Editor’s Note: “Boston Thriving” is an ongoing series from Vanyaland highlighting and honoring the national and global success of Boston- and New England-based bands and artists.
In terms of Boston music history, the name Rae Isla might not ring a bell — but Radclyffe Hall and Jaqui Grae might.
The three creative projects share the common denominator of Jaqui Rae Stewart, a Berklee grad who left her mark on the area’s arts scene by contributing co-vocals and synths to various Radclyffe Hall recordings, and releasing an EP via her own solo project. (She’s also worked in New York under the moniker RAINE, but that’s a story for another city). Now based in Los Angeles and recording as Rae Isla, Stewart nets this Boston Thriving mention with her musical contribution to SCENE:, a new docuseries and podcast from PopCult.
SCENE: explores the development and cultural history of neighborhoods across the country, starting with the Los Angeles suburb of Silver Lake. Stewart penned and recorded a theme song called “What’s in the Water” for the occasion; the song arrived yesterday (October 30), although some folks got a sneak preview via the series’ trailer.
In an Instagram post about her involvement with SCENE:, Stewart shouts out her time in Massachusetts.
“In every city there’s a neighborhood that just feels different…,” she writes. “I’ve lived in many cities and traveled to more, and always find myself in a similar place: East Nashville, Capitol Hill, Williamsburg, Roma Norte, Allston, Cambridge… maybe I’m just a hipster or love a $8 cup of coffee on a grungy sidewalk, but these neighborhoods have tilted cities on their sides, and I find wandering them very inspiring.”
Find out “What’s in the Water” and check out the SCENE: Silver Lake trailer below.
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