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| Rachel Harvey Hill |
Inspired by music as a child
Rachel has had an interest in music for as long as she can
remember. She says her childhood was filled with people and experiences that
allowed her to develop her natural talent and skills. Her mother was the first
to leave an impression, always singing to her. Rachel loved listening to her,
as well as her two sisters. The three women sang together as a trio.
Ms. Joyce Price also played a big role in Rachel’s love of
music. Ms. Price instructed Rachel in music, both at Clay Elementary School and
at Clay First Baptist Church, where she gave Rachel piano and voice lessons.
Rachel and her mother weren’t the only family members with musical
talent either. Her brother, Tim Harvey, began playing music by ear at age six.
Today, Tim is an amazing gifted musician, singer, writer and recording engineer
and makes the demos of the songs she writes. He is also an associate pastor/church
worship leader in Cunningham, Kentucky. Rachel says Tim has taught her a lot about music.
Singing, songwriting and traveling
During high school and college, Rachel sang with and wrote
some of the songs recorded in Nashville for a group called Crossroads, a Southern Gospel
quartet. She says it was in this timeframe that she combined her love for music
and poetry to form songs.
Rachel and her husband, Ryan, who is in the Air
Force, have lived in places that include North Carolina, Arizona,
and Kansas along with their current location in Seoul.
I asked Rachel how living in different places has affected
her songwriting. She responded -
“I’ve met amazing musicians in each place we have lived that
have challenged me and helped me develop as a musician and writer.”
Songs born out of losses
In 2005, Rachel lost her son Raphael in death, then in 2010, she lost another son, Rhett. Both sons died due to a rare
genetic condition known as Zellweger syndrome. Rachel shared with me about the experiences.
I hoped that it would bring comfort to grieving parents. I can’t even begin to explain the peace I found listening to myself sing about my own grief when my son, Rhett later died. Maybe sometimes being able to write songs is God’s way of communicating with me, comforting me and showing me love.”
Moving forward with expectation
Rachel now has a daughter. Having written around 200 songs, her future goals, in addition to being a wife and mother, are to continue writing songs. She says, “I’m going to write no matter what. Songs just come out of me.” Her hopes are to see some of her songs recorded by a major artist. She’d also like to see them used in films or television.
To keep up with Rachel's songwriting and hear more of her music see www.rachelharveyhill.com and Rachel Harvey Hill on Facebook. Her new song, below for your viewing via YouTube, is set to be available on iTunes and other digital media in this upcoming week of April 1-6, 2013.