Rachel Gawell Burns

Cellist | Strings

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34 Reviews (27 Verified)
Rachel Gawell Burns on SoundBetter

Broadway & indie musician 15+ years of playing & writing. Can work with or w/o charts to deliver the best strings sound for your song. I focus on vibe, intonation, timing, and energy to bring your vision to life and amplify your music.

Background in classical, folk, rock, pop, experimental, and indie music.
Bachelor’s Degree in cello performance from Peabody Conservatory.

Discography
2023:
Problemista film score by Robert Ouyang Rusli A24 Films
In The Mammoth Nothing Of The Night (LP) Lady Lamb
Devil Music (LP) Portrayal of Guilt
Time Travelers (LP) Ryan James Monroe, Thomas Hodges
2022:
Waiting For You Beecher’s Fault
Someone Who Loves Me Tyler Meacham
Don’t Mess With Melancholy Andy McCutcheon
Nothing Peak Ravine
2021:
Hesitating Beecher’s Fault
Sad Reflections Edmond Paul Nicodemi
sixth one (EP) Baba Sonya
Walk Away, and Prison Glass JW Farrell
Sadie, and 7th Street Brent Matthews
Dotted Lines, and Bird Song My Life As a Dog 2020
Stronger Together (LP) Anchorlot
Small Things Helga Fanney
When the Lights Go Out Adrian Mathenia
Green and Blue, and Deep Sea Rose Upton
Head On, Personally, and Sixty Diamonds Beecher's Fault
2019:
pistons and pistils (EP) Baba Sonya
2018:
Nadila (EP) Baba Sonya
2017:
Probably (EP) Baba Sonya
2016:
Feels (EP) tiides
Slow Blooming Thing (EP) Kristen Jorgensen
The People Things Work Out For Sessions, The Album (EP) Baba Sonya
2015:
Paris Under Fire Paris Under Fire
City Stood With Ghosts
How To Land A Hot Air Balloon (EP) Baba Sonya
Deliverance (LP) River City Extension

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Rachel Gawell
  • River City Extension
Discogs verified credits for Rachel Gawell
  • The Ballroom Thieves
  • The Ballroom Thieves
  • Andy McCutcheon
  • Tyler Meacham
  • portrayal of guilt

34 Reviews - 9 Repeat Clients

Endorse Rachel Gawell Burns
  1. Review by Emry A.
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    Amazing cellist! Very professional. We worked with her remotely and she delivered extremely fast. My wife and I compose music together but could not for the life of us get a good cello sound. Rachel's playing is the thing that saved our marriage. Will definitely work with again.

  2. Review by Jackson H.
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    Rachel is a thoughtful, creative, professional musician whose abilities go well beyond routine accompaniment. They quickly composed and recorded their additions, and then went further to produce the track I had sent in a way that blended the cello accompaniment and original track seamlessly. You would be very lucky to work with Rachel.

  3. Review by Jacob G.
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    What an incredible artist!!! For my 2nd project with Rachel, the ask was for a string arrangement based on the emotion I wanted on a very personal song. From that abstract description, Rachel quickly turned around a 4-part string arrangement that was exactly the emotion and dynamic I wanted for the song - I was brought to tears. I'm so grateful for what will be a long time collaboration! Every song must have strings now! Thanks, Rachel!!!

  4. Review by Jacob G.
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    Rachel created such a beautiful cello part to my song, I was truly wowed. She was really fast to respond, very communicative, and was willing to work with me and experiment with different things. Very collaborative and will absolutely work with Rachel again!!!

  5. Review by Andrew M.
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    Working with Rachel was a great experience! She immediately understood what I has after and had additional ideas that really elevated the track. She's a clear and responsive communicator, produces gorgeous, top quality work, and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Rachel for adding strings to your next project!

  6. Review by heather w.
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    Rachel went above and beyond what i was expecting! She is incredibly talented, her prices are completely reasonable and she is spot on with the deadlines she gives you! You should definitely work with her you will be very happy with the final project!

  7. Review by Jan F.
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    by Jan F.
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    Rachel is I great cellist.. And also was very helpful with taking some shots at a musicvideo I made.. Recommend

  8. Review by Brent
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    by Brent
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    Rachel is awesome with a capital A! I literally have never had to wait on ANYTHING from her...her communication is awesome and all of her takes have been flawless. She’s a true professional with a capital P!

  9. Review by Brent
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    by Brent
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    Another great experience with Rachel! She’s so incredibly talented and hears things I never could have. She certainly takes these simple songs to the next level!

  10. Review by JW F.
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    by JW F.
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    Rachel knocked it out of the park! I had trouble articulating how I wanted things to sound but she was able to get the song exactly where I wanted it to be. Super easy to work with, very professional, efficient, and creative. Highly recommend!

  11. Review by Brent
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    by Brent
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    Rachel is so incredibly talented and took my track to a whole new level. She’s cool, responsive, and so creative...gave her the tune and she ran with it. I’ll definitely work with her again!

  12. Review by JW F.
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    by JW F.
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    Rachel went above and beyond! Her cello and vocal performances brought our song to the next level. She was super responsive, easy to work with and brought some great ideas to the table. Looking forward to working with her again. Highly recommend!

  13. Review by Ryan H.
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    Rachel is a pleasure to work with. She was able to help me with a song on a very tight timeline. Even better, she's extremely talented and added exactly what the song needed on the first attempt! Looking forward to working with her again on future projects.

  14. Review by Ajay M.
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    Quick, responsive, flexible, immaculate. Rachel is an exceptional talent. I'm extremely happy with her cello magic on my song.

  15. Review by John C.
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    Rachel has recorded 3 songs with me (Anchorlot) and she has been great to work with. She is upfront with her schedule, transparent, flexible, and most importantly lays down some beautiful cello tracks! I’m convinced she can provide whatever your needs are and she is incredibly self-sufficient and creative while also as collaborative as you would like her to be. I highly recommend Rachel!

  16. Review by John C.
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    Had Rachel record cello on a second track and highly recommend her! The quality of her work is great and she is efficient and transparent about the timeline for recording her parts which makes everything seamless. She is also accommodating in recording multiple tracks and layers which is fantastic if you're looking for the extra dynamics in your song!

  17. Review by Svenni B.
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    Rachel is now „ my go to“ if I need live stings/cello for a song. Great to work with and delivers high quality recordings. Highly recommended.

  18. Review by Jukka W.
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    Rachel is a fantastic cellist. She understood exactly what I was looking for and delivered. She was quick, very responsive, and wanted feedback. It was a pleasure to work with Rachel. Her playing made the track really come together.

  19. Review by John C.
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    Rachel is great to work with. She's very accommodating, flexible, and really easy to communicate and collaborate with. She is really efficient in writing, recording, and learning parts so can work with however you want to utilize her in your song. Skill-wise she's top-notch too and the audio quality is great as well so definitely recommend working with Rachel if you want some great cello vibes on your track!

  20. Review by Svenni B.
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    I needed a cello for a song I'm working on for a client. Found Rachael's page and said to myself „Yes this is the one for the song“ So I contacted her, told her the story behind the song since it's sung in Icelandic and spot on! She wrote beautiful parts for it that gave the song so much deeper emotional feelings. She‘s great to work with,delivers high quality recordings. Highly recommented. I will definitely work with her again.

Interview with Rachel Gawell Burns

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: There’s a new Beecher’s Fault song that hasn’t been released yet, and there’s a section in it where my cello and vocals sounded so good that we actually cleared every other instrument out for a section of the song and stripped it down to just my voice and cello. It’s a stunning moment in the song, and has gotten a positive reaction from a lot of our friends.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: My collaborator in Baba Sonya, Mike Costaney and I are working on the next album. We have two songs in the can and so far I wrote three more that we’re about to record.

  5. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  6. A: Ben Taylor for mixing and production! One of my good friends, and bandmate in Beecher’s Fault. He loves his work and will exceed your expectations every time.

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: I’ll interpret this question as “acoustic or electric” and I’ll choose acoustic because even though I love effects pedals and I use them (I love Earthquakes Devices specifically) there’s something my wooden cello gives me acoustically in the room that nothing can compare to.

  9. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  10. A: I promise I will give you my genuine focus and the full strength of my creativity.

  11. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  12. A: I love the variety of people I get to know through this work and I love getting to spend my life playing music all day.

  13. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  14. A: They ask if I can play without sheet music (the answer is yes), and if I’m comfortable working with them to compose the part on-the-fly as we record (the answer is yes).

  15. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  16. A: That cello (or strings in general) is only for contemplative slow music and ballads.

  17. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  18. A: What is your vision for your project? What are you hoping the cello will bring to your music? What’s your favorite cello song and why?

  19. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  20. A: Not every cellist can play without sheet music or can write their own part.

  21. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  22. A: I love the songwriting in CHVRCHES, the soundscapes in Animal Hospital, the creativity in the French pop artist Camille, the orchestrations in Beirut, the vocals and atmosphere of Bjork.

  23. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  24. A: My carbon-fiber cello since it wouldn’t react to the heat or the water, my electric guitar, my pedalboard with all my effects pedals, my acoustic guitar, and my violin.

  25. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  26. A: I have been on a professional music path since I was a preteen, doing cello competitions all over the country and studying at prestigious music schools. I have been a professional out in the world for over 10 years now, in bands, orchestras, and all kinds of projects.

  27. Q: How would you describe your style?

  28. A: Soulful, intimate, and at times gutsy.

  29. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  30. A: I would love to work with Sia because she is a killer songwriter and creative who has been thriving in the music industry at the highest level for a long time.

  31. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  32. A: As a session musician I feel it’s important to stay sensitive to the music itself and really listen with my whole being. Once I have that focus the creativity comes easily.

  33. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  34. A: Indie rock, folk/rock, electronic pop, singer/songwriter, soundtrack.

  35. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  36. A: I have an excellent ear and instincts for composing/improvising a cello part sensitive to the particular vibe of the song.

  37. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  38. A: My cello adds a warmth and depth that grab deeply at the listener’s gut. There is a range of sounds possible on the cello from soulful sustains to playful rhythms, pizzicato plucking, and percussive sounds. I will often get hired to record on just a ballad by a client, and after showing them how versatile the instrument is, end up adding cello to every track on their album in a range of vibes.

  39. Q: What's your typical work process?

  40. A: I like to dive into the work in one intense session to get onto the same wavelength as the client artistically and feel surrounded by the sonic world they are creating. This almost always produces results within a few hours or a day’s work, but for longer projects it can take additional days. I like to listen through to what the client has done so far with a song, talk about the intended direction and any ideas they have already written, and then start tracking some takes. Usually we come up with new ideas and alterations along the way, so we start with the most solid ideas and build from there. I often layer more than one cello track in parts of a recording, but the trick is to keep the song’s essence pure and not “overcook” it.

  41. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  42. A: I have a simple setup with a Rode NT1-A large-diaphragm condenser through a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. My cello is of an unparalleled professional quality, made by luthier James McKean in 2005.

  43. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  44. A: Recording cello on a song for a band or singer, usually working with the client collaboratively to come up with the cello part.

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The Ballroom Thieves “Droves”

I was the cellist and arranger in this production

Terms Of Service

Typical turn around time 1-7 days depending on current schedule • Rush pricing +$100 for priority ASAP (guaranteed within 48 hrs) • Up to 3 revisions typically allowed

Gear Highlights
  • Røde NT1-A mic
  • cello made by James McKean
  • carbon-fiber cello Louis & Clark
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SoundBetter Deal

Repeat customers get original pricing from first job booked, even when my rates go up.