Ears Wide Open: Rachel Mazer

Daiana Feuer on November 30th, 2018

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After making the rounds for several years singing and playing sax, bass and guitar in other people’s projects — May Erlewine, Vulfpeck, Monica Martin, Women Believer, Amber Navran, Anna Ash, Joey Dosik and Theo Katzman, to name a few — Rachel Mazer is self-releasing her debut album, “How Do We Get By,” this coming February. She raised $20,000 on Kickstarter in order to make it happen. Clearly she’s a go-getter, as well as a soulful singer. Working with Tyler Duncan (Vulfpeck, Lake Street Dive, Darren Criss) to produce and co-write the record, Mazer recruited many friends to lend their musicianship, including several members of Vulfpeck. The album is dedicated to her brother, who passed away a few years ago, and though there’s an overtone of grief, the songs are energetic and carry a positive message. “Open Heart,” the second song she’s shared so far, is a happy hybrid take on jazz-soul. “This song is about believing in your own strength and resiliency in the face of adversity and heartbreak,” she says. “It’s about choosing to let your heart run wild, get it broken, and know that you’ll come back as a stronger person.” The song communicates her perspective on love and happiness. “It’s also about not limiting yourself or your love to one person, or any person if that’s what you want to do. There’s so many ways to exist and be happy; so many ways to experience love and passion.”

||| Stream: “Open Heart”