Rachel Cartwright

Rachel began writing songs on the guitar at the age of 14 with a school friend and they performed together in school concerts. She put together her first album two years later, named "Once Upon a Time", which had influences of many piano-playing singer songwriters such as Vanessa Carlton and Delta Goodrem. The lyrics of these early songs, written in collaboration with Kim Croasdale, are based on teenage emotions and experiences, drawing on their collective relationships.

Over the next year Rachel continued to write songs for her second EP, which is, as yet, unnamed. During this time she increasingly composed in conjunction with Rachel Pearmain, a close friend from school, who also played violin and piano on a number of tracks. Rachel Pearmain brought with her composition and instrumental contributions, new influences, giving the album flavours of jazz and folk.

For the last three years of School Rachel was also involved in arranging a charity concert, showcasing the performing talent of students from St Helen's and St Katharine's and Abingdon Boys School, successfully raising money for Make Poverty History. In support of other charities at school, Rachel also sold an album, named "Once Upon a Time", which combined tracks written by Kim Croasdale, Rachel and Rachel Pearmain and was mixed by Ash Verjee.

Rachel is currently in the process of writing new material while she studies French with Management Studies at Kings College London. Her current influences range from Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor to Alanis Morissette and Sia Furlong. Rachel records with Ash Verjee and Luigi Guida and hopes to finish recording her new songs by Christmas.