Rachael Cantu (born June 8, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up in

Orange County, California Orange County is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States, ...

.Boston Globe
March 3, 2006 She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Career

Cantu started her career fronting a southern Californian indie rock band called Quite Satellite while still in high school from 1997 through 2000, releasing a few singles with other local bands like Driving By Braille and Machine-Gun Kelly. She later wrote and performed as a solo artist in Los Angeles and San Diego, and opened for bands such as

The Get Up Kids The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Olathe, Kansas. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the " second wave" of emo music. Their second album '' Something to Write Home Abo ...

Saves the Day Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, and bassist Rodrigo Palma. After forming under the name Sefler in ...

and

Karate (; ; Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly Fuj ...

. After moving to Boston, her reputation grew amongst fellow artists. Cantu opened for Canadian indie pop duo

Tegan and Sara Tegan and Sara () are a Canadian indie pop duo formed in 1998 in Calgary, Alberta. The band is led by identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (born September 19, 1980). Both musicians are songwriters and multi-instrumental ...

on two North American tours, and also for

Limbeck Limbeck is an American rock band that formed in Laguna Niguel, California in 1999. The group featured Robb MacLean on lead vocals and guitar, Patrick Carrie guitar and backing vocals, Justin Entsminger on bass, and Jon Phillip, who replaced Matth ...

and

Ben Lee Benjamin Michael Lee (born 11 September 1978) is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appe ...

. Cantu's first release was the EP ''Blood Laughs''. After signing to

Q Division Records Q Division Records is an independent record label located in Somerville, Massachusetts founded in 1995. Artists *Merrie Amsterburg * Flying Nuns *Francine *Gigolo Aunts *Loveless *Rachael Cantu * Anne Heaton *Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves ...

, in 2006 she released her debut album ''Run All Night''. The album has been well received by critics, and was successful in the independent album charts. Since then she has toured North America to promote the album.

Tegan Quin Tegan and Sara () are a Canadian indie pop duo formed in 1998 in Calgary, Alberta. The band is led by identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (born September 19, 1980). Both musicians are songwriters and multi-instrumental ...

of Tegan and Sara appeared as a backing vocalist on ''Saturday'', as well as

Tony Goddess Papas Fritas (typically stylized as pApAs fritAs) was an American indie rock band that formed in 1992 and released three studio albums before breaking up in 2000. The band's name is Spanish for "fried potatoes" (specifically "French fries" in Am ...

Papas Fritas Papas Fritas (typically stylized as pApAs fritAs) was an American indie rock band that formed in 1992 and released three studio albums before breaking up in 2000. The band's name is Spanish for "fried potatoes" (specifically "French fries" in A ...

. Cantu has also recorded songs with

Kori Gardner Mates of State are an American indie pop duo, active since 1997. The group is the husband-and-wife team of Kori Gardner (born June 16, 1974) (vocals, organ, synthesizer, piano, electric piano, and occasional guitar and drums) and Jason Hammel (b ...

Mates of State Mates of State are an American indie pop duo, active since 1997. The group is the husband-and-wife team of Kori Gardner (born June 16, 1974) (vocals, organ, synthesizer, piano, electric piano, and occasional guitar and drums) and Jason Hammel ...

, and Jason Gnewikow of

The Promise Ring The Promise Ring was an American rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that is recognized as part of the second wave of emo. Among various other EPs and singles, the band released four studio albums during their initial run: ''30° Everywh ...

.Well-Rounded Radio
/ref> Musically, Cantu has been described as "something of a mix of

The Pretenders Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...

Chrissie Hynde Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...

PJ Harvey Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined loca ...

Sarah McLachlan Sarah Ann McLachlan OC OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. As of 2015, she had sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is '' Surfacing'', for which she won two Grammy Awards (ou ...

, and

Norah Jones Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. '' Billboard'' named her the ...

". She has also been compared vocally to

Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...

and

Patty Griffin Patricia Jean Griffin (born March 16, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.Griffin, Patrici She is a vocalist and plays guitar and piano. She is known for her stripped-down songwriting style in the folk music genre. Her songs ha ...

.WaxFruit
– Artist information In January 2009, Cantu's song "Devil's Thunder" was featured on ABC's "

Private Practice Private practice may refer to: * Private sector practice ** Practice of law * ''Private Practice'' (TV series), an American medical drama * ''Private Practice'' (album), released in 1978 by Dr. Feelgood {{disambig pt:Private Practice ...

." In February 2009, Cantu's self-titled EP was released. In 2009 and 2010, she opened on various dates for blues legend

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

. In November 2009, she released her second studio album, ''Far and Wide'',Friends With Both Arms
– review of Far and WideAutostraddle
– review of Far and Wide created with Vancouver-based producer Garth Futcher (best known for his work with

Be Good Tanyas The Be Good Tanyas are a Canadian folk music group formed in Vancouver in 1999. Their influences include folk, country, and bluegrass. The style of music they perform can be referred to as alt-country or Americana. History The Be Good Tanya ...

). Her music has been widely celebrated by press including SPIN, Stereogum, Buzzfeed, Autostraddle and Rookie. Rachael's song "Make Our Own Way", by her studio project with Harlan Silverman, Little Brutes, was commissioned as the theme song for the NBC/Ellen Degeneres-produced sitcom, ‘One Big Happy’, with many of her songs have been featured on numerous TV shows including ‘Pretty Little Liars’, ‘Shameless’, ‘Private Practice’, ‘Royal Pains’ and ‘Degrassi’. Rachael's third solo EP, Love Rush, was released Spring of 2018. The record is a lush, evocative collection of deeply personal songs about love and loss. Love Rush reflects a shift into pop territory, which, in part, was inspired by her volunteer work with the Songs For Kids Foundation, an organization that brings musicians into children's hospitals to sing popular music.

Personal life

Rachael Cantu is lesbian and since 2013, she is married to the actress, comedian, writer, and producer Liz Feldman.

Discography

Albums

*''Split EP'' with Robb MacLean (Limbeck) *''Blood Laughs EP'' (2004) *''Run All Night'' (2006) *''Far and Wide'' (2009) *''Covers'' (2013) *''Little Brutes EP (2011)'' *''Little Brutes – Desire EP (2015)'' *''Love Rush EP (2018)''

Compilations

*''Sound Relief Volume One: From CA to NYC'' (2001) – "Best Wishes" *''Paupers, Peasants, Princes & Kings: The Songs of Bob Dylan'' (2006) – "I Threw It All Away" *'' Terrible Thrills, Vol. 1'' (2010) – "Soldier in the Army" *''Bother Me Tomorrow: An Indie Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival'' (2014) – "Proud Mary"

References

External links

Official WebsiteRachael Cantu at Q Division Records
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cantu, Rachael 1981 births Living people American women singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from California Singer-songwriters from Massachusetts American LGBT musicians LGBT people from California Musicians from Orange County, California 21st-century American singers 21st-century American women singers