DANCE MUSIC: Kristine W., Deborah Cox, Amber, Ultra Nate, Jamiriquoi and more than I can think of now, I'm sure! DISCO: Donna Summer, Donna Summer, Donna Summer, and Diana Ross, too. POP MUSIC INFLUENCES INCLUDE: Sade, Madonna, George Michael, Prince, and others . R&B/URBAN/NEO-SOUL: Jill Scott, Mary J. Blidge, Erykah Badhu, Amel Laureaux (spelling?) ACID JAZZ: Brand New Heavies, Groove Collective, others whose names I don't recall now 80'S GROUPS STILL ACTIVE TODAY: Erasure, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears (group and solo projects!), New Order. CLASSIC SOUL/R&B: Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Teena Marie. LATIN STUFF I FOUND ALONG THE WAY AND LOVED: Irakere, Cubanismo, Buena Vista Social Club, Neuyorican Soul (spelling?), Cesaria Evora! FEMALE JAZZ VOCALISTS: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone MALE JAZZ VOCALISTS: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Hartman
CLASSIC FEMALE POP VOCALS: Doris Day, Anita Day, The Andrew Sisters, The Boswell Sisters BOSSA NOVA: Anything from Antonio Carlos Jobim GUILTY PLEASURES: Lisa Lisa, Vanessa Williams, some early Mariah (hey, I confessed that they are GUILTY PLEASURES!)
PROOF THAT I MAY INDEED BE A GAY MAN IN A WOMAN'S BODY: A CATEGORY IN HER OWN RIGHT, Grande Dame Judy Garland OTHER GENRES THAT CAPTURE MY FANCY: Flamenco, Greek, Middle Eastern, Eastern Indian, Gypsy, Fado
Sounds Like
Take Sarah Vaugh & Ella Fitzgerald, throw in a little Madonna & Kylie Minogue with a pinch of Mahalia Jackson & Shirley Basey, stir in some Stevie Wonder & Sade, add a dash of George Michael and shake thoroughly with overtones of the musicals, Chicago & Cabaret and you've got a little taste of Rachel!
Rachel attended the original "Fame" school, Duke Ellington High School for the Arts where she was a Dance & Musical Theater major. She then went on to graduate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a dual degree in Vocal Performance and Commercial Arranging.
Her interest in diverse musical styles lead her to experiment in the Dance/Electronica genre where she was embraced by audiences & critics alike, and signed by Act 2 Records in 2004.
A Washington, D.C. native, she received a WAMMY for Best Electronica Vocalist in 2005, and was nominated twice for Best Breakthrough Artist at Winter Music Conference's International Dance Music Awards in Miami for 2005 and 2006, and presented during the 2007 ceremony.
As an accomplished Billboard charting songwriter, Rachel was selected as one of eight writers worldwide by performance rights society, BMI, and publisher, The Royalty Network to attend the exclusive writer's retreat in 2007 at Bigyard Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, hit factory to Dancehall/Reggaeton star, Shaggy. She has been invited to attend the retreat again in 2008.
Her songs have provided musical backgrounds for mainstream television shows like the Oprah Winfrey show & Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous & as well as edgy indie films like "Signage" and "A Four Letter" which debuted at the most recent Sundance.
Now with FIVE CONSECUTIVE BILLBOARD CHARTING CLUB singles under her belt spanning from 2004 to 2008, a critically acclaimed full artist album released in June 2007, collaborations with House music greats like Georgie Porgie, Josh Harris & more, Rachel has returned to her musical roots with The Rachel Panay Project, an acoustic endeavor exploring Rachel's love of jazz, cabaret & also providing a mellow musical setting for many of her originals!
Alongside of this though Rachel still continues to be active with her Dance music base! With a new release, "Repeat Performance", Rachel once again forges into new territory both musically and lyrically as the song discusses the topic of a one night stand and the desire for more of the same! The song and the original mix, produced by Guido Osorio of the legendary remix & DJ team Razon'n'Guido, was cited by reviewers and consumers as one of THE strongest prospective singles on on her full length artist album "Back to Love".
That's pretty good company given that the album also includes Rachel's previous hits including underground club classic "The Walk of Shame" (2003), 2 Billboard hit smash hit, "Back to Love" (2004), 7 "I Still Believe" (2005), 6 "The Real Thing" (2006), & "Its Got To Be Love" (2007).
The package of remixes includes fun & funky commercial radio edit by Monster Taxi and floor scorchers by Twisted Dee, Barona & Stringfellow, DJ Ranny, DJ Ting, Trypsin and South Beach's Electro DJ fav, George Figares as well as an incredible mashup by DJ Seth Gold of Rachel's "Repeat Performance" versus Beyonce's "Crazy In Love"!
I called the Virgin store and asked for a line up when I go to the store. No one could tell me who was performing or we would of loved to have you back on "Out and About" TV!
The good news is that when they were doing clean up we took all of the Rachel Panay postcards that were about to be tossed and decorated our booth at PrideFest with Rachel Panay Postcards on Sunday. You were everywhere! and people started asked when you would be stopping by the booth. I said hopefully soon. Our paths will cross again! I want them to. You are such an amazing talent
MISS DIVA!!! you and i TOTALLY have to do a DI-CON(Diva-Conference) and catch the eff up! my number's still the same....however my actual handset has gone through a COUPLE beta versions! lol...PLEASE bling my celly so i can RE-save your number and we can carry and 'kiki'!!! :)
Also, please add Ranny's dub of "Middle" to your profile page from my player to help share the song to everyone out there who doesn't know about it yet!!
Hey, Thanks for that. I got some idea's if you want to hear them, mind mind is kicking again and i hope we can do somethings together, IF YOU WANT? Give me a call
Hey baby! "Repeat Performance" is climbing up the Billboard chart and we are so happy for you!!! It's such a great song. Had a great time hanging out with you at Harry's party in Miami. I will ALWAYS protect you from the strippers. Us dance artists have to stick together! :)
Thanks for the love baby!! But my song is nothing like "EPIC. " That is an ANTHEM--hope you're ready for the ride that is gonna take you on!! : ) Love you much and we better hang out soon since we live in the same city!
Hi Rachel!! It was sooo great meeting you this past week! I hope we get to work together soon! I sent you an email to your email addy...I hope you got it!!
