Meet Heather Rae | Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Rae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’m not a very risky person. I’ve ordered the same sandwich from Subway since I was 8 years old – turkey with no cheese and lots of veggies. It’s hard to convince myself to try new things and take risks. But there’s one thing that’s always been stronger than my love for familiarity – my curiosity.

Even when I was little, I obsessed about different cultures and different experiences. This curiosity has pushed me past so many mental boundaries I put in place for myself, including a fear of singing in front of other people. I had to try it because it drove me crazy not to. It’s the reason I’ve traveled, learned languages, auditioned for shows and started businesses. I was just curious what it would be like to do those things. It’s the one thing that’s stronger than my fear of the unknown.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started out by performing as a singer in professional ice shows before I put all my creative efforts into songwriting. I now spend a majority of my time writing, producing and performing shows around the midwest and Arizona. A lot of the music I write sounds like a mix of Taylor Swift and Adele.

It’s definitely been a journey finding my way here. I think my biggest hurdle that I’ve overcome so far has been myself. I felt this deep need to prove myself to anyone and everyone, and it led to a violent roller coaster of emotions. If someone loved my music, I was on Cloud 9. But if someone yelled that I wasn’t worth listening to while I was on stage (which has happened…), I crashed. Hard. It’s an exhausting way to live. I don’t feel as connected to others opinions now, which has been a huge weight off my shoulders. It’s allowed me to really fall in love with making music again.

I know what it’s like to be emotionally beat down, so writing music that encourages others is a huge part of why I do what I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve only lived in Phoenix for about a year, so I don’t have a long list of places to check out. However, Jarrod’s Coffee Tea and Gallery in Mesa is a definite must-see! It’s a super cool venue, plus they go above and beyond to support local art. Definitely check them out if you’re in the area!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is incredible. They didn’t even think twice when I announced that I would be moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting (which is where I lived before moving to Phoenix). Each one of them (including my then boyfriend, now husband) encouraged me full-heartedly. I don’t think I would have done it if they weren’t behind me. There have been so many people since then that have given little snippets of wisdom and encouragement that always seem to come when I need it the most. Even my cat Sunny encourages me by laying under my piano every time I sit down to write. I’m truly blessed to share my life with those around me.

Website: http://heatherraemusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherraeofficial/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/heatherraeofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherraeofficial

Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pWr5IEbMOwomvVH3OzRXH?si=nmIhyPUPQYSUDJlSXd-ryQ

Image Credits
Sammy Hearn