Songwriter's Tale with Rebekah Gilbert

When writing these different articles for “Songwriter’s Tales” each interview takes me back to the moment that I crossed paths with the featured songwriter. To some a writer’s round is just sharing three songs and a stage, but to others we put a little piece of soul into each song. When I met Rehekah Gilbert, I knew it was more than just our turquoise jewelry pieces that matched, but it was something more. Once she shared her first song, I knew she was like me and hiding painful truths within her lyrics.

As we travel back to the beginning of Rebakah’s musical journey, she shares exactly where it all began. “My mom was a singer and pianist, so there was always music in our house, and I developed a love for it early. I took piano lessons throughout childhood into my teens, and I learned to harmonize by singing in church. As I grew older, got married, and had children, music fell on the back burner. But in my mid-thirties, I began learning how to write songs, and eventually, took guitar lessons. I've been making music since 2012, but have been dedicated to the craft since being part of a mastermind group in 2023.”

One story that Rebekah never gets tired of telling was one that I was lucky enough to hear in person. “Before moving to Nashville, I used to travel back and forth from Birmingham, AL, and every time I would drive back home on I-65 South, I would cry. I knew my heart belonged in Nashville. One day in 2023, on the drive home, I made up my mind. I was moving to Nashville. I didn't know how or when, just that I had to do it. It took a year and a half, but it was the best decision I made for myself.”

Highlights for Rebekah can be listened to below, but here is what she has to say about her EP’s that she has released, “Releasing my last two EPs, "Year of Jubilee" and "Secret Keeper" have been highlights for me. They enabled me to tell my story after silencing myself for years. "Year of Jubilee" is about my spiritual journey, while "Secret Keeper" is a collection of songs that give our collective silence a voice. Both allowed me to talk about topics in ways I otherwise couldn't.”

Now we have come to my favorite question to ask songwriters. Here is what Rebekah had to say about a song that she wrote that has a special place in her heart. “ "Stay" holds a very special place in my heart. I wrote it with Luis Rey, and during our conversation about dreams, he made a comment that changed the course of my life. He said in order to chase our dreams, we had to be willing to lose some things. The next day, on my drive home to Birmingham, is when I made the choice to move to Nashville. “

When talking about goals and future dreams, as artist, it can often feel like a weighty question. Here is what Rebekah said about her five year plan. “Goals are scary to talk about, especially when they seem so far out of reach! But here goes: I'd love to land some sync placements and hear some of my songs on tv shows. I'm also trying to figure out how to book a house concert tour. Intimate settings are my favorite way to play music, because I love connecting with a small audience, so house concert tours seem ideal to me. I'd also like to carve out time and space for quarterly, small songwriting weekend retreats in my home. I love the songwriting community, and I don't know of many affordable retreats.”

What’s on the horizon for Rebekah, “My brand new single titled, “Try Saying That Out Loud,” releases to all streaming platforms on June 26. It was inspired by a retired veteran who told a story about how difficult it was to go to people's homes and tell them their loved ones had died in combat. Also, I'll be playing with two of my songwriting friends at Woodlawn Theater in Birmingham, AL, on July 21 for She Show Live. It's an all-female songwriters' round. Tickets will be available on the theater's website. And, finally, I have a couple more singles releasing later this year. I’m really excited to see what the near future holds!”

If you want to know more about what’s on the horizon for Rebekah Gilbert, be sure to follow her on Facebook or Instagram @rebekahlgilbert