Rachel Hickey

  • Rachel Hickey is an emerging independent singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Ontario. Following her 2021 debut EP Getting By, Rachel’s sophomore 2022 EP, So Long further evolves her indie/folk sound and earned her coverage in Exclaim! magazine as well as plays on CBC Radio One. Rachel's musical style can be described as folk-focused with a blend of indie, pop, and rock music inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell, Florence Welch, and Hey Rosetta!. Often centering around guitar, Hickey's feeling-packed sound incorporates atmospheric supporting tones, strings, and traditional drums, using storytelling and descriptive imagery to captivate listeners. Rachel is currently performing live across Ontario in support of her latest EP and is preparing for her debut full-length album, "The Eve of St. Agnes", due out in Summer 2023.

  • Hickey has been captured by writing music since she was a young child, starting with piano compositions, later picking up songwriting in high school as a way to process complex feelings and familial conflict, taking inspiration from the music played around the house which ranged from Contemporary Christian music to Classic Rock. Early influences include Shania Twain, Simon and Garfunkel, Norah Jones, and Joni Mitchell.

    Hickey studied Psychology and English Literature at the University of Waterloo and joined several mixed voice acapella groups during her time there. Hickey led and competed with these groups, receiving awards for outstanding vocalist and outstanding arrangement at the International Championship of Collegiate Acappella.  She also started an alternative rock band with friends from the group under the name Midnight Shift during this time.

    After graduating in April 2020, Hickey took the time at home to become a multi-instrumentalist, teaching herself guitar as well as recording and production techniques to refine her collection of songs and pursue her career as a solo musician. In Spring 2021, Hickey received the City of Kitchener’s Create and Connect grant which she used to debut two live-off-the-floor full band video recordings of her original songs as a precursor to her debut EP release, Getting By in Fall 2021.

  • Hickey’s musical style can be described as folk-focused with a blend of indie, pop, and rock music. It often centers around guitar and incorporates supporting atmospheric tones, layered vocals, strings, bass and drums. Lyrical themes cover love, loss, mental health, and self-reflection, undercut by direct and honest delivery. Hickey’s immersive writing and strong singing ability allow her to connect with listeners on a deeper personal level and characterize her meaningful, roots-based sound. Today, Hickey’s biggest influences are artists such as Joni Mitchell, Madison Cunningham, Lucy Dacus, Jade Bird, Donovan Woods, JOSEPH, Hey Rosetta!, and Feist.

  • 2023 - “High” featured in The Chestermere Anchor (pg. 34), Slowcity, Canadian Beats

    2022 - Artist pick for Exclaim! magazine, CBC Radio play “In The Key of C”

    2021 - City of Kitchener Create and Connect Grant Recipient

    2019/2020 Two-time Outstanding Vocalist recipient at International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella

  • October 29, 2022 - Opener for Housewife with Halloween Animals at The Hub, Kitchener, Ontario

    October 6, 2022 - Opener for Marshall Veroni at KW Little Theatre, Waterloo, Ontario

    September 3, 2022 - WelcomeFest, Maxwell’s Waterloo, ON

    August 26, 2022 - Friday Night Live at London Brewing, London, ON

    July 20, 2022 - Supermarket with Cassidy Taylor and Avery Raquel, Toronto, ON