February 17, 2025 • 26 mins
Rachel Purcell is my guest. We talk award winning marimba playing, Raymond's Noodles, that thing on her lip, county music, upbringing, faith, when a label drops you, how to rebound, and more.
email me: whatelsewithcoreymann@gmail.com
Financially support the podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-else-with-corey-mann--5802358/support
email me: whatelsewithcoreymann@gmail.com
Financially support the podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-else-with-corey-mann--5802358/support
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
What Else with Cory Man?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This guy can podcast like comedy can.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
What Else with Cory Man?
Speaker 4 (00:13):
You will look deep.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Inside of yourself and.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Feels something you've never felt When.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
He asked for What Else with Cory Man.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Hi, my name is Corey. Welcome to What Else with
Corey Man. As I record this, it's on the front
end of February twenty twenty five, and I'd love to
introduce you to a new female artist that, in my opinion,
is catching the ears of Christian music listeners. Her name
is Rachel Purcell. She's on Centricity Music. During this conversation,
(00:46):
I learned she had a short stint in country music.
I learned that she is an award winning marimba player
and the very first song she ever wrote in her
journal is about her favorite snack when she was growing up.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
So, my favorite snack as a little kid was I
would call them Raymond noodles instead of Ramen noodles. And
I had a song called Raymond Noodles.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And my guest is Rachel Purcell.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Shop shop, there's mom, man, there's a mountain, There's a mountain.
On news, There's a there's a Viet Me. Every promise
that your promise is you can't wait to see you.
(01:38):
What you kind of don show up?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Show up.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Let me just say this right now. I signed on
five minutes early. Never in the history of this podcast
has an artist been on at the same time, if
not earlier. And the only person that's ever done it
is a manager of a big CCM band. It's the
only time in two hundred and eighty six episodes who
(02:11):
says a lot about you.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
Oh, thank you. I'm so glad to be with you.
I've heard so much about you. Ah, and you've been
playing my song. You were one of the first Cory.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
It is a great song. I hear the song first
as in sound and production, and then I go, wow,
this girl can actually sing, and then I lean into
the words, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
I am so thankful that the Lord landed that song
in that room. And Jeff Pardo, you know, is incredible
and he's so you know, diverse in the way that
he can create a sound for Ann Wilson and he
can create a sound for Chris McLarney. And then he
really nailed the vision in that song for a breakout
(03:01):
first single, and then you know, now being able to
expand on that and work on an EP so that
I can show people what I'm really wanting to do.
So it means a lot for you to say that
I got to send you more than let.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Me hit the star button and say welcome to the podcast,
Rachel Purcelled. Nice to finally meet you.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Nice to meet you, Corey.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Where are you sitting right now? And before you say where,
I see a very provocative picture of two lovebirds over
your shoulder, But I also see a classic what looks
like a radio console that my grandmother had that I
(03:44):
absolutely loved. So where are you?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Yeah? So I am in my dining room and if
I flip this laptop around, you would see chaos because
we're in the middle of we just sold a bookshelf
that we have here in the and I'm in the
middle of looking for one to replace it, and so
every book I have is like strode across the room.
(04:08):
But this, uh, yeah, this console we were actually gifted
by a church friend of ours and they were getting
rid of it. And my husband's like, are you kidding me?
Like we would love this because we were I don't
think so it's pretty yeah, okay, it's pretty dusty, but
we were like, you know, even if it doesn't work.
(04:29):
It's a cool piece to have. Yes, and yeah, that's
one of our anniversary funds or sorry, not anniversary or
engagement photos.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
So well, I can't see much, but what I can see,
he's a handsome devil.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You know, he had really long hair. Then now he's
got a lot shorter hair. So I'll tell him you
said that, all right?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
What's his name?
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Noah?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Very nice, very nice? First question, let's clear up what
could be an urban myth, an urban legend, or it
could be fact, but I want to get it out
of on the table. Okay, were you a competitive maramba player? Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:07):
Yeah, I was in a very competitive percussion ensemble in
my high school. And you know, I grew up playing piano.
My mom had put me in lessons and I went
to muscle shows high school and saw that they had
a really good marching band. In fact, they had an
even better percussion ensemble, which is like the pit for
(05:29):
those people that don't know. If you go to the
marching band, they're in front of the drum major and
they're you know, playing with sticks. And that was me.
I was a little band nerd my entire high school career,
and we we went around the US, competing with other ensembles,
and yeah, it's pretty nerdy, but I loved it so.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Much I probably said it wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Is it marimba?
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Yeah? Marimba yep, yep.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
And that's kind of is a pardon my ignorance again?
Is that like the big xylophone type thing?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Yeah, not ignorance at all, it's yeah, so I guess
if I'm correct, the xylophone is like the top octave
or two octaves of the marimba, and so you put
the rest of the low keys on there. And I
have had like four mallets, and yeah, those were some
really fun days. I really loved it. And you know,
(06:27):
did band camp in the Alabama heat. It was it
was awful, but it was great.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
How shocked would you be right now if I said,
let's bring in the video of muscall shoals high school
competitive and I had a video of view with your
four mallets? How shocked would you be.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
If you found it? I'm terrified.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Let's go to the video.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Rachel. Speaking of high school band, I do comedy and
my high school band teacher showed up to my show
this last weekend and I've not seen him. I'm not
kidding since nineteen eighty seven.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Oh my gosh, wait wait what was your instrument?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I played the trumpet.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Oh, yes, it all makes sense.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Silver and a silver trumpet and a gold trumpet. I
was actually I will quote you what he said to
my friend this weekend. He said Corey had extreme talent,
but he was a goofball, so he never challenged for
a higher chair position. He wanted to sit by his
buddies down the row, which is absolutely true.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Yeah, no, that makes total sense. Yes, that's the way
it goes. I mean, you gotta be sitting by the
right people.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Rachel picked three things that I we the audience don't
know about you. I'm new to Rachel Purcell, so you choice.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Okay, now this is really good. Well you already nailed
one of them that I would normally bring up, so
to play off of that when I got to college,
so I guess one will be. I went to the
University of North Alabama and got a degree in English.
And North Alabama is in Florence, which is right next
(08:22):
to Muscleshoals, my hometown, so small towns, small university, and
I was an English major. And two to help pay
for college, I played the marimba as my talent in
the Miss Alabama pageant competition. I won my school's pageant
(08:44):
by I played marimba and I had a little lapel
mic I would sing, and I had my band director.
You know how amazing they are. He wrote me a
rendition of what A Felt fame Yes and ended up
winning that because I think it was so unique because
(09:07):
no one plays more fun sings And I ended up
getting to compete at Miss Alabama with that, which was
really fun. And I didn't win or anything, but it
was really fun getting to do that and bring such
unique talent. And then thirdly, you know what something I'll
(09:27):
bring to light because a lot of people are afraid
to ask me. But I have a little birthmark on
my lip that's called a homongioma and it's just a
blood vessel on my lip that I guess shows up
when I don't have lips to go on. But a
lot of people, you know, will be like, I don't
want to ask, but what is this?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Wow? Anyway, since you're being transparent, I too want to
be transparent with you. My freshman year in high school,
I was in a punk band and we were called Hamiyama.
It only lasted for about four months. And the weird
thing was nobody could see us if we had lipstick
(10:10):
on ourselves. So I feel like you and I have
really connected here.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I literally cannot with you.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Comen Hamanjiama. Isn't that a Godzilla character from the last movie?
Let me get my research team on that and get
back to you at the end of the interview. Okay,
right before you and I jumped on to chat, I
saw a video for the song swampers Got a.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Little dolls, little bit of boot put a little bump
in the baby, We got a breath.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Nothing kind of crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Dangkeep everybody does because they bring it up aloud. If
you'll below a baby, come hard rock, thos can rockers,
booth stoppers.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Can stop us.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Tell me about country music because when I started doing
my homework, Rachel Purcell didn't come up that much, but
this other girl did. And I'm like, wait a minute,
is this the same girl?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yes? Yes, who who can it be? I grew up
in muscle shoals and I started writing songs in middle school,
and you know, mostly came from a diary that I
ended up just putting to music after learning piano, and
I started playing out during high school. And once I
(11:42):
started playing out, you know, doing covers in my originals,
it was like you could not stop me. I was,
you know, any restaurant, I would be in the corner
of it playing for tips, and but those covers were
kind of all over the board, you know, it was
Carol King, Sarah Brellis, Adele, Rascal Flats, anything really that
(12:08):
I felt like I could pull off on piano at least.
And when I was playing at a little steak restaurant
in Florence, actually near the university, this guy came up
to me and introduced himself as a rep an an
r REP from Sony, Nashville. And I was seventeen at
(12:30):
the time, and I was like, you're gonna kidnap me,
Like this is not real, and he gave me his card.
I took it home to my parents and he was,
you know, legit, and we ended up having kind of
a mentor relationship where I would send him songs during
college and he was great to give feedback, and you know,
(12:53):
we talked about moving to Nashville, but I really wanted
to get my degree, even though I didn't really know
what end. But it was something I really wanted to do.
And so, you know, in a way you would say
kind of country music happened to me, you know, because
of being discovered in my hometown. But I did like
(13:17):
country music and I grew up around it. My parents
are big country music fans, but they're also you know,
big soul funk. You know. They always had like Doobie Brothers,
earth Wind and fire Bege's, you know, Casey in the
Sunshine Band. So there was a lot of different music
happening in my home. And so I ended up after college.
(13:42):
I'd come to know christ in the middle of college
and ended up moving to Nashville right after I graduated,
and ended up getting signed to Sony Nashville pretty quickly after.
And you know, it was a whirlwind and incredible because
I was writing with some of the greatest songwriters you know,
(14:02):
in the world in the Nashville Hub and being signed
to a major label like that, I got to be
with just these A list writers and got to play
the Grand Ole Opry and got to open for Reba
McIntyre Tricia yearwould an incredible time for me, right, really incredible,
(14:25):
especially for a girl, you know, small town Alabama. It
was a really big deal. But yeah, twenty twenty hit
and I feel like I really career wise, you know,
went to a standstill because you know, we couldn't tour
and it's a pretty hard time, and it felt like
(14:47):
my career was just really you know falling flat. And
at the same time, you know, being home all the time.
I had started leading worship with my husband at church,
and you know, I'd done that a little bit in
youth group going growing up, but I hadn't done that
since and it really like lit a fire in me
(15:12):
getting to do that, and because really the only times
I'd been on stage was you know, playing my own
originals and doing shows like that, and so it was
really interesting. And I was also in a Bible study
that I really enjoyed, getting to you know, grow alongside
(15:33):
you know, women my age and really getting to know
the Lord together. And yeah, I you know, Christian music
wasn't really on my mind, but I knew that I
was loving this season that I was in, if that
made sense. Like, even though professionally I felt like things
really weren't working, it was like spiritually everything was really
(15:56):
growing a lot deeper. And I ended up getting by
my label end of twenty twenty two. You know, even
though I felt rejected and it was really painful in
a lot of ways, it also felt like relief because
I just hadn't been happy for a while, and I
was just like, you know, I don't know, you know, God,
(16:19):
do I still want to be in the music industry?
Like do I is this right for me? And I
don't know if this is my family or if this
is the South or whatever. But like I'd always been like,
whatever I'm doing, I'm gonna go all the way. I'm
going to work hard, I'm not gonna complain. I'm gonna
do the best that I can. And so my head
(16:41):
was just like country music or I don't know nothing,
and it was like being dropped. I finally had this
surrender where I was like, all right, Lord, I'm going
to get this to you more than I ever have,
And if you want me to go work a corporate job,
I will do it, and I will have joy and
(17:03):
I'll do it to the best of my ability, and
I can do music on the side or whatever. Lord,
you know, whatever you want. And you know, I don't
know how you quite hear the Lord's voice, but I
really felt in my heart this really solid, like You're
gonna do Christian music and I'm like, gonna do like what?
(17:28):
And you know, I think I'd felt so much rejection
and kind of confusion from the industry. I was like, God,
how are you gonna make this happen? Which sounds hilarious
to say to God, right, but I was like, all
the connections that I have are really in country, so
you know, how would you make this work? And yet
(17:49):
at the same time, I was like, I feel like
this would be like what I was born for. Not
that I wasn't passionate about country, right, this is like
me and like my life. And I heard him say that,
and I was like, Okay, I feel like you're saying this,
but you know what does that look like? And it
(18:10):
was like these songs. Corey just started like pouring it
out of me. And in Nashville, when you co write
so much, you know, you can really lean on co
writing with people. And I started writing these songs by myself,
just like one after another after another after another, and
they're all Christian songs. And I'm like, okay, you're doing this, okay,
And then he started just opening up these doors and
(18:34):
over a year and a half just this wild journey
that brought me to Centricity Music, and I ended up
signing with them and it has just been the most
incredible partnership. I know that's kind of a long story
to answer your question, but you know, I feel like
it helps for people to understand, you know, how far
(18:56):
back all of it goes, and you know, I didn't.
I don't have quite the same story as a lot
of people who moved to Nashville to be a country
star and you know, paying their dues for this big dream.
I was just like following the voice of the Lord
of Okay, what's next? Okay, what's next? And I feel
(19:18):
like I'm just right where I'm supposed to be. I
never imagined, but it just shows to the character of
the Lord that he can do more than we ever imagine,
and that his dreams are even bigger than our dreams.
That's kind of how we got to Christian.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Music getting dropped by a label that big. Is that
a phone call, an email, or a come down to
the office.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, that was a phone call. I was actually headed
to a wedding with my husband. I had been really
not happy, I would say, for about two years, and
I had been praying that the Lord would just do something,
either give them passion for me again or release me
(20:06):
because I couldn't leave financially. Basically, Yeah, it being a
phone call from the head of the company and he
was really kind and doesn't make it hurt any less.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
But did you send them your new song yet?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
I hope they've heard it, so you.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Should send it, hey, you know, a little update from me.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
I will say. The head of radio over there has
been so supportive and he actually is incredible. His name's Dennis.
And when my husband and I were engaged, we weren't
going to live together before we got married, and because
of the way the leases were, there were a few
months in between, and they actually, Dennis and his wife
(20:51):
let me live with them for a few months. So
that's not common, you know, for them to feel so family.
So I am thankful for so many reallylationships that I
made over there, you know, and I feel like none
of it was wasted.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Let's go back a little bit further. You're singing songs
basically out of your diary, your journal. Do you remember
that very first one?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I do. It's just so embarrassed. So my favorite snack
as a little kid was I would call them Raymond
noodles instead of Ramen noodles. And I had a song
called Raymond Noodles.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
And writers write what they know.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
I know, it's like eating Raymond noodles.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
On what does Rachel Purcell need brutal, honest advice about.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
Oh gosh everything. I think I have a lot of
a lot of test I would say on my relationship
with the Lord, and you know, moving into this sphere,
you know, I would share my faith a little bit
(22:11):
in the country world, but knowing that I can go
full blast here. You know, I've just been praying about
having a boldness to share more of what God's redeemed
me from. And so I think, like I've wanted advice
on what to share and even you know, the blessing
(22:32):
is that I can share so much in my music,
you know, without sharing all the details. But but yeah,
I don't know. Maybe you know how to share more
of my story or or when, But I don't know.
I haven't really thought about it, like beyond.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
That, is it a does my story matter? Or is
it a There's a lot of stuff that happened to me.
I don't know if I'm ready to open up that
book to everybody.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Yet yeah, I think the latter, And because I want
to be I want to respect myself and give myself patience.
I guess too, you know, be open. But I've been inspired.
I think hearing a lot of other people's stories being
like okay, you know, I don't know. I think part
(23:22):
of it like it s feels like a therapy session.
But I really want to be I think like a
good role model. Some of me thinks that maybe if
I share a lot that you know, people in the
Christian sphere might judge me or judge my testimony, and
sometimes like knowing where to find the boldness or the
(23:46):
not care to share.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
If that makes sense, Let's sneak a couple of fun
questions in here. Here's one. Give me a Rachel Purcell
guilty pleasure, just one.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Oh, this feels like a guilty pleasure. But I would
say pasta.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I don't know, Well, it depends on the amount. How
about this? What is something you'll never say no to?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Ooh, I will never say no to a pedicure. I
am so excited for the music coming out. We are
finishing wrapping up an EP, and I think it's a
pretty large EP. We might have seven or eight songs
(24:36):
on there, but I am so thrilled for this music.
It feels like like what you were saying previously, God
has given me something to say, and I feel like
these songs are a message and they're my style. I'm
just like a horse ready to get out of the gate.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
All Right, lady, I'm gonna let you go. Pleasure speaking
with you, and we will talk again soon.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Okay, Thanks Corey.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
All right, bye for now.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Shop County.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Man, show up. You can't do it. I'm in there's
mom man. If there's a mountain, there's a mountain on me.
If there's a pie that join me through, I can
promise that. Your promise is Drew. Can't wait to see you.
What you're gonna do?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Shop Shop you on the shout another jobalcon shot up show.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Thanks for listening to this episode of What Else with
Corey Man. You can financially support this podcast details at
speaker dot com. You can email a podcast What Else
with Coreyman at gmail dot com. Back into the archives,
plenty of episodes to choose from. As always, thanks for listening.
(26:06):
We'll talk again soon.
What Else with Cory Man?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This guy can podcast like comedy can.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
What Else with Cory Man?
Speaker 4 (00:13):
You will look deep.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Inside of yourself and.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Feels something you've never felt When.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
He asked for What Else with Cory Man.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Hi, my name is Corey. Welcome to What Else with
Corey Man. As I record this, it's on the front
end of February twenty twenty five, and I'd love to
introduce you to a new female artist that, in my opinion,
is catching the ears of Christian music listeners. Her name
is Rachel Purcell. She's on Centricity Music. During this conversation,
(00:46):
I learned she had a short stint in country music.
I learned that she is an award winning marimba player
and the very first song she ever wrote in her
journal is about her favorite snack when she was growing up.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
So, my favorite snack as a little kid was I
would call them Raymond noodles instead of Ramen noodles. And
I had a song called Raymond Noodles.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And my guest is Rachel Purcell.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Shop shop, there's mom, man, there's a mountain, There's a mountain.
On news, There's a there's a Viet Me. Every promise
that your promise is you can't wait to see you.
(01:38):
What you kind of don show up?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Show up.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Let me just say this right now. I signed on
five minutes early. Never in the history of this podcast
has an artist been on at the same time, if
not earlier. And the only person that's ever done it
is a manager of a big CCM band. It's the
only time in two hundred and eighty six episodes who
(02:11):
says a lot about you.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
Oh, thank you. I'm so glad to be with you.
I've heard so much about you. Ah, and you've been
playing my song. You were one of the first Cory.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
It is a great song. I hear the song first
as in sound and production, and then I go, wow,
this girl can actually sing, and then I lean into
the words, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
I am so thankful that the Lord landed that song
in that room. And Jeff Pardo, you know, is incredible
and he's so you know, diverse in the way that
he can create a sound for Ann Wilson and he
can create a sound for Chris McLarney. And then he
really nailed the vision in that song for a breakout
(03:01):
first single, and then you know, now being able to
expand on that and work on an EP so that
I can show people what I'm really wanting to do.
So it means a lot for you to say that
I got to send you more than let.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Me hit the star button and say welcome to the podcast,
Rachel Purcelled. Nice to finally meet you.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Nice to meet you, Corey.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Where are you sitting right now? And before you say where,
I see a very provocative picture of two lovebirds over
your shoulder, But I also see a classic what looks
like a radio console that my grandmother had that I
(03:44):
absolutely loved. So where are you?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Yeah? So I am in my dining room and if
I flip this laptop around, you would see chaos because
we're in the middle of we just sold a bookshelf
that we have here in the and I'm in the
middle of looking for one to replace it, and so
every book I have is like strode across the room.
(04:08):
But this, uh, yeah, this console we were actually gifted
by a church friend of ours and they were getting
rid of it. And my husband's like, are you kidding me?
Like we would love this because we were I don't
think so it's pretty yeah, okay, it's pretty dusty, but
we were like, you know, even if it doesn't work.
(04:29):
It's a cool piece to have. Yes, and yeah, that's
one of our anniversary funds or sorry, not anniversary or
engagement photos.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
So well, I can't see much, but what I can see,
he's a handsome devil.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You know, he had really long hair. Then now he's
got a lot shorter hair. So I'll tell him you
said that, all right?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
What's his name?
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Noah?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Very nice, very nice? First question, let's clear up what
could be an urban myth, an urban legend, or it
could be fact, but I want to get it out
of on the table. Okay, were you a competitive maramba player? Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:07):
Yeah, I was in a very competitive percussion ensemble in
my high school. And you know, I grew up playing piano.
My mom had put me in lessons and I went
to muscle shows high school and saw that they had
a really good marching band. In fact, they had an
even better percussion ensemble, which is like the pit for
(05:29):
those people that don't know. If you go to the
marching band, they're in front of the drum major and
they're you know, playing with sticks. And that was me.
I was a little band nerd my entire high school career,
and we we went around the US, competing with other ensembles,
and yeah, it's pretty nerdy, but I loved it so.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Much I probably said it wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Is it marimba?
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Yeah? Marimba yep, yep.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
And that's kind of is a pardon my ignorance again?
Is that like the big xylophone type thing?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Yeah, not ignorance at all, it's yeah, so I guess
if I'm correct, the xylophone is like the top octave
or two octaves of the marimba, and so you put
the rest of the low keys on there. And I
have had like four mallets, and yeah, those were some
really fun days. I really loved it. And you know,
(06:27):
did band camp in the Alabama heat. It was it
was awful, but it was great.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
How shocked would you be right now if I said,
let's bring in the video of muscall shoals high school
competitive and I had a video of view with your
four mallets? How shocked would you be.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
If you found it? I'm terrified.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Let's go to the video.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Rachel. Speaking of high school band, I do comedy and
my high school band teacher showed up to my show
this last weekend and I've not seen him. I'm not
kidding since nineteen eighty seven.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Oh my gosh, wait wait what was your instrument?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I played the trumpet.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Oh, yes, it all makes sense.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Silver and a silver trumpet and a gold trumpet. I
was actually I will quote you what he said to
my friend this weekend. He said Corey had extreme talent,
but he was a goofball, so he never challenged for
a higher chair position. He wanted to sit by his
buddies down the row, which is absolutely true.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Yeah, no, that makes total sense. Yes, that's the way
it goes. I mean, you gotta be sitting by the
right people.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Rachel picked three things that I we the audience don't
know about you. I'm new to Rachel Purcell, so you choice.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Okay, now this is really good. Well you already nailed
one of them that I would normally bring up, so
to play off of that when I got to college,
so I guess one will be. I went to the
University of North Alabama and got a degree in English.
And North Alabama is in Florence, which is right next
(08:22):
to Muscleshoals, my hometown, so small towns, small university, and
I was an English major. And two to help pay
for college, I played the marimba as my talent in
the Miss Alabama pageant competition. I won my school's pageant
(08:44):
by I played marimba and I had a little lapel
mic I would sing, and I had my band director.
You know how amazing they are. He wrote me a
rendition of what A Felt fame Yes and ended up
winning that because I think it was so unique because
(09:07):
no one plays more fun sings And I ended up
getting to compete at Miss Alabama with that, which was
really fun. And I didn't win or anything, but it
was really fun getting to do that and bring such
unique talent. And then thirdly, you know what something I'll
(09:27):
bring to light because a lot of people are afraid
to ask me. But I have a little birthmark on
my lip that's called a homongioma and it's just a
blood vessel on my lip that I guess shows up
when I don't have lips to go on. But a
lot of people, you know, will be like, I don't
want to ask, but what is this?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Wow? Anyway, since you're being transparent, I too want to
be transparent with you. My freshman year in high school,
I was in a punk band and we were called Hamiyama.
It only lasted for about four months. And the weird
thing was nobody could see us if we had lipstick
(10:10):
on ourselves. So I feel like you and I have
really connected here.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I literally cannot with you.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Comen Hamanjiama. Isn't that a Godzilla character from the last movie?
Let me get my research team on that and get
back to you at the end of the interview. Okay,
right before you and I jumped on to chat, I
saw a video for the song swampers Got a.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Little dolls, little bit of boot put a little bump
in the baby, We got a breath.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Nothing kind of crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Dangkeep everybody does because they bring it up aloud. If
you'll below a baby, come hard rock, thos can rockers,
booth stoppers.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Can stop us.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Tell me about country music because when I started doing
my homework, Rachel Purcell didn't come up that much, but
this other girl did. And I'm like, wait a minute,
is this the same girl?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yes? Yes, who who can it be? I grew up
in muscle shoals and I started writing songs in middle school,
and you know, mostly came from a diary that I
ended up just putting to music after learning piano, and
I started playing out during high school. And once I
(11:42):
started playing out, you know, doing covers in my originals,
it was like you could not stop me. I was,
you know, any restaurant, I would be in the corner
of it playing for tips, and but those covers were
kind of all over the board, you know, it was
Carol King, Sarah Brellis, Adele, Rascal Flats, anything really that
(12:08):
I felt like I could pull off on piano at least.
And when I was playing at a little steak restaurant
in Florence, actually near the university, this guy came up
to me and introduced himself as a rep an an
r REP from Sony, Nashville. And I was seventeen at
(12:30):
the time, and I was like, you're gonna kidnap me,
Like this is not real, and he gave me his card.
I took it home to my parents and he was,
you know, legit, and we ended up having kind of
a mentor relationship where I would send him songs during
college and he was great to give feedback, and you know,
(12:53):
we talked about moving to Nashville, but I really wanted
to get my degree, even though I didn't really know
what end. But it was something I really wanted to do.
And so, you know, in a way you would say
kind of country music happened to me, you know, because
of being discovered in my hometown. But I did like
(13:17):
country music and I grew up around it. My parents
are big country music fans, but they're also you know,
big soul funk. You know. They always had like Doobie Brothers,
earth Wind and fire Bege's, you know, Casey in the
Sunshine Band. So there was a lot of different music
happening in my home. And so I ended up after college.
(13:42):
I'd come to know christ in the middle of college
and ended up moving to Nashville right after I graduated,
and ended up getting signed to Sony Nashville pretty quickly after.
And you know, it was a whirlwind and incredible because
I was writing with some of the greatest songwriters you know,
(14:02):
in the world in the Nashville Hub and being signed
to a major label like that, I got to be
with just these A list writers and got to play
the Grand Ole Opry and got to open for Reba
McIntyre Tricia yearwould an incredible time for me, right, really incredible,
(14:25):
especially for a girl, you know, small town Alabama. It
was a really big deal. But yeah, twenty twenty hit
and I feel like I really career wise, you know,
went to a standstill because you know, we couldn't tour
and it's a pretty hard time, and it felt like
(14:47):
my career was just really you know falling flat. And
at the same time, you know, being home all the time.
I had started leading worship with my husband at church,
and you know, I'd done that a little bit in
youth group going growing up, but I hadn't done that
since and it really like lit a fire in me
(15:12):
getting to do that, and because really the only times
I'd been on stage was you know, playing my own
originals and doing shows like that, and so it was
really interesting. And I was also in a Bible study
that I really enjoyed, getting to you know, grow alongside
(15:33):
you know, women my age and really getting to know
the Lord together. And yeah, I you know, Christian music
wasn't really on my mind, but I knew that I
was loving this season that I was in, if that
made sense. Like, even though professionally I felt like things
really weren't working, it was like spiritually everything was really
(15:56):
growing a lot deeper. And I ended up getting by
my label end of twenty twenty two. You know, even
though I felt rejected and it was really painful in
a lot of ways, it also felt like relief because
I just hadn't been happy for a while, and I
was just like, you know, I don't know, you know, God,
(16:19):
do I still want to be in the music industry?
Like do I is this right for me? And I
don't know if this is my family or if this
is the South or whatever. But like I'd always been like,
whatever I'm doing, I'm gonna go all the way. I'm
going to work hard, I'm not gonna complain. I'm gonna
do the best that I can. And so my head
(16:41):
was just like country music or I don't know nothing,
and it was like being dropped. I finally had this
surrender where I was like, all right, Lord, I'm going
to get this to you more than I ever have,
And if you want me to go work a corporate job,
I will do it, and I will have joy and
(17:03):
I'll do it to the best of my ability, and
I can do music on the side or whatever. Lord,
you know, whatever you want. And you know, I don't
know how you quite hear the Lord's voice, but I
really felt in my heart this really solid, like You're
gonna do Christian music and I'm like, gonna do like what?
(17:28):
And you know, I think I'd felt so much rejection
and kind of confusion from the industry. I was like, God,
how are you gonna make this happen? Which sounds hilarious
to say to God, right, but I was like, all
the connections that I have are really in country, so
you know, how would you make this work? And yet
(17:49):
at the same time, I was like, I feel like
this would be like what I was born for. Not
that I wasn't passionate about country, right, this is like
me and like my life. And I heard him say that,
and I was like, Okay, I feel like you're saying this,
but you know what does that look like? And it
(18:10):
was like these songs. Corey just started like pouring it
out of me. And in Nashville, when you co write
so much, you know, you can really lean on co
writing with people. And I started writing these songs by myself,
just like one after another after another after another, and
they're all Christian songs. And I'm like, okay, you're doing this, okay,
And then he started just opening up these doors and
(18:34):
over a year and a half just this wild journey
that brought me to Centricity Music, and I ended up
signing with them and it has just been the most
incredible partnership. I know that's kind of a long story
to answer your question, but you know, I feel like
it helps for people to understand, you know, how far
(18:56):
back all of it goes, and you know, I didn't.
I don't have quite the same story as a lot
of people who moved to Nashville to be a country
star and you know, paying their dues for this big dream.
I was just like following the voice of the Lord
of Okay, what's next? Okay, what's next? And I feel
(19:18):
like I'm just right where I'm supposed to be. I
never imagined, but it just shows to the character of
the Lord that he can do more than we ever imagine,
and that his dreams are even bigger than our dreams.
That's kind of how we got to Christian.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Music getting dropped by a label that big. Is that
a phone call, an email, or a come down to
the office.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Yeah, that was a phone call. I was actually headed
to a wedding with my husband. I had been really
not happy, I would say, for about two years, and
I had been praying that the Lord would just do something,
either give them passion for me again or release me
(20:06):
because I couldn't leave financially. Basically, Yeah, it being a
phone call from the head of the company and he
was really kind and doesn't make it hurt any less.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
But did you send them your new song yet?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
I hope they've heard it, so you.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Should send it, hey, you know, a little update from me.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
I will say. The head of radio over there has
been so supportive and he actually is incredible. His name's Dennis.
And when my husband and I were engaged, we weren't
going to live together before we got married, and because
of the way the leases were, there were a few
months in between, and they actually, Dennis and his wife
(20:51):
let me live with them for a few months. So
that's not common, you know, for them to feel so family.
So I am thankful for so many reallylationships that I
made over there, you know, and I feel like none
of it was wasted.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Let's go back a little bit further. You're singing songs
basically out of your diary, your journal. Do you remember
that very first one?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I do. It's just so embarrassed. So my favorite snack
as a little kid was I would call them Raymond
noodles instead of Ramen noodles. And I had a song
called Raymond Noodles.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
And writers write what they know.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
I know, it's like eating Raymond noodles.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
On what does Rachel Purcell need brutal, honest advice about.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
Oh gosh everything. I think I have a lot of
a lot of test I would say on my relationship
with the Lord, and you know, moving into this sphere,
you know, I would share my faith a little bit
(22:11):
in the country world, but knowing that I can go
full blast here. You know, I've just been praying about
having a boldness to share more of what God's redeemed
me from. And so I think, like I've wanted advice
on what to share and even you know, the blessing
(22:32):
is that I can share so much in my music,
you know, without sharing all the details. But but yeah,
I don't know. Maybe you know how to share more
of my story or or when, But I don't know.
I haven't really thought about it, like beyond.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
That, is it a does my story matter? Or is
it a There's a lot of stuff that happened to me.
I don't know if I'm ready to open up that
book to everybody.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Yet yeah, I think the latter, And because I want
to be I want to respect myself and give myself patience.
I guess too, you know, be open. But I've been inspired.
I think hearing a lot of other people's stories being
like okay, you know, I don't know. I think part
(23:22):
of it like it s feels like a therapy session.
But I really want to be I think like a
good role model. Some of me thinks that maybe if
I share a lot that you know, people in the
Christian sphere might judge me or judge my testimony, and
sometimes like knowing where to find the boldness or the
(23:46):
not care to share.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
If that makes sense, Let's sneak a couple of fun
questions in here. Here's one. Give me a Rachel Purcell
guilty pleasure, just one.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Oh, this feels like a guilty pleasure. But I would
say pasta.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I don't know, Well, it depends on the amount. How
about this? What is something you'll never say no to?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Ooh, I will never say no to a pedicure. I
am so excited for the music coming out. We are
finishing wrapping up an EP, and I think it's a
pretty large EP. We might have seven or eight songs
(24:36):
on there, but I am so thrilled for this music.
It feels like like what you were saying previously, God
has given me something to say, and I feel like
these songs are a message and they're my style. I'm
just like a horse ready to get out of the gate.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
All Right, lady, I'm gonna let you go. Pleasure speaking
with you, and we will talk again soon.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Okay, Thanks Corey.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
All right, bye for now.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Shop County.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Man, show up. You can't do it. I'm in there's
mom man. If there's a mountain, there's a mountain on me.
If there's a pie that join me through, I can
promise that. Your promise is Drew. Can't wait to see you.
What you're gonna do?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Shop Shop you on the shout another jobalcon shot up show.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Thanks for listening to this episode of What Else with
Corey Man. You can financially support this podcast details at
speaker dot com. You can email a podcast What Else
with Coreyman at gmail dot com. Back into the archives,
plenty of episodes to choose from. As always, thanks for listening.
(26:06):
We'll talk again soon.
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