Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carrie Rapaport. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Carrie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
It’s been a combination of nature, nurture, and necessity.
My father coined the adage, “He who says it can’t be done had better stay the hell out of the way of the guy doing it.”
That motto was written on a plaque that hung on my family’s living room wall, and it served as a constant reminder to ignore the naysayers who might not share our vision, passion, or belief in the possibility of things.
Push forward. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Since I moved to California in 2005, I feel as though I still possess what I’ve deemed an “East Coast Work Ethic”.
It’s a more A-type, “go-get-’em” mindset in direct contrast to the more laid-back, “Zen Surfer” philosophy that seems to embody nearly every industry in California – an overall idea that focuses on allowing things to happen at their own slower pace; Relaxing, yes, but frustratingly, it’s also a lifestyle where “flaking” is a seemingly viable excuse for not getting things done or for showing up at all.
It was definitely difficult to navigate those seemingly at-odds ideals successfully when I first got here. But since then, I think I’ve achieved a balance between them: Do the footwork, but don’t sweat the results – you have no control over them anyways.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve been a singer/songwriter/performer since I was in nursery school. Though I’ve sporadically had moments where I needed to focus on other things – family, school, jobs that actually pay money, etc.- the creative side has always reared its head for better or worse throughout my life.
I’ve got this weird 4 1/2-octave range from soprano to tenor, nestled in mezzo-soprano.
Though I’ve written and performed original music, my specialty, so to say, is musical mimicry – especially using that odd lower range to effectively capture male voices.
Accordingly, though I contingently perform as the contralto singer/songwriter Alison Moyet in Only You – A Tribute to Yaz/Yazoo, my main focus over the last year has been honing my machine-gun-style rap and flow skills as MC/Frontman Zack De La Rocha in my band, Babes Against The Machine – The World’s ONLY All-Female Tribute to Rage Against The Machine.
BATM was created in the summer of 2022, right after Roe vs. Wade was overturned. Since then, I’ve been truly blessed to work with some incredible musicians and human beings who have shared this inspirational journey with me.
We’ve been performing shows throughout California, but we are finally branching out more this year and are now getting offers from venues across the country who have heard about us, watched our videos online, and want us to bring our show to their audiences.
It’s been a fantastic opportunity to not only perform the music and speak the lyrics of such a dynamic, exciting, explosive band like Rage Against The Machine, but to utilize the inherent platform we’ve been given to raise awareness of past and present social issues and oft-inconvenient truths that have shaped our country’s history. Through music and our live performances, we are able to share universal messages of strength, unity, and hope to audiences of all ages, creeds, genders, races, etc.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Grit Empathy
Integrity
Do your best. Yeah, that sounds trite and cliched, but it’s true. You’re not going to be 100%, 100% of the time. But work TOWARDS that – it’s about progress, not perfection.
Treat others as you wish to be treated, and do the grunt-work, even if it seems unnecessary. Don’t ask others to do what you’re not willing to do yourself. If you can’t lead by example, no one will be ready to follow you into the fire when you might need them the most.
Follow through on your words with actions. Show up on time – early if you can, If you can’t, let them know as far in advance as possible. Maintaining integrity shows you respect and value yourself AND others. We all have a limited time in this plane of existence. Use it well, and respect the fact that others share that same limited window to be their most authentic selves. By respecting others’ time and energy, you show that you understand their lives and needs are of equal importance to yours.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Nope. All-in. Go big or go home.
We can THINK we’ve got a handle on certain areas of our lives, then the universe will throw in a random monkey wrench into the middle of things, and it all goes out of whack anyways.
Want to learn patience? It’s not something you actively go out and learn. It’s taught indirectly when you’re stuck in traffic on the 405 or you manage to get stuck at four red lights in a row. how and where YOU feel you need to grow and change – possibly in direct contrast to where you actually DO need that growth.
For example – I thought I had the frontman thing covered. I’ve performed live in bands since 1997. Never had stage fright, no onstage anxiety. As soon as I stepped onstage for the first time with “Only You”, where I’m standing behind a mic stand next to a keyboard player who isn’t moving at all, I felt terror. Knowing that I am the sole source of movement, visual entertainment…I’m no pop star! But suddenly, because the audience tends to “hear with their eyes”, I had to dance. Annnnd, I’ve never taken a dance lesson in my life. It’s fun for sure, but, my god, it’s insanely nerve-wracking. Much like a guitarist or a drummer (or even my keyboard player) has an instrument to hide behind, I’m out in the open as a singer. Take the support of a live band away….psssh. Terrifying. Every time.
We can ALWAYS improve. Never rest on your laurels, but just work towards general growth.
The universe provides teachers through unexpected means. There is no How-To Guide; no set guidelines. No “Life For Dummies” Handbook. There aren’t classes you can take at the community college in “Adulting”.
I believe if you CONSCIOUSLY seek out ways to improve yourself, you are technically doing yourself a disservice, because you are essentially limiting your personal growth. You might, in fact, already be really good at things you’ve convinced yourself you ‘re not.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.babesagainstthemachinetribute.com
- Instagram:@babesagainstthemachinetribute
- Facebook:@babesagainstthemachinetribute
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@babesagainstthemachine
Image Credits
1: Photograph by Don Adkins 2: Photgraph by Babes Against The Machine 3+6: Photograph by Vivian Ortega @ SoFinch Photography 4: Photograph by Chris Cuomo 5: Photograph by Marina @ Stagehugger Photography 7: Photograph by Jack Lue
