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RACHEL LOSHAK a A refreshing spin on classical-pop, Loshak's Mint is a sweet and tingly breath of fresh air. a Published in PRESS Magazine April 2004
A unique artist who paints gorgeous images with her beautiful bell-toned voice and haunting melodies, indie-pop chanteuse Rachel Loshak takes on a unique, sophisticated and orchestral approach to traditional pop music with the perfect blend of dark, hypnotic, bass musicality moving like a boogied cello weaving with guitar, drums and piano that contrasts with her eerily sweet, haunting and mesmerizing voice. Her thought-provoking singing style coupled with her sensitive writing nature and heartfelt lyrics create an interesting and unique sound capable of whisking any listener away by the emotional pull of each song.
England's Loss is New York's Gain
In 1995, with no connections, Rachel Loshak bravely moved from Suffolk to New York City to pursue her dream, and what was England's loss was the United States' gain as this talented artist started her emerging musical career and began performing in live venues since then. For five years she held a day job at Christie's, the famed art auction house, which was hit with a major price-fixing scandal during Loshak's employment. Not one for the corporate world, she studied at the New School and worked as a music therapist in an acute psychiatric in-patient hospital unit. Of course New York is not an easy place to live in, and among the bigger challenges Loshak faced as a musician in the City that Never Sleeps is booking herself for live gigs. Luckily she has found some good places to play and a good crowd following as she honed her songwriting craft with her unique 'bass and voice' style.
Some of these places are Arlene's Grocery, The Sin E Cafe and the Living Room in Manhattan where she gave unique performances as a singer/bassist and provided audiences with a unique aural experience as her clear, angelic voice contrasted to the mellow rooted bass she accompanied herself with. A polished and accomplished performer, it was Loshak's performances that make her music very much legendary. With a voice of sublime beauty and wide range, Rachel steps on stage with only a bass guitar and simply fills the room with striking and clearly delivered songs of love, memory, insight and statements of simple survival. Eventually she started to perform with a varied assortment of musicians. Supporting her both onstage and on record are Jason Crigler (Linda Thompson, Marshall Crenshaw), who added his inspirational and unique guitar playing to the already unusual sound, and Dan Rieser (Norah Jones, Marcy Playground) on drums, both of whom, together with Loshak, have created a trio perfect for the individuality of her music, which has a symphonic quality to it.
As a child Loshak was exposed to classical music. Musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar and her father's record collection, which included all of the Beatles records, The Rolling Stones, The Animals and Chicago, among others - music that she would play really loud, then sing and dance to. Later during her teenage years she did gigs with her brother who played jazz piano.
A born musician with classical training in violin, piano and voice, Loshak learned to play the bass only over six years ago for the reason that she felt it was the only instrument she could accompany herself with. The artisfs interest in playing the bass was piqued after fooling around with the instrument while waiting to sing on one of her friends' demos. A short time later, a friend gave her an electric bass she wasn't using. This eventually led to her finding her own niche in New York.
Invaluable Friend in the Business
In 2003 Loshak sang on the Grammy Awards telecast, harmonizing with her friend, Norah Jones, who, just a couple of years ago, before selling 17 million copies of her debut CD worldwide, shared bills with Loshak in little venues in lower Manhattan and even sang one of Loshak's songs live. Though she wasn't able to include a song on Jones' debut CD something that would have made Loshak a millionaire - Loshak is content with Jones singing her praises and having the multi-Grammy award winner record a duet with her.
Aside from the famed duet, Loshak has also collaborated with such talents as Mark Geary and the late great Jeff Buckley.
Reviews of her music, of which there are three albums worth to date, have hailed her for their beautiful, intricate and classically influenced arrangements and sweetly complimentary harmonies, which can be experienced on any of her three full-length albums: Here I Am (1999), Firefly (2001) and her brand new 2003 release Mint. She also is featured alongside Norah Jones and Jesse Harris on the Best of the Living Room compilation released late 2002.
Refreshing Mint
Mint, Rachel's third record, highlights the depth of her musicianship and writing ability. Produced by Morgan Taylor, the fireworks present between Rachel's voice/bass, Jason Crigler's guitar, and Dan Reiser's drums when they take the stage are evident in this 13-track collection that supports the delicate, intense and direct nature of her soul, showing a sexier, more mature and more eclectic Loshak. Special guests also include Kenny White on piano, Rob Burger on pump organ, Michael Leonhart on trumpets and French Horns, and Kenny Kosek on violin. A delicate, sinuous singer and electric bassist, Loshak, whose moody, intelligent, softly pulsating art-pop defies easy characterization by combining a folk sensibility with some far-out ambient sounds, has recorded an album that gives off a romantic feel and takes on a theme that appears like a dialogue between two lovers trying to understand each other.
With lovely songwriting and fabulous arrangements, Rachel Loshak's mesmerizing 3Rt album Mint drowsily spools listeners in with the heart-bearing honesty and nonchalant quality of her music. Interestingly Loshak's reggae influences also surface on Mint as some songs give off a tropical reggae or almost funk beat.
Album opener "Rain" has a dazzlingly beautiful chorus melody, followed by "China Doll," whose lovely melodies, ethereal harmonies and brooding mood highlighted by lyrics that possess a quiet strength combine to make a classic pop song. "The Dreamer" showcases Loshak's typical folksy acoustic guitar while "Single Rose" has gorgeous suspended electric-guitar chords and angelic piano parts followed by an unusualy fiery blues-guitar tone from Crigler. "When the Moon and the SUI'. is a two-minute gem Loshak wrote before she learned how to play the bass. Its achingly emotional honesty that easily tugs at the heartstrings is a sharp contrast to "Latin Rock," which showcases playful percussion parts and long, catchy vocal lines that flow effortlessly. "Sweet as Sin features one of her slyest lyrics, and "Never Look Back" - which employs a signature Loshak motif of buoyant, Eastern-flavored bass lines, and a crystalline voice weaving a sumptuous sonic tapestry where the contras of Loshak’s bell-clear soprano and insistent bass remains magical -- is a brilliant conclusion to this charming affair.
With the uniqueness of her songs, originality of her arrangements, and intimacy and strength of her vocal style, Rachel Loshak, in her third album release, more than lives up to the album title, Mint - a word suggestive of something coo and refreshing - and creates something of worth and value as her smooth understated and easily reachable musical style grabs listeners by the heart.
© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005
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