Rachel Faul Turns Heartbreak Into Raw Midnight Poetry

Rachel Faul's songwriting evokes a quiet but devastating reaction. There are no flashy production elements or tricks to draw attention; rather, Faul's music is simply a representation of emotions in an exposed way (like ash on concrete). On the 24th of April, she released "Blocking It Out," which was nearly a complete accident, but that is what makes it so powerful.

The experience began with an unfortunate combination of two chords.

Her brother was in their mom's old office, which they turned into a studio, when he played the same chord progression from some of the hardest times in his life. He had just gotten out of a relationship, and the ambiant sound of the room, or static of the pain his brother had just come from, was evident through the emptiness of the space. There was no sound, but there was no pain, just a quiet moment.

A line from lyrics that Rachel Faul saved in her notes nearly 12 months ago proclaimed, “I can never set foot on your block again but my best memories are in your house.” This lyric, one of several points of fracture and decay emotionally, served as one of the genesis for this song, as well as her connection to her brother regarding these lyrics. The other elements of the song fell into place over about a two-hour time span.

This ability to be spontaneous is and will always be important as it is reflective in the music.

Blocking It Out is not striving for perfection but rather for an artistic truth in the music. The music alone offered an intimate experience with both the vocals and guitar, providing stark clarity to the various flaws (i.e. breaks) found in Faul’s vocals. The emotional framework used when creating the song certainly contains a Phoebe Bridgers influence however there is no imitation by Faul, as she explores her family’s history and grief while examining the concept of duality.

It is the duality of experience that brings the power of this song to life.

Faul was able to connect with her brother in real time as a result of their respective experiences with fresh heartbreak, while at the same time having been emotionally connected to their respective recollections of familial experience, partaking in a visual journey that is different but the same song and the same emotional wound. This is a rare achievement of songwriting skill, an ability to take something from one’s private experience and share it through a collective experience.

Where other artists pursue the sound of noise as it is readily available, Faul is pursuing the feeling of silence. A feeling that is static, fixed, and ash like. Then all of the sudden connection!