Rachel Fannan

Rachel Fannan (born Rachel Marie Williams) is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Los Angeles, California and is best known as the lead vocalist of the band Only You,^[1] and formerly as co-lead vocalist of San Francisco psych-rockers Sleepy Sun, as well as for collaborations with UNKLE and progressive rock band Anywhere.

As a solo artist, Fannan has shared the stage with other prominent musicians such as Hunter Burgan^[2] (AFI) and Carla Azar (Autolux), and released an album under the name Birds Fled From Me.

In November 2012, a version of the classic parlor song "Beautiful Dreamer" featuring Fannan on vocals was used in a commercial by Canon,^[3] which went on to win the award for Outstanding Commercial at the 2012–2013 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys.^[4]

Birds Fled From Me

Between 2006 and 2008, Fannan wrote and recorded solo material under the moniker Birds Fled From Me with the help of producer/engineer Maxwell Lewis Golding.^[5] She self-released the album Deeper Lurking in 2008.^[6]

Sleepy Sun

In 2007, after seeing psych rockers Sleepy Sun play at a California Bay Area festival, Fannan was invited to sit in with the band at a subsequent show, and was quickly recruited to be their co-lead vocalist. Her vocals are featured on the band's first two albums Embrace (ATP Recordings, 2009) and Fever (ATP Recordings, 2010).^[7] However, Fannan left the band acrimoniously in October 2010 while the band was on tour.^[8]

Collaborations

Soon after leaving Sleepy Sun, Fannan recorded some tracks with British trip-hop duo UNKLE. "Sunday Song" featuring Fannan was released as part of their 2011 Only The Lonely EP, and Where Did the Night Fall – Another Night Out album.

Following a short stint supporting Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis,^[9] Rachel was approached by Christian Eric Beaulieu (Triclops!) to collaborate on his new musical project Anywhere, which also included Mike Watt (Minutemen, The Stooges) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta, At The Drive-in).^[10] Fannan sang lead vocals on their debut single "Dead Golden West" (Valley King Records, November 2011) and other tracks on their debut album Anywhere (ATP Recordings, 2012).^[11] In late 2012 she toured as keyboard player and backing vocalist for The Fresh & Onlys.^[12]

Only You

Conceived and created in late 2010, Only You is Fannan's L.A.–based retro band whose lineup has included a rotating cast of backing musicians.

In early 2012, the band toured as an all-girl group, with Fannan being joined by bassist Micayla Grace (Leopold and his Fiction), guitarist Cecilia Della Peruti (Gothic Tropic) and drummer Lia Braswell (Le Butcherettes).^[13] Only You released their first single "Applying Myself" through White Iris Records in October 2012.^[14] The B-side "Love Is Making Me Tired" was featured as a Daily Download on Rolling Stone's website.^[15] As of 2013, the Only You lineup features Fannan, backed by an all-male band including lead guitarist Brandon Intelligator (Slang Chickens),^[16] Jeff Lynne (Wires on Fire), and Patrick Taylor (Ceremonies).

Other musicians that have previously played with the group include Jon Sortland^[17] (Cigar, Broken Bells), Rich Good (Kings & Queens, Psychedelic Furs), Evan Weiss (Slang Chickens, Wires on Fire), Dash Hutton (Slang Chickens, Wires on Fire, Papa), John Carpenter, and Lucas Ventura.

References