Independent

Release Date: April 16^th 2021

Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre

Rachael Nemiroff – What I Thought I Wanted (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. What I Thought I Wanted

If you have been a frequent fan of this website 365DaysofInspiringMedia.com, then you’d know our own admiration and respect for up-and-coming indie artist Rachael Nemiroff. While not signed to any major music label at the moment, I’d expect for her to be signed real soon…that’s how powerful, real, honest and poignant her music has been these last few years. Releasing quite a number of singles prior to this new one (from ‘Circles’, ‘Belong’, ‘Steady’, ‘Heart of Stone’ and ‘You Say’, to ‘Draw Me Near’, ‘Slip Away’, ‘Temporary’, ‘Safe’, ‘Unknown’, ‘Home’, ‘Free Without You’ and ‘Tears to Treasure’, a few of her earlier singles can be seen as reviews here), Rachael’s passion for delivering quality music with a powerful and inspirational message is what this young woman of God has going for her, as her songs have a happy-bouncy atmosphere and is a nice fun alternative than the usual pop mainstream in our world today. Attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee and playing local shows around Nashville has indeed solidified her singer-songwriter EDM/pop/CCM sound; yet, this is not the first exposure to the CCM world that Rachael has had- prior to these releases, she released a series of cover videos, some of which include her versions of UNITED’s ‘Wonder’, Ellie Holcomb’s ‘The Broken Beautiful’, and Tauren Wells’ ‘Hills and Valleys’, the latter becoming a track to purchase on iTunes (that’s how popular her cover video on youtube was!). Now with a series of cover videos and original songs under her belt, I can say that Rachael and her music is as much needed in today’s society as anyone else’s- that her joyous personality, her infectious enthusiasm and zest for honesty in music, alongside the nature for her to produce good pop-worship music within a sea of endless possible avenues that seemingly sound similar to the one before; is what I reckon will lead her to new heights in the future.

Unveiled to us all on 16^th April 2021, ‘What I Thought I Wanted’ is as emotive and passionate as they come- similar in theme to Carrie Underwood’s ‘What I Never Knew I Always Wanted’ from her own 2015 album Storyteller, while the music itself is as energetic and jovial as if someone like Britt Nicole, Hollyn or even fellow indie artists Cimorelli, would cover the song themselves. Which is a compliment in and of itself. Rachael is an indie artist, but her music reflects a quality and standard that is far greater- you’d never guess that she is unsigned from just hearing her music, and maybe that’s a good thing. The song itself? A song giving thanks to the Lord, about never getting something that you thought you wanted, but then realising that that thing that you wanted so much, wasn’t what you really needed. Realisng that wanting something and needing something are two different things, can be an art to decipher and understand, and this song is a reminder that what we ‘want’ can in fact be at odds with what the Lord believes we ‘need’. And thus, this is a song about giving thanks, knowing that often left to our own devices, we can often trip up, and be worse off getting what we want, compared to trusting the Lord will provide for what we need.

Rachael’s music is a breath of fresh air, and and artist I’m certainly going to be on the lookout for in weeks and months to come. Will she be signed in the future? Maybe, maybe not. Whatever the case, Rachael’s music stands out a lot over the last few years in terms of good quality indie music- others including artists like Cimorelli and Leanna Crawford (who was since signed to a major label group). And if artists like Leanna Crawford can be signed to a major label (Provident Label Group), then maybe Rachael can follow suit? We’ll never know, but what we will know is this- Rachael is a talented artist, and all of her songs in her discography are reasons enough to be excited for whatever comes next for this budding young influencer in a music industry that seems to be lacking up-and-coming female music artists with a worshipful undertone (if I can remember, the last ‘young’ worship artist that has had quite an impact in my own life was Meredith Andrews back in the day!). Well done Rachael for this new song, can’t wait for a full-length project (album or EP) in the future, whenever that arises!

‘…So grateful to God and to my amazing friends who helped me write this song back in September. God helped me end a chapter in my life earlier last year and begin a new one that they [the songwriters] helped me put into song. They listened to me share what was on my heart and I remember saying how thankful to God I was that I never got that thing that I thought I really wanted at the time. Sometimes it can be really hard to see something that’s not the best for us when we are in the midst of it and when we are holding on to what could be or in hopes to be treated better. I hope when you listen you would be encouraged and know God wants the best for you in every area of your life. He has great plans for you and a purpose with every chapter of your story. Sometimes the things that don’t turn out how we thought can actually be the biggest blessing. Love you guys and can’t wait to hear how you connect with the song…’

Score: 4.5/5

RIYL: Cimorelli, Love & The Outcome, Britt Nicole, Rachael Lampa