CULTURE

SINGER SONGWRITER RACHEL GRAE MAKES IT PERSONAL

AS IF: I want to talk about your latest single “How Dare You”, which has received a lot of positive attention. Can you walk us through the creative process behind the song and what it means to you?

Rachel Grae: “How Dare You” is about somebody who left my life and wanted to come back when the time was convenient for them—I already moved on and was ready to continue my life. When I was writing the song, I went into the studio wanting to write about the number one thing on my mind that day. And with this song, for some reason, I was biting my tongue because I respect this person, but my co-writer insisted that we write it, and it ended up being my favorite song I wrote that session.

How long did it take you to write?

We wrote it in a few hours. When something is heavy at the moment it’s much easier to get it all out because it’s coming from a train of thought. The songs come quicker when I’m actually feeling that situation at the moment. 

Photography by Daniel Alexander Harris.