Rochelle Riser

I decided to make a permanent home for the things I write in the middle of the night 🌝

Before I wrote songs, I wrote just like this. Especially during this time of my life, I have to chase creativity in a bunch of stolen moments, and I am just as much a writer as I am a singer and songwriter too.

There will always be stories for free here, but the meatier stuff will be for paid subscribers only 🤫 I’d be so grateful if you chose to tag along

“the back story” is up now

the back story why this? why now?

10 days of Ruby 💌

the whole fam is in love 🥰 and I am learning to wear this new title of *mom* in messy messy grace + surrender

this girl was just minding her business, eating fried chicken when she casually checked her email and said “oh my god…” (swipe 👀)

thank you 💙 now go listen to “The Flood” on fresh finds

thanks to my friend and producer Blake Mohler for making this song with me!

today’s family outing >>>> 🥤 🌙 🥧 🐶

speaking of family outings: I am playing my last few gigs this week before I take some time off for bb 🤰🤍 I’ll be 9 months along on Tuesday and both sitting and standing with this belly of mine are starting to get a bit uncomfortable!

First up is tomorrow with the fam at 8 pm ✨

and then Monday I’ll play at 7 with ! this whole night is stacked with some of my absolute favorite people in this town and it’s one you don’t wanna miss… like seriously camp out from 6-10!

I somehow haven’t purposefully booked a show this entire 9 months of pregnancy (because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel or what I’d be up for) but stuff has just kept falling in my lap. Definitely feeling the love from my community lately ❤️❤️

I've been making Father's Day gifts with Songfinch!

I'd love to help you make a once in a life time gift... a custom song!

Rochelle Riser Rochelle Riser, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter raised on a farm in rural Iowa, comes from generations of farmers and working class people who ...

keep your eyes and ears peeled for your new favorite song of the summer 🌊 rolling in on June 16

for documentation purposes:

I am realizing how wonderful and cool it is that this little babe gets to come with me on all sorts of creative adventures… to my own gigs, to friends’ shows, to co-writes, to the vocal booth. She is at the point where she hears it all too. Sometimes she nudges my guitar while I’m playing… I don’t know what she means by this, and I probably never will! But it lets me know she’s aware.

So again, for documentation purposes: at almost 30 weeks, driving home from a gig we just did together, I am malnourished and anemic and exhausted, but I am happy ✨ and I hope she is too

Nashville pals: next Monday I’m going to be playing a little set at 7 as part of ’s “Friends of Mine” series 💙 looking forward to playing some tunes for you!

major MAJOR life announcement 💗

I am bringing a daughter into the world this July 🤰 (with help from my husband, of course!) I found out in November and I’ve been wrapping my head around it ever since! (also mostly trying not to vomit till recently)

this has been one of the most life-changing, heart-expanding, ego-crushing things I’ve ever experienced, and it’s only just begun. I’ve felt so much love and support from my people so far, which has been so comforting in a world like this one.

And so it begins 💗

so pumped to be in a round with these awesome writers next week The Listening Room Cafe with Pindrop Songwriter Series!

grab those tix while they’re hot 💥

this venue’s been on my Nashville bucket list for the last few years and I’m big-time cheesin’ bout this one 😌

so I’ve never really been a resolutions girl, or if I pick something, it’s usually nice and roomy and breathable…less space for failure, I suppose.

But I found myself picking a resolution last night. And it was to be more intentional. To have reasons for the things I do. To ask why, often.

I’m entering a phase of life where time is more precious than it’s been before. Less room for dilly dally. And if I really believe in getting the most of this life thing, that requires trimming out the stuff that doesn’t matter as much.

Maybe this is how everybody feels when they get older. That time’s not infinite and life is precious. But it’s hitting me harder these days ♥️

happy new year, my fellow saps 😘

took this one

something fun I’ve been doing lately is creating custom songs with Songfinch!

They’re a perfect one-of-a-kind gift, for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or just because (and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner 👀) I write them most often for couples, but I’ve also been hired to write them by children, parents, coworkers, and friends!

If you’d like for me to write a custom song for you for Christmas, you have until December 16 to get your order in! Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season ♥️

https://www.songfinch.com/artists/98850

I wrote “Winter Was” on a cold day in Nashville four years ago. I changed the title and some picking patterns, but everything else has stayed the same.

When I left for my first big girl tour in 2019, this one was a fan favorite, especially for the younger folks in the crowd. Perhaps because I’m recalling what it was like to be a teenager, and that memory wasn’t distant for them. I knew I had something back then.

Recording this one took a few unexpected turns. Harold and I recorded the guitar and vocals in late summer 2021. He came up with some great BGV parts. We had a lot of other things to worry about at that time and this one got shelved.

I knew I wanted a winter release, so I sent it over to Ross last summer to see if he had any percussion ideas. To my happy surprise, he sent it back to me with all these wonderful ambient little parts and together with Megan, we honed in the production on this track.

I have fallen in love most often in the winter. Perhaps because of where I grew up, even stepping outside felt like a rush. Winter can be cold and terrible; the exploration of romantic relationships can be wonderful. Maybe you couldn’t wait to grow up; now there’s a bit of nostalgia for that innocence. I purposefully left this song genderless, so we could all imagine what “winter was” for ourselves 💙

happy listening, “winter was” is now available wherever you get music

“your listeners are seekers of sound”

and so am I 🌻

thank you for listening and adventuring this year

my new song “winter was” is out 12/9 ❄️

till then, 💚💚

family + dogs = all you need ♥️

Friday night in the hometown was one for the books 📚 I loved playing my songs for a full house in a restored former run-down building turned brewery.

And you all raised $422 for ATLAS! I’m sure that can help some folks in need this winter. Heart is full 💙

The hometown show at Drink Me Brewing Company is just a week away! 🍻

Bout to pack up the car and hunker down in the heartland till after Turkey Day. Looking forward to seeing a lot of old familiar faces and telling stories ❤️

📷:

got a few things this weekend ✨

SUNDAY 10/23 with at 8 pm and WOW so many friends and good writers on this bill 😍

MONDAY 10/24 at 9 pm for a lil solo set after . Haven’t got to do a longer set in Nashville in awhile and I’m excited to share!

photo by

Nashville loves: going to be doing a sweet lil intimate set at for on Monday, October 24 at 9 pm!

It’ll be free with great sober-friendly and drinky-drinks (I always get a hard booch). The Bowery Vault has some of the best sound in town imo and it’s so cozy! So come hang ♥️

photo:

we are doing cOuNtRy things this mornin’ ☀️🌽🚜

gonna be today at 4!
see ya there 🤠

one week till I play Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Danville, IL!

Who’s coming? Got any requests for me to learn?

October 1st from 4-6 pm!

https://m.facebook.com/events/461303762400165

photo: Chaz Mazzota

here I am, doing another one of those intro posts, because idk, things change over the years?

so hi! It’s me Rochelle.
I’m a singer-songwriter. I moved to Nashville on a whim at 18 because I saw this college on TV and said what the hell. I had no idea someone could be a songwriter till I moved here. It took years of slowly dipping my toes in but now I am fully doing laps in this pool 🌊

I grew up in Iowa, on a farm, in a town of 3,000. There were hundreds of pigs and cows in my backyard, surrounded by corn. Little did I know that my childhood would become a never ending well of country song material.

I have 5 younger siblings. Yes, they’re all cooler than me.

I mostly spend my days songwriting. I’ve been building a sync catalog this year, doing a lot of co-writing, writing for , writing for myself. I just love to make stuff! That’s what brings me the most joy 🤗

I got married to a person that makes me a better human last year. We have two dogs that melt my heart 🥹

I believe in everything a little bit. If I’ve made you dinner, count yourself lucky. I’m very into moisturizing my face. Former shy kid. Ok, think that sums it up ♥️

feeling all grown up as I look at myself in this photo ♥️

the Saturn return has been tumultuous 🪐 but I have arrived in this decade, officially. Creating in all forms as impetus. Taking ownership, of the good and the bad. Still being young, but the chokehold of insecurity loosens with age.

enter: babe phase

took this on film

now I can say that I’ve been on the radio in Kentucky!

showing up in my summer uniform because I’m absolutely de-friggin-lighted to announce a show on August 18 at Mockingbird Theater & Bar in Franklin, TN!

I’ll be starting off the night for Katie Pederson and Jaye Madison at 7 pm. I have gotten to know Katie and have fallen head over heels for her and her music! It’ll be a special night, in a real theater, mind you ♥️

for tix: https://linktr.ee/rochelleriser

alright tonight’s the night and we’ll see you at the OG Basement at 9! The wonderful Pat Lyons is gonna be playing along with me, a real treat if you ask me 🍫

we’ll be on first, with Mike Dunbar and David Adams to follow!

see ya there 🤠

📷: .jpg

the other day, I got asked the tough-to-answer question: “so what made you start writing songs?”

and I said something like, well, growing up I was pretty shy, not so great at talking and expressing myself, and that was a way that I could.

saw this post from 13 years ago and it confirms the struggle. I think I’m a lot better at talking now, but I still often wish it was something I was a little better at. Thank god for songwriting ♥️

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sharing some tunes this monday with Voices from the Vault at East Nashville’s iconic !

the sound in this place is always top notch and the other writers are too 🤘 let’s get cozy… and then maybe go to Mickey’s after?

photo from .jpg the last time I played ♥️

stage faces from 🎭🌟

I think I will have to practice a cooler guitar face than one where I lose my bottom lip. Let me know if you’ve got any ideas??

fabulous jumpsuit from

📷 by

it was a dream to get to perform this new song with my pals Genna Matthew and Katie Pederson yesterday at Musicians Corner 🥰

It was so cool to get to have harmonies like this live for the first time! All I can hope is that we created *a moment* in the park yesterday 🌳 hope to do it again some day

“every time my heart is hardened
I wanna plant a flower garden” 💐

please join me as I take the stage in Centennial Park this Sunday afternoon for ! I’ve got something special planned I think y’all will love 🥰

please enjoy this photo from 10 years ago of me in Centennial Park… this was my only shopping at Goodwill and buying classic novels I’d never finish to impress people phase 🤓 if you would have told her she’d be playing Musician’s Corner, she would’ve lost her mind

it’s always so lovely to play for a room of people who are truly taking everything in 🥰 thanks so much to and for hosting!

come see me again on Sunday May 29 💐 very pumped for this one