A Little Rock. A Little Soul.
A Whole Lot of Stories.
Singer. Songwriter. Storyteller. Unapologetically Original.
Some artists are born to follow the rules. Rachel Roberts was born to bend them, break them, and occasionally write a song about the aftermath.
Raised on opera and coming of age in Akron, Ohio—the same gritty musical breeding ground that gave the world Chrissie Hynde, The Black Keys, DEVO, and Joe Walsh—Rachel developed a sound that defies easy categorization.
Think one part Joni Mitchell, one part Tori Amos, a splash of Jeff Buckley, and a generous twist of Led Zeppelin. Add a classically trained mezzo-soprano voice, a songwriter's gift for storytelling, and a healthy appetite for the unexpected.
The result? A little sultry. A little strange. A whole lot of rock and roll.
With more than two decades of music-making, thousands of live performances, and a catalog spanning solo recordings, rock bands, and creative collaborations, Rachel has never been particularly interested in being just one kind of artist.
And that's exactly the point.
From Opera Roots to Rock & Roll
By her teenage years, she was developing a musical identity that borrowed from folk's intimacy, rock's rebellious streak, and the emotional power of the blues.
Her earliest solo recording, Ripe n' Juicy, stripped everything back to the essentials: one woman, one acoustic guitar, and a collection of songs bursting with raw intimacy.
Her follow-up, Lightning Loves the Kite, took a decidedly more unconventional turn. A conceptual art piece combining music, lyrics, and visual storytelling, the album follows the unlikely romance between a lightning bolt and a kite. Electric and acoustic guitars, piano, and a vivid imagination brought the story to life.
It was an early indication that Rachel wasn't interested in making predictable records.
A Few Bands, A Few Lifetimes, and Plenty of Noise
Rachel's musical journey has taken plenty of twists and turns, with each project revealing another side of her creative personality.
As the driving force behind Rachel's Secret Stache, she traded some of her acoustic intimacy for a louder, more electrified sound. The band's 2009 release, The Brown Bag, showcased a commanding rock vocalist with shades of Grace Slick and Janis Joplin.
Her work with Sexis Sixes brought another chapter of original music and collaboration, adding to a catalog that reflects years of experimentation and evolution.
Along the way, Rachel has shared stages with notable artists, developed music for commercial projects, and continued performing throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Today, she performs as a solo artist and with The Babies in Black, a duo that brings the beloved sounds of the 1950s and 1960s to audiences of all ages.
Different projects. Different sounds. One unmistakable creative voice.
More Than Music
For Rachel, songwriting has always been a way to make sense of the world—and sometimes, to make a difference in it.
Following the September 11 attacks, she wrote and performed You Won't Stand Alone, a tribute supporting fundraising efforts for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Through her initiative, 93 Cents for Flight 93, donations tied to downloads of the song supported the memorial effort. She later performed the piece at the tenth-anniversary commemoration in Shanksville, an event attended by national leaders and families honoring those lost.
It was a powerful reminder that music can do more than entertain. It can connect, comfort, and give people something to hold on to.
The Rockstar With a Writer's Soul
Rachel's relationship with storytelling doesn't end when she puts down the guitar.
In 2022, she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Akron, exploring the intersections of music, memory, identity, and the beautifully complicated business of being human.
Her creative work reflects the same instincts that have shaped her songwriting: curiosity, vulnerability, humor, and a willingness to follow a story wherever it leads.
She's also spent years sharing her experience with other artists through music education, songwriting instruction, and involvement in Northeast Ohio's creative community.
Because for Rachel, making music has never been only about standing in the spotlight. It's also about keeping the lights on for the next generation of artists.
Still Writing. Still Rocking. Still Rachel.
After more than twenty years of writing, recording, performing, and reinventing herself, Rachel is preparing for another creative chapter.
A new solo album is in the works, bringing together the experience of a seasoned performer with the curiosity of an artist who still has plenty of surprises up her sleeve.
The sound has evolved. The stories have gotten richer. And the woman behind the microphone has collected a few more adventures along the way.
But the heart of it all remains unchanged.
A voice. A guitar. A story worth telling.
And the best part? She's still just getting warmed up.