Daily Inspiration: Meet Rachel Robison

Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a very musical household. I changed my mind a few times as a kid about what I wanted to be when I grew up (as most kids do) – veterinarian, paleontologist, lawyer, forensic scientist… but music was always a constant in my life and something I honestly felt good at.

I have participated in musical theatre, choirs, bands, and orchestras from a very young age and even performed with my family “von Trapp style” in our singing group the Eighth Notes. Pursuing a career in music was inevitable! It wasn’t until I talked to one of my future college professors in 2014 that I decided on composing. “Have you considered writing music for video games?” he asked. The thought had never occurred to me! That next year, I went to GameSoundCon in Los Angeles not knowing a single thing about game audio.

From there, I “got bit by the bug” as a lot of us say – and the rest is history. A life-changing decision, really. I distinctly remember sitting in a music theory lesson as a senior in high school, thinking to myself, “There’s no way I could ever be a composer, that’s just too hard.” Now… I can’t imagine doing anything else!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My journey is lined with LOTS of stepping stones, here are just a few:

College was a huge struggle for me and I almost dropped out multiple times. The day I graduated meant more to me than it probably should have, but the framed degree in my studio will always serve as a reminder of what I can accomplish through perseverance and hard work.

I quit a day job in an attempt to focus on composing full-time, but that attempt failed miserably (… twice). I felt defeated having to re-apply for other jobs, but I learned that things don’t always go according to plan. THAT’S OKAY. Having a day job does not mean you have to forfeit your dream. It might be a tool that helps you dream bigger!

A film scoring project left me extremely burnt out and I didn’t touch my piano for almost a year. It was bad. I took a break from composing and heavily considered if I was even cut out for this line of work. Like I said earlier, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Through self-compassion, time, and solid boundaries, I made my way back. Since then, I have been pretty vocal about preventing and recovering from burnout as a creative professional and have covered this topic on panels and in other settings. It’s so important to take care of yourself – I have learned the hard way.

Clearly, there are plenty of obstacles and there will always be challenges. I have failed multiple times and am bound to fail again, but I have come to see these failures as growth experiences that are vital to my success. That’s why I call them stepping stones. Every single thing I have gone through – related to my career or not – has helped me in some way prepare for the next chapter. If I’m not failing, I’m not learning.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a composer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with a degree in music recording technology. I specialize in writing music for video games and other media, but I have enjoyed producing and editing roles as well! I love working with people, connecting, and bringing music to life. My first single was released in October 2021 and can’t wait to release more of my music.

I would say I’m mostly known in my industry for how passionate I am about networking, authenticity, and mental health awareness. My positive attitude in such a competitive field is probably something that stands out as well!

I also love getting involved in the game audio community by volunteering and speaking at conferences.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s going to look like in just one year! There are so many advances in technology and society—it can feel difficult to keep up at times. TikTok, for example, has made a major impact on how we consume media (and music!) and I don’t expect it to stop there. It truly baffles me.

In the next 5-10 years, however, I would hope to see more support for artists as well as more diversity, more inclusivity, and more representation in the music industry. I recognize the changes currently happening and it’s a great sight to see, but we can do way better.

We all deserve a safe environment to pursue our passions in.