Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachael Pixie Kruczynski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rachael Pixie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I thrive on my creativity. I don’t think I would be me without it — it would be as if I were missing a part of my heart and soul. In addition to songwriting, I have an (as of YET) book of short stories and poetry called “Amalgamated Epiphanies” (my two favorite words.). I am always writing, Always listening when I am out for interested words to craft into something. I tend to often redecorate my room. I have a potted garden with herbs and other things and so many wildflowers.
When I am out, I often look at the ground. I collect rocks and pick flowers. I am so low maintenance that way. I’d rather a love interest give me a drawing,,, or a rock,,, or something odd… than the biggest diamond ever to exist. (Worthless to me, and blood money.)
I read voraciously, usually 3-5 books at a time. I like beautiful things, and can find beauty in things other people think are “ugly.” I ofte wonder things like, “what is wrong with this daffodil? Who decided it was a weed? Because it mars their perfect green lawn?” Well… they are boring. I like my daffodils. They are flowers.
All of this, always running through my mind, as I hang with Girl Cat (her name is really Sage), and just try to be the positive change I want to see in the world… a girl who is at least 10% cat and 10% butterfly…. I’m not typical…. but I am driven by a force to create. And there is no better feeling in the world than when a song comes together for the band,
I was born like this. I will die like this.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I was always the girlfriend to the guy in the band. And I wanted to be in my own band… but they told me I didn’t have what it took. ALL of them. How amazing is that? Make our flyers. Promote our shows. Be at our shows. Do everything. But NO, you cannot have a band.
There was some weakness in me that allowed this, which is long, long gone — and while I have been in two other bands, I feel I really found my voice — both vocally and lyrically — with The Last Survivors. Steve, Matt, and I live like this weird family unit that takes care of each other. We’re all best friends. We fight like family, but we make up like family. I have a lyric, inspired by the late, great playwright Leslie Lee, who I was lucky enough to study with in college: “blood is thicker than water for sure, but which one do you want in a desert?”
They are my chosen family. I think they feel the same.
The band is a punk band, and I write words all the time. I probably have at least 100 songs in reserve. Sometimes I pick and pull at what I wrote, sometimes, I write something new, based on what Matt (bass) and Steve (guitar) put together. Once the drums are in place, I have enough lyrics set up that they either need editing or additions, but that’s how we write. I do it all at once — it is an odd “talent” I have. I just need to feel the music. And then I know “I HAVE SOMETHING FOR THIS” or, “Let me think about what I am feeling off this.” We tend to write quickly. Our newest song, “Animals” is so, so good — and I ran a contest on Instagram, that whoever our 500th follower was, would give me five words that would become part of the song.
A band called Mad Gods from New Jersey was #500 — they gave me the perfect words for something I was working on, and I’ve started actually singing more, not just screaming, so oh…. I cannot wait to record this song.
When we perform, I feel like I am living the dream of when I told my mother (who I miss so much… she passed when I was young….) when I was maybe five? “When I grow up, I want to be Cyndi Lauper!” And while my hair is neon pink… it’s as close as I am ever going to get. It is the most amazing adrenaline rush anyone could ask for to be on stage and have people… actually like you. The band is kind of my everything… though I do love a certain someone very dearly (but may have messed it up when I was severely ill) and my kitten (a holiday bonus from one of my employers) is the best friend a girl could ask for.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Fake it until you make it.
I used to be so, so scared on stage, I was literally shaking or bonded to a band member.. Now, I run around, swing off poles — I don’t care. This is MY time. It is so incredibly intimidating and frightening at first. You all but have imposter syndrome, as if to say “why am I even here? Why would someone want to hear ME?” and then you realize, “because I am talented, confident, and HERE. They don’t have to stay, no skin off my bones, but I am gonna give them a show they don’t WANT to leave.”
Believe in yourself.
Nobody else is going to come to your rescue or take care of you. It’s up to you to believe, care, and do it.
Fuck limitations.
Be who you are. People pleasing is so ancient. No, we don’t do that. We please ourselves. But always remember to try to stay positive and be a good person, and show people that “yeah, that girl with the nose piercings and mis-matched earrings with pink hair almost down to her waist? With the weird clothes? She held the door.. She said “Have a great day.” She played peek a boo with the baby in line in the store. She helped an elderly man with a cane get his groceries to his car. And that’s authentic. I’m not about to be thought of as some kind of monster because of how I look, but I will never change who I am, either. I’m changing THEIR perceptions and snap judgements.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My mother, who was my best friend — and we spoke every day until she was too sick to, right before her passing… once said to me: “I just realized something about you. You are… you. You don’t crave attention, as you are actually quite shy. You just need to be comfortable in your skin, and it’s not “normal” for most people, but it is for you, and I will never give you problems about who you are ever again.” That meant SO much. She finally understood me. And kept her word.
After she had a massive stroke, she was not always aware. The last time she was, she said, “Don’t you have band practice? Why are you here?” And I said, “I don’t….” And she said, “Promise me two things: you will make the band happen (and I did) and you will never do roller derby, because you will break your leg the first time you try.” I kept both words. I hold them close to my heart,
I wrote a song for her… the chorus is, “If she said the sky was red, well, I believed every word she said.”
My mother was a powerful influence on me. As was my grandmother. Welsh blood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lastsurvivors.bandcamp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lastsurvivorsct/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLastSurvivorsCTPunk/
- Twitter: https://x.com/serpent_sky
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6wTCfAuJena4O7eD3TdjkS?si=tY4L2rTNQvuByivtLPBSDA
Image Credits
Ahmad Shirazy
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