Beautiful, but not brazen. Passionate, but never preachy. Populist, but definitely not prosaic. New York City singer-songwriter, pianist and beatboxerRachel Platten is by no means your average headliner-in-the-making. Her Rock Ridge Music debut, Be Here, is a bewitching collection of 10 wise-beyond-their-years piano-driven pop songs that echo elements of Alanis Morissette, Carole King, Tori Amos and Regina Spektor, while retaining a singular sense of self that is rarely found in such a young performer. Be Here was born over the course of an epic trans-Atlantic journey that took the singer-songwriter from London to Los Angeles, on to Stockholm and then back home to New York City. At each stop, she collaborated with top-tier production teams, including Fredrik Thomander (Nsync, Lady Gaga), Jerry Abbott and Grant Black (Robbie Williams, Craig David) and the Wizardz of Oz (Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne). The results are immediately appealing, spirit lifting, heartwarming and mind opening no matter where in the world you are. Platten’s uplifting, instantly catchy anthems celebrate the love and light in the world with a passionate intensity that has been missing on the radio dial for far too long. “I write songs that are universally understandable,” says Platten. “They’re positive and poppy, without ever sacrificing the hard truths out there that we all have to live through.” A perfect example is the head bobbing, spirit raising “Nothing Ever Happens.” Platten melds introspection to inspiration as she sings, “Never be a winner if you're not in the game/Nothing ever happens if you always play it safe/So, make a little space/And get out of your own way.” The ebullient “53 Steps” is a twisting, tumbling rave-up that recalls Fiona Apple at her cheeriest crossed with Ray of Light-era Madonna. “That has been an anthem for me,” says Platten. “I have the burning desire to be on the road, because there’s something magical that happens when you get to travel the world.” “Overwhelmed” was written during one such globetrotting expedition to the UK, but its inspiration came at the oddest moment. “I woke up with the melody at 4 AM, but I had no way to record it,” says Platten. “So I just kept singing it over and over until I got to the studio.” The result is a poppy pick-me-up that finds Platten reassuring herself, “We get down, down, down/We all need somebody's help/Let's get loud, loud, loud till there's love and nothing else/'Cause the more that you give the more that comes back around.” Songs like these brighten days, bring joy and stir greatness. “I want people to feel good when they listen to my songs, but never on a superficial level,” says Platten. “You have to recognize that life is hard and there will be pain, but there is always joy in it and you can overcome it. You can always find beauty around you.” With songs as good as these, there is beauty to spare on Be Here. This head-turning debut is the culmination of Platten’s lifelong passion for music. She started piano lessons when she was only four and spent her childhood soaking up a stunning spectrum of influences; everything from the Beatles to Billy Joel, Motown to Madonna and Tapestry to Graceland. When Lauryn Hill, and later the Roots, were added into the rotation, Platten discovered beatboxing. In college, Platten began taking her first steps into the world of songwriting. She went abroad in 2005 to the Caribbean isle of Trinidad, where she landed an internship at a local record label. One of the soul- and calypso-fusing soca bands she was working with scored a hit during carnival season and Platten was recruited to sing backup on a whirlwind tour through the islands. It was her first taste of performing for huge crowds, and the experience lit a fire inside her. When she returned to the States, Platten enrolled in a songwriting course at the Berklee College of Music before heading to New York City in the fall of 2006. Over the next four years, she wrote the songs that make up Be Here, put together a band and toured at every opportunity, scoring opening slots for The Strokes, Ziggy Marley, Regina Spektor, Tracy Bonham and Rusted Root. Her dynamic live shows earned raves from the Boston Globe, who called her “breathtaking and brilliant,” and the New York Post, who declared that she “ blend[ed] sweet delicateness with pluck.” This praise is just the beginning for this vibrant singer-songwriter. Be Here is an ecstatic confirmation that pop music can have heart, soul, depth and gravity, while still inspiring you sing along at the top of your lungs. It’s time to listen up and Be Here now. Recent Press “Singer-songwriter [Rachel Platten] craftly blends sweet delicateness with pluck.” NY Post "From time to time, I am fortunate to see a live show that truly captivates me. Rachel Platten played to a packed house at Le Poisson Rouge, in New York’s Greenwich Village. A native of Boston, she first stunned New York audiences with some impromptu beat-boxing and singing alongside Toots, during a Toots and the Maytals concert at Irving Plaza...(she was an audience member, and yes, it was unplanned and cool, as I was there to bear witness)." TheIceCreamMan "Rachel is no less than a force to be reckoned with when put on stage (barefoot or not) behind her keys. Her gorgeous smile is as big as her voice, and her joy and spirit seemed to fly out over the crowd at the Blender, leaving everyone asking, “Who is this girl?.... She is expansive on stage…there is no other way to put it. Her sound — the entire band’s sound — was enormous — not intimidated by the challenge of filling up a huge theatre but rather encouraged by it." - BUZZINE "Songs saturated with happiness and hope and a voice that resonates deep into your core ensure this singer-songwriter is destined for an explosive career. In the current state of our country and the difficult times people are enduring, Rachel’s music provides the ultimate remedy to cure the darkest moments: an infectious smile, a giving heart, a radiant soul, and a whole lot of love." NYC ARTIST SCENE BLOG “She is breathtaking & brilliant.” Boston Globe "Rachel Platten crafts songs with beautiful, memorable melodies and intelligent, moving lyrics. Then she delivers them with her compelling and powerful voice. She is an accomplished guitarist and pianist with enough stage presence to make you forget that anyone else is in the room. [She] is one of those remarkable and all-too-rare artists who remind me why I love my work." Bob Leone, Songwriters Hall of Fame. "...be sure to remember [Rachel Platten]'s name because she stole the show and was the highlight of the night. Her voice is just as big as her personality. Her musicality and versatility as a performer make her one to watch. She was on fire..." STARPOLISH "...a modern-day Jackson 5 vibe that's uplifting, upbeat, fun, and happy....channeling influences like The Beatles and Motown, Rachel exudes energy, light, and soul in every performance. Due to its multifarious appeal, her music fashions a scene of it's own; one that charms the intimate acoustic environment and captures eclectic audiences at larger venues like the Highline Ballroom. Independently selling over 5,000 copies of her first record made four years ago, Rachel is currently focused on the follow up album, as well as giving back to the community who have so graciously shown support." NYCARTISTSSCENE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS •Recent spots on Dixie Paper Plates, Downy, Jeep, Barbie commercials •Rachel's song "Nothing Ever Happens to be used in Rachel Roy's fall fashion campaign •Rachel's collaborated and been sponsored by several fashion brands: Banana Republic, Rachel Roy, Quiksilver •Ambassador for Music Unites charity along with Melanie Fiona, Diane Birch •Selected by Songwriter Hall of Fame as a Featured writer in the New Writers Showcase alongside Lady Gaga •Performed at SXSW, NXNE, CMJ, Summerfest (with Nick Howard) Festivals •Rachel's song ‘Seven Weeks’ was featured in the major motion picture The Good Guy (2009), starring Alexis Bledel of Gilmore Girls •Rachel has performed the National Anthem twice at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium