Rachel Rascoe

No one seems to know who originally said, “writing about music is like dancing about architecture,” nevertheless Rachel Rascoe makes the nearly impossible task of “writing about music” look effortless. Following in the footsteps of legendary Texas music writers such as Margaret Moser, Rachel’s enthusiasm and thoughtfulness shines bright in her weekly column “Faster Than Sound,” where she’s covered artists ranging from Vivian Goldman to Faye Webster. Here her calm and disciplined attitude toward her work serves as a lovely reminder to “learn to enjoy being busy.”

Note: This interview was conducted in June, 2019.

How would you describe what you do?

I write a weekly music column for the Austin Chronicle called “Faster Than Sound.” It’s a mix of music-related news, features, scene happenings, and whatever else I can squish onto the page. I took over the column in January, so I’m about to hit the half year mark.

How do you deal with the continual ebb and flow of “success” as a creative person?

I try to stay focused on my own work, instead of constantly imagining what other extra things I could be doing. I still feel like I’m settling into the column, so a lot of this year has been learning to enjoy being busy where I’m at.  

When is a time you felt really successful? Or a time you felt like you failed?

Recently, I felt successful when I got some good feedback on my reporting about the Beerland strike and closing. A few people said it was information they hadn’t heard and level-headed, which is essentially what I want my reporting on the local scene to be. The same week I felt like I failed a bit. Taking on too many projects, both personal and at work, caused their level of detail to not be what it could have been. But, that mix of self-criticism and successes keeps me motivated.

What is your daily routine? Your weekend routine?

I have struggled so much with a daily routine since I finished college last May. Lately, I plug in my phone across my bedroom on airplane mode at night. That way in the morning I actually get out of bed and don’t see notifications. If all goes well, I’ll make coffee and read for like 30 minutes before eating breakfast.

The rest of my day I’m usually working from home in my bedroom. Some days I meet people for interviews or work at coffee shops. I think the most important part of my routine is accepting that I can’t have a strict plan. There’s always going to be some days when I went to a late show the night before, something pressing comes up in the morning, and at 2pm I realize I’m not dressed and haven’t eaten anything.

How do you motivate yourself to actually get things done and/or maintain some level of productivity?

I like taking the time to make my bed and pick up the space I’m working in. If the windows are open and I have a cup of tea, answering emails seems less painful. I set timers on my phone sometimes to remind myself to take breaks, and to not look at my phone until the timer goes off. But feeling disappointed about personal productivity really bums me, so I try not to read too many of those New York Times articles.

How do you manage the stress/anxiety that’s inevitable with putting yourself out there?

I try to remember that I’m my own meanest critic, and even in the online journalism world there is space for nuance and corrections. Having a bunch of editors at the Chronicle with good judgement really helps.

How do you know when it’s time to rest?

When I’m spacing out or getting lost on Instagram! Or if I accidentally sleep in late, I try to take that as a message from my body instead of freaking out.

How do you manage the internet/social media?

I have to look at social media a lot for my job, so there’s no way for me to avoid it completely when I’m working. Outside of sharing stuff I write, I’m not great about consistently posting. I used to see that as a problem, but I’m trying to get over it. It shouldn’t be a goal for every person to have this engaging online self with daily updates. (Not that there isn’t value in that! I’ve loved following personal blogs since middle school, especially fashion ones.)

What’s your big dream? Do you have one? How do you set goals/set yourself up to achieve?

My goals changed so much throughout college, I feel like I’m still figuring this out! Getting to write about music every week as my job is a dream, so I just want to fit in as many important Austin stories and diverse perspectives in as I can. Bigger goals would be to write for more publications that I admire and tackle larger stories.

How do you deal with people not liking you, liking your ideas or being jealous of you?

Most people that give me negative feedback online one week will agree with something I write the next, so I’m just happy to see that they’re reading. Sometimes I get nervous to talk to people about controversial topics, and that’s when I have to get over my people-pleasing tendencies and embrace some discomfort. Generally, everyone in Austin music has been really really supportive.

For more of Rachel follow her on Instagram or read her column Faster Than Sound here