Women Who Rock

Making Scenes:: Rachel Flotard

Rachel Flotard

Rachel Flotard has performed many of the roles critical to making scenes, as frontwoman, guitarist and songwriter in her critically-acclaimed power punk trio, Visqueen; as label owner of Local 638 Records whose roster features women performers such as Shelby Earl, Christina Bautista, Star Anna, Kristy Cameron and others; as an organizer of community events in support of various social causes; as a writer about town; as a mother and more.

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Biography

Rachel Flotard is a musician, label owner, writer and mother, among many other things. Flotard was the frontwoman, guitarist and songwriter for Seattle rock band Visqueen for over a decade, releasing three CDs, King Me (BlueDisguise Records 2003), Sunset on Dateland (Blue Disguise Records 2004), and Message to Garcia (Local 638 Records 2009). She records with Neko Case and with pedal-steel player Jon Rauhouse, touring with Case in the US, UK and Europe. She has also collaborated with the Long Winters, the Fastbacks, Minus the Bear and many other bands.

In 2009, she founded her own independent record label, Local 638 Records, inspired by her dad’s New York City Steamfitter’s Union. In 2010, she joined vocals with Rusty Willoughby on Cobirds Unite, releasing the record on Local 638 Records. Her Local 638 label has also put out records by artists Shelby Earl, Christina Bautista, Star Anna, Jon Rauhouse, Kristy Cameron, and an upcoming audiobook by author Danny Bland.

Flotard has organized and performed many community benefits, raising money for an elementary school in Laos, for the Seattle Children’s Hospital, for victims of Hurricane Sandy, and in support of other social causes. Flotard used to write an advice column for Seattle-based online publication Three Imaginary Girls called "Love Is Hard with Rachel Flotard.” She is currently on the staff of Fretboard Journal, a magazine about guitars and the musicians who play them.

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