Country Artist Rachele Lynae Releases Sophomore Album, Every Reason

photography by Ford Fairchild

Hailing from the Alaskan wilderness, country singer/songwriter Rachele Lynae came to Nashville in 2014. Like many songwriters in Music City, she grew up singing in church and attended Belmont University. Soon after her arrival, she released her debut album, which was produced by fellow country music artist Jamie O'Neal. Rachele has since shared the stage with other renowned country artists, including Keith Urban, the Band Perry, Kelsea Ballerini, and Randy Houser.

As the daughter of a commercial fisherman, Rachele's upbringing gave her an appreciation of the great outdoors. She often spent time with her family fishing in local rivers on the island where she grew up. But her love of music is what eventually brought her to Nashville. Now she's promoting her recently released sophomore album, Every Reason, which showcases 12 new tunes reflecting Rachele's musical and personal evolution over the last few years.

Rachele co-produced the album alongside longtime friend David Dorn, a session player, producer, and songwriter whom she met back in her Belmont Days.

What makes this album different than the last? "There are a lot more love songs!" Rachele says. Keep reading to learn more about the songs, the album, and what Rachele's up to for the rest of the year.

What is the story behind the album title, Every Reason?
It's taken from the bridge lyrics of the song "Running Out of Reasons." I chose the title because the album is full of all the reasons I love my husband and all the things I love about music.

Besides the strong theme of love, how is this album different from your debut?
It’s been a long time since my last album and I have grown a lot. I think of an album as a snapshot of where an artist is in that particular season, whether stylistically or personally, and I have evolved in both areas. While the last album was very “me” four years ago, I’ve gotten to know myself even better since then and Every Reason reflects that.

Are there any songs on this album that are particularly meaningful or special to you?
I don’t have a favorite, and all of them are special to me for different reasons. For example, “Running Out Of Reasons” is special because it is taken directly from the story of my husband and me dating. “Vinyl” is special because it just has a sense of magic about it that transports me to a happy place. Every song has its own reason for being special.

You co-wrote with 13 other writers on this album. How was that experience and how did it shape which songs made the cut?
Every song was co-written by me. Sometimes it's just me and one other writer and sometimes three writers. When picking the songs for the album, I was focused on the songs themselves - the strength of the lyrics & melody, the subject matter, how they made me feel at my core, and if they fit the vibe of the project.

You also had some virtual co-writing sessions with Robin Schorr. How is virtual co-writing different and how did you two connect? 
Robin Schorr and I met at the Durango Songwriters Expo and have written a few really cool tunes together over Skype, one of which was “Braggin' On Ya,” the first track on my new album. That song was actually a pretty painless virtual writing experience, as she and I relate so well with the attitude and vibe of the song. In general, nothing can beat writing in person and virtual writing does present some unique challenges. The sound delay keeps the writers from being able to sing at the same time or harmonize, and there is definitely the standard tech problems of bad connections. But at the end of the day, when you go into a writing session with another writer the most important thing is that the people themselves are dedicated to creating an open and honest space.

In this pandemic world we're currently living in, what can fans expect from you for the rest of 2020? How can they best support you?
The best way to show support is to listen and share the new album! Add it to your playlists and share it on your social media stories. It means so much to see and hear the music connecting! As far as the rest of the year, it's impossible to think that far ahead. I take it little by little, and as soon as I know what's going on, I share on my social media pages. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll be in the know. For now, I have been doing weekly live (virtual) songwriter nights that are likely to keep going for awhile. I would love to see my fans there!

Rachele recently recorded an acoustic video for her song, "Braggin' On Ya," the first single from Every Reason.  Check it out below.

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