How long have you been writing music?
Rebecca Day: I’ve been writing music pretty much all of my life. I grew up in an artistic household with a mom who is a professional writer and a very musical father, so I naturally gravitated towards combining words with sound.
What are your influences? Who or what inspires you?
Rebecca: My mom recited poetry to both my sister and me since the day we were born, so poetry has always been a huge influence on my writing. Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Elizabeth Bishop are a few of the classic poets I’ve studied for many years. More contemporary poets include C.D. Wright, Anne Sexton, Frank Stanford, and my all time favorite, Charles Bukowski. In high school, my mom gave me the book A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. That work had a huge impact on the direction my art as a business would go.
Aside from poets, blues musicians have had the biggest impact on my creativity. Lead Belly is one of my all-time favorite songwriters. Son House, Robert Johnson - all the early delta blues guys and a few Chicago style blues guys like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters as well.
What can you tell me about your recent single 'Living room blues and faith'?
Rebecca: 'Living Room Blues and Faith' I first released solo back in 2019 I believe. I worked on a solo project for a bit while my group, The Crazy Daysies, took a super temporary break while my sister/bandmate gave birth to her second child. Since then, we’ve released a duo live version of ‘Living Room Blues and Faith.’ And our newest single, ‘Hurricane’ came out in 2022. It’s a moody, uplifting country tune about what you would do if you lived completely free from fear and consequence.
We are gearing up for a spring single release, ‘Burn Out This Flame.’ I’m really excited about this track. It’s a bluesy heartbreak number, but it’s got an uplifting twist at the end in the vein of Dickinson.
I play live with a few different setups, so I just put everything under Rebecca Day and The Crazy Daysies to keep it simple, and so I stay half-way sane while taking care of the business side of things.
Do you create art with a specific message? Or do you prefer art for arts sake?
Rebecca: Ayn Rand once said “Every artist is a moral philosopher,” so I don’t believe there’s simply art for arts’ sake. Even the most popular, general songs about partying represent society’s dangerous love affair with escapism. With the songs I write, I treat each as an artistic representation of my philosophy, which stems from Objectivism and Romantic Realism, albeit I’m from the south so at times it does have a swampy, southern gothic vibe. But that’s part of the beauty of art- it’s about being original with what’s been discovered before you. Through that, you give rise to something new.
What is your creative process like? What tools and methods do you use to make your songs?
Rebecca: I keep it simple, like the early delta blues guys before me. I write on a guitar I “borrowed” from my dad back when I was in college. It’s a Martin Shenandoah, and it’s just got a real easy feel to it. I keep a few accessories around, a tuner of course, capo, and brass slide.
I don’t have an exact formula I stick to for the songwriting process. Sometimes I’ll come up with a lyric first. Sometimes when I’m working on new techniques on the guitar, a song will come out of that (this happens often). I keep pens and paper around me throughout my house and everywhere I go because things pop into my head randomly and I like the physical act of writing it down. It helps me process it and remember it quicker than if I typed it on my phone in an app. Though in a pinch I’ll do that too.
How long have you considered yourself a libertarian?
Rebecca: My journey into libertarian philosophy started when I was about 25, thanks to my good friend and honorary brother, film producer Jared Rush. I quickly gravitated towards the economics side of things as an entrepreneur. Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and Carl Menger all took up a lot of my reading time. I’m a self-proclaimed Voluntaryist, and the individualist in me means I find myself with all kinds of different acquaintances under the liberty umbrella, including libertarians, Ancaps, and fellow Voluntaryists.
What do you think the role of art should be in the libertarian movement?
Rebecca: Right now, the ideal role should be rebellion, but not just for rebellion’s sake. We should be using our platforms fearlessly, in whatever way that speaks to each person individually. For me, it’s about spending my time sharing art that upholds classical values, from beauty and tradition, to truth and reason. For me, it’s not about smacking people over the head with philosophical statements. I take a more Stoic approach, particularly Epictetus: “Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”
Artists do constant battle with darkness so they can help others reach light more quickly. However you want to present this, present it clearly and with dogged purpose.
Are you working on new music?
Rebecca: I’m currently working on quite a bit of new music and hope to get back in the studio soon to record. I’ve been getting into alternate tunings, especially open tunings, and that’s kicked the door of inspiration wide open, so this year I’m planning to release a couple new singles.
Where can people go to listen to your music?
Rebecca: I’d love for people to check out my group, Rebecca Day and The Crazy Daysies. We are on all the streaming platforms. Here’s where you can find us on social media:
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