By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
NASHVILLE — It’s easy to say that Trussville native Brinkley Rackstraw is making a dream come true with the release of her first single, “Homesick,” this Friday, June 24 — but it’s probably more accurate to say that this is just the next step in a long journey for the 20-year-old singer.
Rackstraw, a junior at Belmont University, began her journey into country music as a small child, listening to traditional artists like Barbara Mandrell and Loretta Lynn. As she got older and her tastes began to change, she sang along to Shania Twain and a young Taylor Swift.
“I grew up listening to all of these talented singers and songwriters,” Rackstraw said. “I was really impacted by the female side of country music.”
Rackstraw is no stranger to the stage, as she grew up helping lead worship at Church of the Highlands and now leads worship at a local church in Nashville. Her vocal range — the ability to sing either alto or soprano — allows her to use her voice to its best advantage.
Her close relationship with her family was foremost in her mind as a freshman in college during the pandemic. Away from home for the first time and feeling isolated from her peers during the Covid-19 pandemic, she began to embrace her emotions and put them down on paper.
The result was the song “Homesick.”
“The pandemic made that year really hard,” Rackstraw said. “I couldn’t get involved on campus and my classes were online. My friends & family were in Alabama. Missing home was really hard for me and then one day I was reflecting on how many times I’d called my mom in one day … the entire premise of the song is about missing home and accepting that feeling.”
“Homesick” will be available on streaming services everywhere.
It’s the first song Rackstraw has written and produced. She was joined in the journey to its release by veteran producers Evie Lewis — who is also Rackstraw’s vocal coach — and David Keith with Gintown Studios. Keith laid down the instrumental tracks to the song, backed by session musicians in Nashville.
Rackstraw is thankful for the support and love from the Trussville community.
“I really had a lot of super impactful people in Trussville,” Rackstraw said. “All of my teachers at Hewitt and Paine were great. I was impacted by every single one, and of course my parents have been great. They’re my main support system.”
Rackstraw began playing guitar when she was a small child, and knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in the music industry in some fashion. She’s currently working on more singles to release, and said that eventually she may release an EP of her songs. But that’s in the future.
“For me, right now I’m just putting out singles,” Rackstraw said. “This is the first song I’ve recorded and produced so right now my main focus is this song.”
Follow Rackstraw on social media at brinkleyrackstrawmusic on either Facebook or Instagram.