Rachel Trachtenburg Biography

Rachel Sage Piña-Trachtenburg (born December 10, 1993) is an American musician, radio personality, model, singer, political and animal activist and actress from New York City. Trachtenburg is most notable for her key role as drummer and backup vocalist of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, a family band consisting of herself and her parents, Jason and Tina. She is also lead singer of two bands, Supercute! and Terry Tinsel. Trachtenburg is also the star of her own television show, Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World (formerly titled Rachel Trachtenburg's Morning Show). Trachtenburg made New York City headlines in late 2008 for publicly speaking out against Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of the city. Trachtenburg is also the host of her own internet talk radio show titled Pure Imagination with friend and fellow Supercute! and Terry Tinsel band member Julia Cumming on Gary Null's Progressive Radio Network.

Early life

Trachtenburg, an only child, was born in Seattle, Washington of paternal Jewish and maternal Mexican descent, to Jason Trachtenburg and Tina Piña Trachtenburg. The family began their slideshow musical act when Trachtenburg was only six years of age, first playing the harmonica. The family then left Seattle for New York City in 2000, Trachtenburg graduating from harmonica to drums. All three of the Trachtenburgs are vegetarians.

Career

Since 2000, Trachtenburg and her parents have toured and performed their act throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe and have recorded two albums. Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol 1 was released in 2001, and Adventures in Middle America, Vol 2 was released in 2005. Trachtenburg formed the band Supercute! with close friends June Lei and Julia Cumming, who are both younger than Trachtenburg is. The group were formerly known as The Oh My God Girls but changed their name to Supercute! as not to be confused with the OMG Girlz, a hip hop group from Atlanta, Georgia. Supercute! once performed "Brand New Key" with English singer Kate Nash, who the band opened for in 2008. The band released a self-titled EP in 2010. The band finished a nationwide tour with Nash, their first tour together as a band. The band debuted their first music video for "To Not Write About Boys" in 2010 with singer-songwriter Jack Skuller. In addition, she makes an appearance in Anamanaguchi's music video for their song, "Meow"; track 12 from their latest album Endless Fantasy. She has a brief role where she appears as one of the five "Darkmoon Goths".

Trachtenburg also plays the Bass guitar, harmonica, piano and ukulele. She has played the Bass for other indie rock bands such as King Missile and Schwervon!. She has covered Syd Barrett's songs "Bike" and "Effervescing Elephant" on the ukulele and performs the song "Pigeons" on the ukulele as well. She made an appearance on the song "Secrets" on anti-folk musician Lach's album Today. In 2000, Trachtenburg was declared the #1 performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Trachtenburg is currently the star of her own children's television show, Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World, alongside her parents and various other actors. In 2009, she released her first album, titled Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World, a compilation album of songs recorded from the show. She also appeared in a short indie movie titled Happy Birthday, playing the role of Lisa.

Trachtenburg stars as Rachel Moeltz in the short indie film Ruchiki.

In 2011, Trachtenburg, along with fellow Supercute!/Punch member Julia Cumming, formed their own internet talk radio show titled "Pure Imagination", a radio show that features the two discussing politics, art, current events, interviewing guests, and playing music. The radio show premiered on May 11, 2011 on Progressive Radio Network .

Activism

After being priced out of their East Village home, Trachtenburg, along with her parents and some of their close friends, took part in several hearings to keep term limits. Trachtenburg most notably spoke out against New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, criticizing him for wasting taxpayers' money on the New York Yankees and moving a park fountain. She read her speech at City Hall:

On January 30, 2009, Trachtenburg and her parents went to City Hall again to speak out against horse carriage drivers, whom she claims, mistreat their horses. Trachtenburg performed a song about horses on her ukulele and received a round of applause from the City Council, which are both not normally allowed.

On August 10, 2010, Trachtenburg, her mother Tina and her friend and fellow Supercute! member Julia Cumming stood in front of mayor Michael Bloomsburg's house with other protesters to protest against the gassing of Canada geese.

In popular culture

• Politician and Liquid Tapedeck band member Christopher X. Brodeur (aka Touching You) wrote a song about Trachtenburg titled "May I Have Your Hand, Rachel Trachtenburg?" in 2003.
• In March 2004, Trachtenburg was the first to grace the cover of Time Out New York Kids.
• Trachtenburg and her parents made a cameo appearance in Moby's music video, "New York, New York", directed by Reverend Jen, a close family friend.
• Reverend Jen has a Rachel Trachtenburg troll displayed inside her troll museum, according to the Trachtenburgs' 2006 documentary, The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway.

Discography

Albums with Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

• Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol. 1 (2001)
• Adventures in Middle America, Vol 2 (2005)
• Lost and Found (2011)

Albums/EPs with Supercute!

• Supercute! (2010)

1. "Candy City"
2. "To Not Write About Boys"
3. "Haunted Hostel"
4. "Misty Mountain Hop"
5. "Hula Hoop Song"
6. "Supercute!"

• DON'T PoP MY BUBBLE (2013)

Solo albums

• Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World (2009)

1. "Theme Song" - The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
2. "Seagull" - Rosie Rebel
3. "Pigeon Song" - Rachel Trachtenburg
4. "The Dog Song" - Major Matt Mason USA
5. "Knock Knock Jokes" - Danielle
6. "Baby Black Bear" - Baby Shiver's Boutique
7. "Don't Call Me Rat Dog" - Reverend Jen
8. "You're The One Who's Made For Me and I Was Made For You" - Jason Trachtenburg
9. "Rosie's Work Out"
10. "Gnome" - Rachel Trachtenburg
11. "Turn Off The Water When You Brush Your Teeth" - Touching You
12. "Phoenix" - Anna Copa Cobanna
13. "Good Morning" - The Fools
14. "Thanks For Coming To the Show"