On Wednesday July 10th, Mayday is launching a new dinner & music series! Come hang out on the new and improved patio with…wait for it…table service. Brand new head chef, Amy Lynn Walls has designed a prefix menu for the series.
While eating dinner, enjoy acoustic music on the patio by musicians DL Rossi and Rachel Mousie on Wednesday!
Rachel Mousie hails from Cincinnati. Rachel is a singer/songwriter who plays piano and is armed with an extensive percussive background. Rachel is known to bang out some beats on her keyboard while writing unexpected melodies and subtle lyrics. Rachel’s vocal style has been described as haunting and smooth. Her songs make you feel something, and isn’t that why we listen to music in the first place? We sat down with Rachel in anticipation of her show at Mayday on the 10th!
CincyMusic.com: Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you first get involved in the Cincinnati music scene?
Rachel Mousie: I grew up and went to high school in Cincinnati where I sang in musicals and talent shows, but never tried writing my own songs. Initially I wrote lyrics and vocal melodies with a friend in college who played piano and took care of the music. Once he graduated, I picked up the piano as a means to continue song writing. The first few times I played in front of an audience were at open mic nights at Ohio University. I used to be so nervous to perform live- the entirety of my upper body would be bright red for at least an hour preceding the performance. When I moved back to Cincinnati a few years ago, I played mostly bars on the Westside of town. As I played more and more, I met other musicians and booking folks and started trying out other venues in the city.
CM: For the Mayday show on July 10th, you will be playing outside. Are there special precautions you have to make when playing outside versus inside?
RM: I sincerely enjoy playing outside! The only downside really is the potential for rain, so if the venue has some sort of overhead coverage I try and claim a spot under that. To be safe I keep a stash of plastic garbage bags to protect the electrical stuff. Also, mosquitoes. I played an outside wedding last summer and completely forgot bug spray, so had to watch the bugs chew me alive bit by bit. I would feel them walking on my arms and face and was powerless to stop them without stopping the music, so eventually I begged a wedding guest to hose me down with bug spray. Lesson learned.
CM: How would you describe your style and what can one expect at a Rachel Mousie show?
RM: My style is sort of rhythmic, syncopated, and melodic. Drums were my first instruments, so I focus on creating beats and rhythms between my two hands while playing piano. I also play a lot in 6/8, which (hopefully) creates a waltzy, flowing feel. I am a huge fan of singing, so I put a lot of effort into writing lyrics and melodies. Representing the lower register, Nick Brokaw supplies phat bass lines to a growing number of songs. You can expect to hear me experimenting with a looping pedal which allows for vocal harmonies, hand percussion, and a teeny bit of anxiety on my part. You can also expect bad jokes, told by me.
CM: What's the one thing an out of towner should do, or place they should go, when they visit Cincinnati?
RM: An out of towner should absolutely go to The Incline Public House on W. 8th Street in Price Hill. It's a new, local business with a huge beer selection, fantastic food, and a stunning view of the city. I work in Price Hill so am super happy to see new businesses doing well!
CM: What's one thing our audience can do to engage in and help build up the Cincinnati Music Scene?
RM: The beautiful and gracious audiences of Cincinnati should investigate some local open mic nights. They happen all over the city on different nights of the week. The other thing audiences can do at said open mic nights is talk to the musicians after the show! It can definitely can be scary to go up and talk to someone you just stared at for 30-45 minutes, but if you really enjoyed their set you should let them know. Getting a sincere compliment from a stranger on music that you wrote yourself is a powerful confidence booster.
Mayday
Dinner & Music Series
Beginning July 10th
6p – 10p
