Rachel Pearl submitted photo.

Last semester, like so many times before, we hired an unknown duet from Nashville, TN.  When they arrived and we started chatting, I realized that Rachel Pearl had a local connection to Bowling Green.  When she and Treva began their set, people started to gather and stay, the sign of a good act.  Though different in basic musical styles, these two songwriters compliment each other in a playful and delightful manner.  We are fortunate to be able to re-book them for another performance on April 7th.  Come out and hear this unique duo and I guarantee you will leave entertained and transformed by their music.

I know you are currently living in Nashville but, can you tell us a bit about each of your personal and musical histories?

Rachel: I hail from Bowling Green and grew up hearing my mother sing. I’ve always been a singer. (writer’s note: Rachel is the daughter of Jane Pearl, a well known local musician )

Treva: I am from a little town called Chehalis, south of Seattle WA.  I moved to Nashville to attend MTSU in Murfreesboro TN, which is where I met Rachel Pearl and Joe Gilder.  We used to hang out at a coffee shop called The Red Rose and play the open mic night together.  Our paths have continued to cross, and I’m glad that we are able to tour together and support each other’s music careers as we chase our own dreams.  I no longer live in Nashville.  Last year I moved to Conway Arkansas because of my husband’s work.  Lucky for me, one great thing about being a touring musician is that you can make your home base wherever you end up.  So I’m currently touring and working on a new album to be released in 2010. 

 What bands or individual musicians have influenced you as musicians?

Treva: Patty Griffin, Amy Grant, Damien Rice

Rachel:  When I was younger Bonnie Raitt and Tina Turner were my favorites, but when I got to college it was Ella Fitzgerald’s Cole Porter album that turned me on to the passionate, old school genre that is jazz.

How would you define your particular musical style?

Treva: Acoustic Americana Folk Rock

Rachel: I’m a jazzy, poppy, old school singer. I take the stuffing of old songs and sew them into something that I’ll love to sing a million times.

What is your favorite sort of gig? What is your least favorite?

Rachel: My favorite gig is one where the stage is large, the lights forgiving, and a full night of music and laughter. My least favorite is the four hour gig on “dollar draft” night with a careless, sloppy audience. Although, after a few hours they love anything that you sing at them, so it’s still a fun show. Any gig is a good gig, really.

Treva: My favorite type of gig is playing a solo acoustic gig to a quiet, listening audience.  I enjoy connecting with folks through song.  My least favorite type of gig is when I am playing at a bar and it’s around 2 am and the only people in the bar are the folks who are really drunk.  (I mean REALLY drunk)  That sort of gig is more like babysitting than playing a gig. 

Can you talk a bit about being a songwriter and arranger? What inspires you?

Rachel: I’m not one of those disciplined writers who sits down everyday, but I think about a song idea for a long time before I sit down to finish it. To me, a melody is vital and I try to keep my tunes light-hearted and full of love because I think that we could all use more of that.

Treva: Life, love, the journey and loss inspire me.  Being a songwriter is engrained in who I am, it’s like the lens that I see life through.  I’m also a Christian, so my struggles and my search to understand who God is can also be heard in my music.

How do you craft your material so as to fit into your band?

Treva: I play with some excellent musicians in Nashville.  I feel like they add a piece of themselves to my songs rather than me crafting my material for them.  It’s great playing with a band because it gives so much more depth and dynamics than when the song is just me and my guitar.

Rachel: Sometimes I have very specific charts for a band, but I like to hear what ideas the instrumentalists may have on new songs and I let them solo as much as they want. 🙂

What steps do take to create a  finished song? I’m sure younger musicians would like to know.

Rachel: I know that a song is finished when I have said everything in about 3 minutes (I don’t write songs much longer than that), the melody is catchy, and I feel satisfied. Other than that, each song is made in a very different way.

Treva: I just make sure that I said what I wanted to say and that the song has a purpose.  I look at my songs like little creations and try to be sure each song has a meaning and a purpose.  Even a silly song has a purpose, to make someone smile or laugh.

 What do you see for the future of the independent musical performers?

Treva: Embrace itunes and MP3s because they are the new black.  Consumers are in the drivers seat these days and thanks to the internet, fans can feel closer than ever before to their favorite artists.  The internet is your friend, use it wisely. 

Rachel:  The sky is the limit!! Artists can do so much these days, but you HAVE to be well rounded….or rich enough to hire an assistant or manager.

I met you for the first time on MySpace. How does the internet impact your music?

Rachel:  The internet is a big tool in my music. I get the majority of my shows, reviews, co-writing sessions, music articles, tweets…everything.

Treva: Thanks to the internet, my music can be heard and found by people on the other side of the world as well as in my own city.  MySpace and itunes have been excellent ways for me to share my music with the world.  In addition, Twitter and Facebook allow me to connect with my fans on a personal level and my iPhone lets me keep my online community updated from the road.  The internet is intertwined with my music career.

Where have you all been performing lately?

Treva:  The past few months I’ve been performing in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Asheville, Columbia, SC, Bristol, Atlanta, Texas, and California.

Rachel: All over Nashville, other parts of TN, NC, SC, GA, KY, and IL. This summer I plan to travel to Washington state, Canada, and California.

Where do you want go with your music say, in the next five years?

Rachel: I want to be doing what I am now ….maybe I’ll even be better!

Treva:  I want to remain true to myself and create music that I am proud of. 

Do you have a CD available? Are you currently working on a project?

Treva:  I have two CDs available.  Plain Vanilla Me is a 10 song full length album and As It Should Be is a 6 song EP.  I was in the studio in January and plan to release my third disc in 2010.

Rachel: I have a CD called Love Extravagantly out now and I’m finishing up an EP that should be out this summer.

Thanks so much for taking time to talk to us.  Anything else you’d like to add?

Rachel:   Yes! I want to thank Jack for his encouragement and tell the readers that you can do anything you set your mind to.

About the author: Jack Montgomery is a librarian, author and associate professor at Western Kentucky University where he handles bookings for musical acts in University Libraries, Java City coffeehouse. Jack has also been a professional musician since 1969 and performs with a celtic quartet called Watersprite. Visit him at MySpace/shadowdancerjack or on Facebook.