachael Warwicks debut album Anglo Americana, was recorded in Nashville and features George Marinelli on guitar (Bonnie Raitt, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks), Bruce Bouton on steel (Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks), Michael Spriggs on acoustic guitar ( BB King, Jessica Simpson, Chris Cagle, Chris Ledoux), Tommy Harden (Reba McEntire, ) Spady Brannan on Bass (Reba McEntire,) Jimmy Nicholls on Keyboards (Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Lonestar), Randy Kohrs on Dobro, Steve Hinson on Steel, Jeff King on Electric guitar, Charles Butler on Banjo, Ryan Westbrook on drums, Paul Westbrook on bass, Mark Moffatt on Electric & Acoustic Guitars & backing vocals from Joey Jelf, Justin Smith, Danni ONeill & Rachael Warwick.
Anglo Americana is nationally distributed in the UK & can be downloaded from Itunes, Wallmart, CDBaby, HMV, Tesco, Virgin, etc.
10 of the 12 tracks on the album are self penned. The other two (One last look at love) were written by Moffatt, Robbin & Call) & (Rodeo Man) was written by Nashville hitmakers Amy Mayo & Marv Green (Lonestars Amazed).
Rachaels musical achievements to date are;
Rachael Warwick's debut album "Anglo Americana" recently won the "Album of the year" award at the UK Country Radio Awards 2006.
Rachael Warwick is the first English artist to be interviewed for Nick Barracloughs BBC Radio 2 show in five years. The interview was broadcast on 24th May & Nick played 3 tracks from the album
Rachael Warwick is the only English artist to chart in the Texas & Music Row Charts.
Rachael Warwick is the only English artist featured on www.CMT.com an MTV Networks company
Rachael was asked by the all-powerful CMA to host & perform at the 2005 Global Artist show at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rachael is endorsed by Epiphone, Peavey & Vocal-Eze
Rachael performed at the 3C Salute to New York radio show in New York which was one of the run up events to the CMA Awards in 2005. Whilst in New York, Rachael performed for Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz & his key execs at the W Hotel in Times Square.
In 2005 Rachael received the New Music award & Presenters Award at the UK Country Radio Awards & was also nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year 2005 category by the European CMA. She also also been nominated in 5 award categories in the European CMA 2006 Awards (Songwriter award, Album of the year, European Country Music artist of the year, Female vocalist of the year, ECMA Future star).
Some reviews;
"Pioneering Brit Rachael Warwick is paving the way for British artists in Country Music............It is so refreshing to find a British artist who has the nous, the determination and the ability to get into the thick of the country music business. This girl knows what she wants, and I reckon she's going to get it" Nick Barraclough - BBC Radio 2
"Sensational doesnt do this justice, she sings like a goddess, this Brit diva belongs on a major label" Robert K Oermann - Music Row
"Englands Gift to Americana" R&R
"Shes got an impressive voice, powerful and throaty. Sometimes she sounds like a 67 Chevy on the starting line at the drag strip, revving her engine. And when she lets off the brake and floors it, its just fun to hear where she goes". Music News Nashville
