| Rachel Trachtenburg | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rachel Sage Piña-Trachtenburg (Birth certificate lists her as Rachel Sage Trachtenburg. Piña is her mother's maiden name.) |
| Born | December 10, 1993 Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Genres | Acoustic, anti-folk, indie rock, pop rock |
| Occupations | Singer, drummer, actress, model, radio personality |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar, piano, drums, ukulele, harmonica |
| Years active | 2000-present |
| Associated acts | Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players Kate Nash Jack Skuller Supercute! Lach Punch |
| Website | slideshowplayers.com myspace.com/supercute |
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 Punch. 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 Rachel Trachtenburg's Pure Imagination with co-host Julia Cumming with friend and fellow Supercute! and Punch band member Julia Cumming on Gary Null's Progressive Radio Network.
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Trachtenburg, an only child, was born in Seattle, Washington of paternal Jewish and maternal Mexican descent, to Jason Trachtenburg and Tina Piña Trachtenburg.[1] 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.
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.[2] 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.
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.[3]
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.[4]
Trachtenburg stars as Rachel Moeltz in the short indie film Ruchiki.[5]
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 .
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:[6]
| “ | Hi, my name is Rachel Trachtenburg and I am 14 years old. My family just moved to Bushwick because we were priced out of our home in the East Village. Our apartment was broken into in the first month and several of our friends have been mugged at gunpoint.
I don’t understand why Mayor Bloomberg DOES NOT HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW WHEN PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR PEACEUL DEMONSTRATIONS. I think Mayor Bloomberg IS THE WORST MAYOR EVER. He gave tons of money to the Bush family and the Republicans. So he deserves some of the blame for Iraq and all the other problems in NYC and the whole country. Also, our taxes and rent, and bills have gone way up since Bloomberg became mayor. Any monkey can raise taxes. No offense to monkeys, but THAT doesn’t make you a great mayor. Bloomberg has wasted so much of our money on stupid things like moving the Washington Square Park fountain ten feet over, or giving a billion dollars to the Yankees, who don’t need our money when senior citizens are worried about losing their senior center, something is wrong with Mayor Bloomberg’s priorities. I think Mayor Bloomberg is the Worst Mayor Ever and I must not be the only one because he had to spend over a million dollars to cheat and buy his first 2 elections. And he will spend another $80 million to steal the next election. I hope you will all choose honesty over bribery and keep term limits as they ARE. Thank you. |
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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.[7]
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 Canadian geese.[8]
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