Rachel Platten – Waves

[Kurt]

OK but why has she blocked me on Twitter?? I went to look at her timeline recently and it said I couldn't. Rude! :'(

[George]

#MotivationMonday: Rachel Platten on finding the light and bringing people together
By Adam Reisinger | Jan 9, 2017



TAMPA, Fla. -- I believed in Rachel Platten long before most people knew who she was. The singer, whose rise to fame was driven by her hit "Fight Song," performed a concert in my living room in January 2015, in front of a crowd of about 30 people. Less than four months later, she was center stage in Times Square on "Good Morning America," and "Fight Song" began its meteoric rise up the Billboard charts. Two years later, Platten is an international sensation, with a pair of platinum singles (one of which went triple-platinum) under her belt and a headlining tour in her rearview mirror.

This past Saturday, she performed at the AT&T Playoff Playlist concert series as part of the College Football Playoff. We reconnected after the show to discuss her journey into the spotlight and not giving up when things were at their lowest.

espnW: Two years ago, before your big breakthrough, where did you think you'd be now?

Rachel Platten: "Fight Song" just came out and I was playing house concerts. I thought I was going to go on another house concert run. I had house concerts scheduled -- which, by the way, is a show in a living room for like 30 people, that someone has with their friends. I had like 10 of those planned, and I was ready to go on the road. No way [was I thinking of this]. I thought maybe I had a chance -- because I had a wonderful person that was willing to invest in me -- and I was like, "I might have a chance to make a record properly," and then get to play for 100 people a night, which was my goal at the time.

espnW: When you were writing "Fight Song," where did you find the strength to keep going when things were down for you?

RP: I've read a lot of my old journals to try and find that out. What I read in them is a lot of turning myself around when things were hurting. I'd find the light in the dark. I'd let myself feel rejected and understand that was true, and it actually happened. But I really believed in meditation, setting intentions and visualizing what I wanted. I also worked my butt off. I just refused to stop working hard. I also had a lot of unbelievable supporters around me who believed in me: my manager, my husband, people like you who had house concerts for me and believed in me. I had a lot of good friends and strong will.

espnW: So there was never a point where you were ready to give up on your dream?

RP: No, there was definitely a point where I did that. It was right after "Fight Song" aired on "Pretty Little Liars," which was in 2014. In my head, I had been hoping that would be the light that it needed to get out to everybody. I thought, "OK, we're going to hear it on this show and it's going to explode." It definitely moved the needle; I think I sold a couple thousand copies. But it didn't have this massive social media reaction that I was praying for. So when it didn't, I fell to the floor, like on my knees, and I sobbed. It was a really hard moment. I remember asking God, "What else do YOU need? What else am I supposed to do? I've been giving everything. I know this song can change lives. How do I get it out to people to help people?"

espnW: Once "Fight Song" did have its breakthrough in 2015, it shot up the charts so quickly that some people labeled you an overnight success. But your first independent album came out in 2003 and your next one came out in 2011, so obviously you put in years of work. How did that shape the artist you are now?

RP: I think they had a really big impact on how I'm able to connect with a crowd now. I just played to about 10,000 people and treat every crowd like it's an intimate living room. I believe that on stage, my job is to bring everyone together and help them forget for a minute whatever stress is going on in their head. I just want them to have an unbelievable time. I want to give them a giant dose of Prozac. So I think the experience I have playing in small bars when no one was listening made me understand how to work a crowd and understand what people need to come together as an audience.

espnW: In the past year alone, you've played the Pro Bowl, the MLB All-Star Game, the World Series and now the College Football Playoff. Which one has been the standout experience for you?

RP: I'm going to go with [the College Football Playoff]. This was amazing; I had the most fun time. I have a new band right now that I'm playing with, and I just love their energy. It's like I've been playing with them for years. It's just an incredible vibe and connection that we all have. So playing a full band show with people that I truly love playing with, it was pretty special tonight. The audience was really down to party with me. They were dancing and jumping and doing backflips.

espnW: Speaking of the audience, this was a crowd made up largely of college football fans, and they were singing along with every word of "Fight Song." What do you think it is about that song that resonates with sports fans?

RP: I think it resonates with everybody. I think it's a universal call to action, that no matter what is going on in your life that makes you think that you're not good enough, this is a 3-minute, 20-second chance to declare that that's not the truth. Actually, what's true is you can do anything.

espnW: When can we expect new music from Rachel Platten?

RP: Soooooooooooooon. With lots of O's. So soon. I really can't wait to show people. I'm so proud of these songs that I've been creating, and I can't wait to play them live.

espnW: Lastly, we're here at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, I've gotta ask: Alabama or Clemson?

RP: I've gotta not answer [laughs]. Although, I'm a really big fan of the underdog, so maybe Clemson. I don't know. I just want everyone to feel happy at the end of the day.

[George]

Gotta get that promo Rachel!

[SHOOTER]

Guess no one cares her second album drops in 2 weeks.

[musiciscool]

Oct 14, 2017 3:49:00 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

Guess no one cares her second album drops in 2 weeks.

I care. I love Rachel.

[George]

I guess that Ford/Billboard Magazine partnership is some promo:

[George]

Album Artwork + Tracklisting:

news.radio.com/2017/10/06/rachel-platten-new-album-waves/

“I loved making this album, I’ve never felt so free creatively,” Platten revealed in a press statement. “I wrote all of these songs without getting in the way, and I just let whatever needed to come through me just come. I worked out a lot of heavy stuff on some of the songs and cried on my piano at 3 a.m. some nights, but I also woke up some days and jumped into the ocean and felt amazing and just wanted to write songs I could dance to. This album is raw and it’s emotional, but it’s also fun and sweet and it’s real. It’s honestly just all of me and I am so damn proud of it.”

1. Perfect For You
2. Whole Heart
3. Collide
4. Keep Up
5. Broken Glass
6. Shivers
7. Loose Ends
8. Labels
9. Loveback
10. Hands
11. Fooling You
12. Good Life
13. Grace

Target Bonus Tracks:
14. Even If It Hurts
15. Without You
16. Wild

[gbaby]

"Broken Glass" is awesome.

[Ty]

Beautiful cover. But something about her makes me reluctant to check out her music.

[SHOOTER]

I'm liking this!

[Nick]

Out today.

[SHOOTER]

#17 on iTunes.

[George]

She performed "Broken Glass" "Perfect For You" "Collide" and "Fight Song" on the TODAY Show this morning:
www.today.com/popculture/rachel-platten-starts-weekend-right-today-concert-t118073

Also, reviews are coming in:

abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/rachel-plattens-waves-cements-pops-likable-singers/story?id=50764512

Rachel Platten’s “Waves”
***1/2

Rachel Platten hit the big time with “Fight Song,” a song from her major label debut "Wildfire," that perfectly balanced catchiness with uplifting sentiment. “Waves” continues where “Wildfire” left off, showcasing Platten as a likable singer-songwriter capable of selling inspirational pop tunes.

Platten sounds even more confident here. Her tracks exude a strong sense of self and she sounds strongly anchored, even if the production is a tad glossier than before. The electro-effect over her voice is sometimes distracting.

This record is mostly just trying to find her next “Fight Song,” and there are a few contenders. Notably, the slightly club-ready “Broken Glass,” which has already made a bit of impact seems promising, as does the soulful “Collide.” If Platten wants to be the next dance-pop superstar, "Shivers” has significant pull. Even “Loose Ends,” which sounds a bit too much like a rewrite of “Fight Song,” has some charm.

This album finds its sweet spot with its gleefully synthy edges. The tightly-wound “Keep Up” is a keeper while the beautiful “Whole Heart” takes a marimba-esque verse section and combines it with a stomping chorus full of “heys” and “whoas.” While this is rather textbook modern pop, Platten somehow pulls it off without seeming faceless. She has charisma that is only slightly dampened by the occasionally overzealous production.

Platten's songs often are cemented by a strong message to believe in one’s self. It may seem cheesy to the cynical listeners, but she always sounds like she believes every word she says. You have to give her credit for attempting to turn her art into an inspiring platform. Even when she gets a little too over-the-top on the self-referencing “Good Life,” you can’t help but root for her.

“Waves” is not only a decent pop record, it shows that Rachel Platten has many more "Fight Song(s)" ahead.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

This is actually a really good pop record. I was surprised

[Troublemaker]

Oct 30, 2017 12:55:24 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

This is actually a really good pop record. I was surprised

What's more surprising is that she released this album without a single @ radio.

[AP]

Oct 30, 2017 15:08:57 GMT -5 Troublemaker said:

Oct 30, 2017 12:55:24 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

This is actually a really good pop record. I was surprised

What's more surprising is that she released this album without a single @ radio.

Broken Glass is #19 on Hot AC

[Rural Juror]

Oct 30, 2017 12:55:24 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

This is actually a really good pop record. I was surprised

My thoughts exactly. It actually sounds like a Taylor Swift record to me, circa Red/1989.

[SHOOTER]

Projected to debut with 8-10k SPS (7-8k sales).

Wildfire debuted at #5 with 45k SPS (29k sales) and is certified Gold.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

Not surprising for a one hit wonder. I doubt she'll ever have another pop hit but I could see her becoming a minor AC act

[gbaby]

Her singles are amazing.

[Hefty Hanna]

I love the album. Very solid.

Also wouldn't call her a one-hit wonder really. 'Stand By You' was quite big.

[ListenToItTwice]

I’ve been stanning Rachel for six years and I don’t understand why there are so few of us

[George]

Finally listened to her album and I really loved the first 3rd. Almost made me think the album would be as epic as Carly Rae Jepsen's "EMOTION" but then I didn't really care for the rest. She proved me wrong though, as I was expecting a lot of Pop ballads and midtempo radio-friendly jams. Such creativeness with those first couple of tracks, and that latter Target bonus tracks.

My favorites:
Perfect For You
Whole Heart
Keep Up
Broken Glass
Shivers
Wild

[musiciscool]

Nov 2, 2017 20:47:11 GMT -5 ListenToItTwice said:

I’ve been stanning Rachel for six years and I don’t understand why there are so few of us

I don't understand it either. Her music is amazing and empowering.

[Bhad Bill]

SO in love with Rachel! Such a cutie.

I agree with everyone that it's a solid pop record, but the front half is way better than the second half.

I love:

Perfect for You
Collide
Broken Glass
Shivers (the best song on the record! I wish it were more dance Poppy!)
Grace
Hands (made me tear up I can't lie)

I'm sure she will be ok touring and stuff. Sad to see it so low though.

[Future Captain]

wow, i'm impressed. solid pop record full of great hooks and solid vocals. why can't the actually relevant pop girls release things like this instead of, you know, witness

[divasummer]

Wow put me on the list of being surprised how much I like this cd.
I wasn't huge on her singles from her last cd.
Nice but not my favorite.
However I would assume this isn't exactly her sound from the last cd.

I love "Broken Glass".
I'm also really liking "Perfect For You" even though it's a little quirky at points.
Kind of Julia Michael's esque.
"Shivers" is totally up my ally.
Nice inoffensive pop/lt dance song.
Same thing with "Keep Up"
I don't think I hate anything on it.
Good cd as a whole.
If I remember correctly like another poster I liked the first 1/3 of it more than the rest.

[esoteric76]

I just love this album. There are parts that are totally Ellie Goulding-esque but Rachel gives it her own spin.
Perfect For You kind of reminds me of Charlie Puth's "Attention," the vibe/production of it.
Broken Glass and Whole Heart are total earworms and I'm constantly replaying them.
Loose Ends is "Fight Song 2.0" (the melody is essentially the same).

This is a really enjoyable album that is great if you enjoy Ellie Goulding AC leaning pop.

[musiciscool]

This is a very solid album. Rachel never disappoints. There is not one song I dislike, maybe not great, but good.

"Perfect For You" would work as a single at some point.

"Whole Heart" is good.

"Collide" is probably the best on her album.

Of course "Broken Glass" is awesome.

"Good Life" is great.

"Shivers", and "Loose Ends" are solid.

"Labels", "Loveback" and "Hands" are just okay/good.

"Keep Up" and "Fooling You" are okay.

The Target extras go

1. "Without You" (the best)
2. "Even If It Hurts" (good)
3. "Wild" (okay)

Again, solid album overall.

[harvie]

Oct 31, 2017 7:00:35 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

Not surprising for a one hit wonder. I doubt she'll ever have another pop hit but I could see her becoming a minor AC act

Would you really consider Rachel a one hit wonder?

I get that Fight Song was probably technically the bigger hit overall but Stand By You actually feels like a bigger hit to me.

My local HOT AC and AC stations definitely played Stand By You more...I heard it non stop and they still give it a lot of recurrent play.