Rachel has forged a path for herself in the Scottish music scene. Her ears and influences are immersed in a broad range of styles and sounds, creating her genre hopping and fluid approach to writing and interpreting music. She has been sought out for many different collaborations (Mezcla, The Elusive Tree, Alyn Cosker, Paul Harrison) which allows her to challenge her instrument, as well as explore what it means to be a vocalist.
Recent notable achievements include: her nominations for Best Vocalist in the 2018 - 2024 Jazz Awards; the featured vocalist in sold-out performances of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Court and Spark’ (featured on BBC Radio Scotland 2018), and Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ with Start-to-End at Celtic Connections (2018, 2019, 2024); and her work as a backing vocalist for folk singer Siobhan Miller (featured on BBC Quay sessions 2019) and Kris Drever (Where the World is Thin 2020).
Rachel has a busy session-schedule working with artists such as Mama Terra (The Summond 2023), Kris Drever (Where The World is Thin 2020), Alyn Cosker (Onta 2025 & KPF 2018), Siobhan Miller (Mercury 2018 & Bloom 2022), Fat-Suit (Equinox Sessions), Tom McGuire & the Brassholes, Mezcla, Paul Harrison, The Elusive Tree Ensemble, Angus Munro (Mirror Man 2019), as well as her vocal trio Little Acres, providing backing vocals for artists such as, Corinne Bailey Rae, Natasha Bedingfield, Kathryn Joseph, Rachel Sermanni, Admiral Fallow, Hamish Stuart (Average White Band), Roddy Hart.
"Rachel Lightbody who provides one of those beautiful performances that stops you in your tracks, and forces you to listen." Dave Jones (Jazz Journal)
Jazzwise Magazine praises “The fragile beauties of Lightbody’s voice”
“Lightbody in particular exhibiting a rare level of specificity and range.” (Snack)
