Biography

Rachelle Garniez is a songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born and raised in New York City by an American classical pianist and a European professor of French literature, Rachelle was exposed to a singular multiplicity of rich and multi-layered influences, from utopian collective free-schooling and Austrian Expressionism to the roller disco dancers and congueros of Central Park. In 1982, at age 17, she left home and spent a year in Europe. By default, she picked up a guitar and started playing folk songs on the streets of Venice and Avignon. She wound up in the south of Spain and began to develop a commitment to the visceral and ephemeral mode of live music. After a year, she moved back to New York, eventually settling in the East Village and began playing accordion, an instrument that served to connect her multi-cultural music. Rachelle went on to form a band (The Fortunate Few) and release seven albums under her own name. Rachelle's songs have been performed and recorded by Catherine Russell, Karen Elson, and Ingrid Lucia. She has performed and collaborated with Jack White, Suzzy Roche, Sven Ratzke, Palmyra Delran, Thomas Dolby, Mumbo Gumbo, Hazmat Modine, Sxip Shirey. Together with Terry Radigan and Amanda Homi, she is a member of VickiKristinaBarcelona Band, covering the Tom Waits catalog in three-part harmony.