Rachel Wammack’s self-titled debut EP set for release this week on April 6, 2018
Rachel Wammack, a native to Muscle Shoals, AL, is set to release her self-titled debut EP this week on April 6, 2018. Muscle Shoals is known as a creative mecca visited by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones, just a few of the legends who have contributed to Muscle Shoals’ mystique and musical legacy. As a native, Wammack feels the town’s creative essence is very much a part of her DNA and fuels the talented young singer/songwriter’s RCA debut.
Wammack talks about the moment she signed her record deal at 2018 CRS Conference:
“At CRS, I signed my Sony deal in front of radio. And, it was great just to feel a lot of support by Nashville and by my peers that were there. I felt very welcomed, you know, to the Sony team. And, it was just unbelievable because you know you dream about your dreams coming true and you hope that they’ll come true, but you know you never know. And, mine got to come true that night so… It was a really incredible experience. I’ll never forget it.”
Possessing a warm, soulful voice and a sassy but sweet Southern spirit that makes her instantly feel like a longtime friend, Wammack is poised to be country music’s next “it girl.” “I’ve always loved music,” says Wammack, who first caught the attention of Sony A&R exec Jim Catino when she was performing in Muscle Shoals as a teen. Though she and her dad traveled to Nashville to meet with Catino about a deal, Wammack chose to delay moving to Music City. “I stayed home, went to college and performed almost every single weekend at a different restaurant, wedding, private event, anywhere I could. If a restaurant didn’t have music, I would ask them if they could have music and me be that music,” the 23-year-old says. “I love performing out. Don’t ask me if I like songwriting or performing better because I don’t know, but I have a heart for both.”
Wammack graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in professional writing. During her junior year she was named Miss UNA, and went on to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant where she won the talent portion of the competition. After graduation, she moved to Music City and in a short period of time had six publishing offers. Of course, when fielding label deals, the choice was easy. Under the guidance of her early champion Jim Catino, she signed with RCA Records.
Helmed by award-winning producer Dann Huff, Wammack’s debut EP spotlights a young artist with a potent voice and impressive songwriting chops. The project includes the poignant ballad, “Damage,” which she co-wrote with Tom Douglas and David Hodge, the vibrant single “Hard to Believe” and “My Boyfriend,” an empowering female anthem declaring “my boyfriend doesn’t speak for me anymore.” “All my songs are very personal,” she says. “If it’s coming out on my album, it’s going to be personal and a way that someone can get to know me. I hope people will be able to relate.”
Hear Wammack talk about working with Dan Huff on her self-titled debut EP:
“Working with Dan, being a person of just the highest reputation in Nashville, I kinda was like who is this guy? Like, is he as good as everybody says? You know personally, because obviously I knew he was talented and genius, but you know not everyone is always like the nicest. And I’m like he’s done so much, you know. And, he is the most humble and grateful and easy-going and encouraging person that I’ve ever come in contact with in this town. You know the funny thing is like he doesn’t need me to make him more successful. So, it really attributed to the passion that he said he had for me and my project and it made me feel really proud that he believed in me. And, it just meant a lot that he would just encourage me. So I love him. He’s the best.”
Wammack also hopes to represent her hometown well. “I do hope that people from Muscle Shoals will be proud of the music that I make because they were the people who supported me throughout high school and college,” she smiles. “I am just praying that I’m making music that they can stand behind and go, ‘There’s our girl! There’s our Muscle Shoals girl!”