She's petite, precocious, and a parent with a powerful voice. To the unsuspecting eye, Rachel Palumbo is another graduate student walking around UB, but outside this collegiate community, her talents and determination surpass the expectations her physical appearance might display.
Rachel, a first year student of UB's Masters of Social Work program, found her voice at UB five years ago. Rachel initially developed her singing as a hobby and a pastime while growing up in a home filled with the sounds of rock 'n' roll, country bands, pop music, and even her grandfather, Joseph Palumbo's, opera records.
Of all the genres she was exposed to as a child, however, Rachel gravitated towards one in particular: R&B.
"My mom set the stage because that's what I've been listening to since I was little," Palumbo said. "[When I was younger, R&B] was so much more real and raw, there was less auto-tune, repetition, and you had to really think about the message you're giving. There was something so cool about it and the vibe was different back then…the music all rang truer, and I try to keep that in my music."
Rachel was constantly pushed by her friends to showcase her skills in shows like UB Idol. The positive reception inspired her to turn her hobby into a career aspiration.
Palumbo has encountered many naysayers despite her clear talent. On the surface, a small, fair-skinned woman from Buffalo doesn't necessarily scream R&B sensation. However, she lets her music and soulful voice speak for itself.
"Usually when someone says something negative, I chalk it up to an experience," Palumbo said. "I think, ‘What is it about me they don't like? Is it my voice? Is it my songwriting? Or is it because of the color of my skin?' Because if it's the third thing, I can't change that, but I can work harder to make my songs better."
Palumbo lists the legendary Etta James and the sexual TLC as her influences, as her musical and professional aspirations revolve around the empowerment of women. Last year, Palumbo released a song titled "Rise Above," an inspirational song about inner-strength, which helped her popularity skyrocket. The song not only held the top spot on local radio station, 93.7 WBLK's "Unsigned Hype" countdown, but it maintained the spot for five weeks, the maximum amount allowed for any song on the countdown. "Rise Above" also cemented Rachel as the No. 1 R&B artist at the Unsigned Hype Music Awards held by WBLK.
Palumbo considers another experience her biggest musical accomplishment. An encounter with an old classmate gave Palumbo not only the validation that her music was reaching the masses, but also the strength and inspiration to serve as a voice for her audience.
"[She] reached out to me and told me how she was pregnant and that she and her kids were moving into a homeless shelter," Palumbo said. "["Rise Above"] just happened to play at the right time for her and she told me, ‘Rachel, I felt like giving up. I just want you to know that your song inspired me to keep going and I think what you're doing is great. Your song re-instilled strength in me and allowed me to keep going.'"
Rachel has also had fans on the brink of suicide contact her in regards to her song, "Rise Above," and "Last Tear," her musical admiration toward military wives like herself.
Rachel's career has been a product of her sole hard work and ability to successfully multi-task the dozens of hats bestowed upon her. She books her own shows, interviews and collaborations, and works asher own marketing team, a role she takes very seriously.
Marc Adler, an adjunct instructor for the Millard Fillmore College, has worked with Rachel and is a first-hand witness of her determination and drive.
"I've taught for 17 years and I forget more names than I remember, but Rachel made sure she was never a face in the crowd," Adler said. "She's proactive, driven, and uses every resource possible to further her career."
Rachel has been fortunate enough to learn marketing skills from Adler, and also met musicians through Adler when he worked with UB's Alumni Association.
Rachel also has the pressure of her masters program as well as being a mother to her daughter, Gianna. But these are responsibilities she's happy to face.
"There's something about an academic setting that fuels my soul," Palumbo said. "It's that academic challenge, and knowing you have to rise to the occasion and being disciplined, and that's the biggest lesson I've taken from school…my breaking points, my capabilities, and what I'm willing to endure to get that diploma. It's those sleepless nights I've given trying to balance my academic career with my music career and my household obligations."
The struggle between the academic world and the music industry is not an easy one for Rachel, but with her sultry voice and raw determination, she's ready to face them.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
