Rainsford has the dreamiest voice and her new song "Open Open" is about as ethereal as it gets. We talked to her about the fashion in the video, the inspiration behind the song, and following your gut.
How did you get started in music?
Rainsford: I started dancing at a young age which was really influential in growing my love for music, and I’ve loved to sing for as long as I can remember. I started writing music in my teens and eventually in my early twenties after living in New York and LA I found a few people I connected with and trust to help bring my songs to life.
Tell me about your song “Open Open” what’s the story behind it?
Rainsford: I wrote “Open Open” about an intense relationship. The song is an apology and a plea for him not to give up, which in the end was a hallow effort.
The video is so gorgeous, what inspired it?
Rainsford: Thank you 🙂 For the video, I wanted to do something kind of tongue in cheek, but still beautiful and cool (hopefully lol). So I decided I wanted to play with the hook in the chorus which says “I can’t go back in time, as much as I wish I could. If I could go back I would” and create a period piece. Get it... go back in time.... wink wink....I thought about doing something Victorian, or medieval, but ultimately went with an all-female cast, female-directed, pioneer theme. We shot it at this super bizarre Airbnb in Joshua tree and found some of the costumes in the closet. I’m really really happy with the way it turned out.
And the dresses are amazing, is fashion a big influence for you?
Rainsford: I really enjoy fashion. I’ve always loved playing dress-up, both in a subtle day-to-day way and occasionally over-the-top. I think music and fashion mirror each other, and music videos are a great place to explore that synergy.
What else has been inspiring you lately?
Rainsford: I’m constantly inspired by my sister. By animals. Especially cats, I foster kittens every summer. By nature. Especially brightly colored flowers. I'm inspired by other artists. By my friends. By TV shows and movies. I’ve been working on a few different movies recently myself. I’m inspired by my own sadness. And loneliness. And occasionally joy. It’s hard to pin down inspiration.
What has been a big challenge in your career?
Rainsford: I’m very impatient so everything takes much longer than I wish it would.
What’s your best piece of advice for young women?
Rainsford: That is incredibly broad and I honestly feel unqualified to give anyone advice but I wish I had known to trust my gut and follow my instincts rather than listening to someone who “knows better”.
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