By Kate Stow
After navigating a challenging couple of years, Rachel Stacy has emerged with a renewed focus, a fresh sound, and her own brand. This year, she’s set to headline at major bike rallies across the country, including her 21st appearance at the iconic Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis. With support from her partner, Adam Schwem, Rachel is not just back – she’s bigger than ever.
Rachel’s journey has been transformative, fueled by a desire to empower women in music. Although she and Jimmy Wallace were previously collaborating on an album titled Wallace-Stacy, that project is currently on the back burner as both pursue their individual paths. “I’m always honored to work with him – he’s my big brother,” she states, emphasizing their strong bond despite their separate careers.
“My album is my focus right now. I had to overcome significant health challenges in 2024, including gallbladder surgery, an eye cancer scare that required removal, and an ovarian cancer scare that led to a hysterectomy,” she reflects. “These experiences forced me to rise like a phoenix and ensure my purpose was clear: Nothing is going to stop me.”
Rachel is passionate about uplifting women in the industry, stating, “A lot of women give up music because of societal pressures. But I refuse to let age or negativity dictate my path. The only thing that can stop me is six feet under.”
Rachel emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with positivity and supportive relationships. “You realize who your real friends are when you start succeeding,” she shares. “It’s beautiful to connect with other women who refuse to be silenced by age or society’s expectations.”
Used with permission from Racy Records, LLC
Her partner, Adam, plays a significant role in this journey. As her music director and collaborator, he not only pushes her to be better, but also creates an environment where creativity can flourish. “He’s incredibly talented, and our chemistry is undeniable,” Rachel states. “We didn’t plan on working together, but it just clicked. It’s been amazing to have someone who shares my beliefs and supports my vision.”
Hosting a weekly jam session at The Cottage Lounge in Dallas each Tuesday has provided Rachel with a platform to foster community, emphasizing inclusivity and collaboration. “We run a tight ship, and everyone gets a chance to perform,” she explains. “It’s all about lifting each other.”
I refuse to let age or negativity dictate my path. – Rachel Stacy
The band has also established a residency at Jack Ruby’s Saloon & Grill in the West End. “I don’t know how long that will last because we’re going on tour,” Rachel said. “But it’s cool to have some clout with these places that want us there consistently.
The Soul Tea Foundation, a female empowerment nonprofit, has collaborated with Rachel to use her song “Beautiful” for marketing purposes. “We’re always looking for people who want to be on board with us working together,” Rachel said, adding, “And if you want to be on board with us, we can do this together – otherwise, nothing’s going to stop me now. If you want to be on this train that’s going really fast, hop on. If you don’t, we’ll leave you in the dust.”
Rachel’s music is evolving, and she’s excited about her new band, which includes Adam as music director, Nick Cook on bass, and Philip Bradley on drums. “I don’t think I’ve played with musicians of this caliber for a long time,” she admits. “We’re set to tour the biggest bike rallies in the nation, and I can’t wait to hit the road.”
This year, Rachel and her band are lined up to perform at some of the most prestigious bike rallies, including Daytona Bike Week, Angel City Bike Week, Phoenix Bike Week, and the Myrtle Beach Bike Week. “We’re already booked for spring, fall, and next spring,” she notes. “Daytona is a big one for us. We’ll be performing at the Broken Spoke and Iron Horse Saloon, which is a debut for our band there.”
The band is already making waves, having opened for Gretchen Wilson at the Sturgis Bike Rally last year. “We burned the Full Throttle Saloon stage!” Rachel exclaims, highlighting the energy and passion that define their performances.
Rachel and Adam are not just bandmates; they are also collaborators in songwriting. “We’re writing one single at a time to get the record out,” she explains. “I’m excited about my song ‘Beautiful,’ which I feel is a powerful anthem for women. We’re also working on a new song called ‘Change the World,’ which I dedicate to soldiers. It’s incredibly moving.”
While empowering women and celebrating our nation’s heroes, the couple is also working on a rocking love song – Never Been Here Before – about their meeting and falling in love.
The two have unique creative chemistry that allows them to blend their styles seamlessly. “Adam has a knack for bringing out the best in my music,” Rachel shares. “We even have some exciting mashups in the works, combining classic songs in unexpected ways. Our mashup of ‘Free Bird’ with ‘Devil Went Down to Georgia’ was a hit – the audience went nuts!”
“I definitely think it’s her time for sure,” said Adam. “I’m trying to be a strong foundation for her to stand on – that’s what I try to do. Because even before we went on our first date, I knew that she was something very special.
“You know, the other thing is – one time I asked for her autograph, and it took her two weeks to get it to me,” Adam said, while they both laughed.
Now that Rachel has found her person to enjoy her first love – music – with, he is also helping to define her love life. After losing her sense of self in a past relationship, she worked hard to find herself. “I had to go through heartbreak to find myself, “she shared. “And then when I found myself, I found Adam.”
With a sound shaped by her experiences, Rachel is finally embracing her identity as an artist. “I’m unapologetically myself now,” she asserts. “Jimmy Wallace once told me, ‘You’re not country.’ I’m finding my own sound, which lies somewhere between rock and blues.”
The influence of her late producer, Robby Turner, looms large in her work. “He always called me the female Chris Stapleton, and that means a lot to me,” she shares. Rachel is dedicated to honoring his legacy while pushing her own boundaries.
“I think before I was trying to fit in somewhere because I was supposed to,” Rachel admitted. “And now I’m like, you either like me for me or not. And a lot of that came from Robby Turner”.
Turner has a long history on both sides of the studio window. As a top steel guitar player, he was with Waylon Jennings from the start, and later with the Highwaymen, Waylon, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. Before his death, he produced both Rachel and Chris.
“If you hear the steel guitar on anything Chris does, that’s Robby Turner,” Rachel said.
“I’ll never forget this: Robby was in the studio, and I had world-class players in there with me. These were all Grammy award-winning people, all the way down to the engineers who’ve produced and worked on the biggest country records in the business,” Rachel said as she reminisced. “I heard him say over the mic to the studio players, “No, no, not country. Blues. Blues. Blues. Chris Stapleton’s blues ain’t country. “
“Robby introduced me to the guys from Sony as the female Chris Stapleton,” Rachel exclaimed. “I almost fell over.”
After his memorial in Nashville last Fall, Rachel finally got to meet Chris. “I walked up to Chris and said, ‘It’s so great to finally meet you. Robby wanted you and me to meet. He always called me the female Chris Stapleton,” Rachel said with pride. “He said, ‘Wow, that’s cool.’ So, I got to meet one of my heroes and shake hands with him.”
Rachel explained that Robby’s goal for the Beautiful project was to have Chris listen to the song, “Maybe that could still happen, I don’t know. But he wanted Chris to hear it after we got it done,” Rachel explained. “I just know that he wanted to get our four-song project done and make sure the guys had the whole product. What’s so cool, though, is that I met Adam through all this.
I’m unapologetically myself now. – Rachel Stacy
“I think that the whole success of this is going to be who we surround ourselves with,” said Rachel. “I learned from the greats, and now I’m rubbing elbows with some of the greats.”
Rachel’s story is one of resilience and empowerment. “I want to help other women see that age and negativity shouldn’t hold them back,” she emphasizes. “We can build a supportive community free from drama.
& Racy Records, LLC
& Racy Records, LLC
”Someone posted an insulting comment on my social media recently, which really stung,” Rachel explained. “I deleted it, then told myself, ‘Girl, you’ve got to have some thick skin because the more popular you become, the meaner they become.’
“Success also reveals who your true friends are,” Rachel added.
“I got away from people who were dragging me down. I got away from people who I realized are not my friends. I got away from those in the music business who were just taking our money. I got away from all that,” Rachel said with fierce resolve. “And the way I look at it is – if God wants me to be in a success story, it’s going to happen. And I am. I am a success story.”
These days, Rachel is calling herself the “Comeback Kid.” She shared. “I’ve never left the industry, but my comeback is that I got rid of the debris that was holding me down.”
“My LLC is Racy Records because Rachel Stacy, but Dan Mitchell and Tom McBee, out of Nashville, coined it. They said I should be Racy Records years ago, and I just never bid on it,” she said. “And it’s finally official, and these little things that are happening are not because I’m supposed to be at the bottom of that pile. I am supposed to be at the top of it.”
As Rachel’s new demeanor suggests, she is coming into her own. “I have joy. I have much more happiness,” she said. “I am still rebellious. The troubled side of my past is now out in the open, and I am not ashamed of it. “
The “humbling of Rachel” brought a new level of maturity that only humility can cause. “I thought I knew it all as a young artist, which crippled me a lot.”
As she continues to navigate the music industry, Rachel Stacy is determined to carry on the legacy of those who have inspired her while forging her own path. “I’m ready to show the world that just because something happens, you don’t quit. You keep going,” she concludes.
“I’m ready for people to hear this new music and see the new Rachel. I am finally ready,” she said, ruminating. “I just think it’s taken me a long time, and however many years I’ve been in this business, but the closer for me is, don’t let age stand in your way.”
Rachel is passionate about her music, but fame isn’t her goal. “I don’t need to be a huge star. I want to do what I love before I die,” she said. “I have touched a lot of people with my words, my music, my pain, my sorrow, my happiness.”
Learn more about Rachel below, and listen to her Spotify Playlist (new music coming soon).
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