Music
Classically trained as a violinist, I now make my own music and improvise with others. I began exploring other musical genres in 2012 when I chanced upon the experimental music scene. I met Pauline Oliveros and Neil Rolnick in Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where I studied Electronic Arts, and began busking in the streets of New York City and Boston with a variety of street musicians. Going beyond the limits of sheet music and embracing spontaneity with others has changed my life. I have since explored musical genres through improvisation such as jazz, funk, pop, folk, rock, which has expanded my worldview with an openness and deep sense of curiosity. I still enjoy playing classical music with chamber musicians, but improvisation is at the heart of my musical life. I have had the honour of playing with many collectives and talented musicians all over the world.
Exploring new techniques with my violin has also inspired me to learn other forms of musicality. I have sung in multiple acapella ensembles through my life, including Partial Credit at RPI and the Cal Jazz Choir at UC Berkeley. I now write my own pieces for piano, violin, and sometimes voice. I love exploring other instruments: I am learning the bass guitar in my personal time.
I hope to continue improvising with others, and also to produce a debut album of my own music.
I look forward to a continued life of sound and connectedness.
VIOLIN COMPOSITIONS
VIOLIN COMPOSITIONS
These tracks were all produced in my home studio. They were experiments with myself, and opportunities to improvise with my own playing.
Listening to my thoughts.
In this track, I experiment with layers of violin loops during a quiet evening alone. I had spent the day writing and closed my time with some reflection and music.
Chasing Birdie.
I wrote this violin duet while in COVID-19 quarantine in 2021 so that my sister Birdie and I could play it together.
Chuck and Candy.
This reflective piece was written for two very special people in my life.
Baroque Bounce.
This is my tribute to pieces from the Baroque period which had set a firm foundation for my understanding of musical structure during my early violin years.
Wedding Marches.
I wrote these for my dear friends whose weddings I could not attend.
PIANO COMPOSITIONS
PIANO COMPOSITIONS
These tracks were all produced in my home studio. They were for me deeply meditative, and borne from super chill evenings alone.
Boba Pop.
This little piano track has sounds of bubbles added to them for just a little pop.
my tiny space v. 1 & v. 2
These sparse sketches are deliberately simple and gentle. Simple melody, simple harmony, simple rhythm, and tracks to be played on a quiet evening.
a drop of breeze.
This sketch was done during a drizzly evening. The warm street lights shone into my window through the rain and trees as the raindrops slowly fell from my window pane. I enjoyed the soft breeze as I played this piece.
IMPROVISATIONS
IMPROVISATIONS
These recordings were made with different musicians around the world. They were all spontaneous improvisations that I enjoyed immensely. Recordings of my playing are scattered throughout the internet, and I am trying to slowly compile them here.
Heard of Bears.
This experimental music performance was recorded many years ago at Asile 404, Marseille, France, with the collective “Heard of Bears”. Asile 404 unfortunately is permanently closed now. Thank you Asile 404 and friends for the many memories.
Ching Liu, Vincent Laju, Rachel.
This experimental music performance was recorded in Aix-en-Provence, France. I enjoyed the set very much, which was performed at a small art gallery called “361°”. Thank you friends for the sounds.
full album at: https://chingliu.bandcamp.com/album/life-e-361
Bani Haykal & Rachel.
This experimental music performance happened at the Esplanade concourse in Singapore. It involves Bani on the drums and vocals, and Rachel on the violin. Thank you Bani for the sounds.
Elviro & Rachel.
These recordings were made on the top floor of an old building on top of a bakery. It is folksy with some dissonance. A few tracks were featured on a radio station in France. Thank you Elviro for the good time.
Gumbojak.
Together with Bill Croughan (guitar) and Toby Turney (drums), we made a track of Jazz jams. We were a band that later became “Bay Leaves”, and sometimes also played in another band “ILYSB”. We made many tracks together which I will slowly compile here. Thank you Bill and Toby, Laura, Sheila, and everyone else I made music with in Berkeley.