Meet Rebecca Marie | Indie Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Marie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what inspires you?
My simplest answer is: the fragility of life. So often we don’t appreciate something or someone until it/they become a memory. In those moments of realization, we learn the fragility of life. I am inspired by precious moments like these, as well as all the emotions that come with them. My phrase is “feel it to heal it.” As a Board Certified Music Therapist, I am lucky to know the healing powers of music. So often, I do not feel better about a situation that ruminates within me until I write a song about it. Situations that often inspire me to write are relationships, life changes, immense feelings of gratitude, and being in nature. As far as people that inspire me, I would say my family, especially my parents Kathleen and Paul Rocuant, my grandparents, my siblings, my step family, my friends, my patients, and my big musical influences: Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, Carole King, Maggie Rogers, Emily King, Laila Biali, Jamie Drake, and Fleetwood Mac.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel like I live two lives, kinda like Hannah Montana. I am a Board Certified Music Therapist by day and a performing Singer-Songwriter by night. I work full time as a Music Therapist with a local non-profit hospice company, Continuum Care of Broward, and am so grateful to see the changes I get to make in my patients’ and their families’ lives every day. I moved to Fort Lauderdale for my internship in Music Therapy back in 2018 and have grown so much as a Music Therapist since then. I am proud to say I have now worked in hospice for 5 years going on 6, and I have learned so much about life and what is important thanks to my patients and families.

When I moved over here I knew I also wanted to pursue my career as a Singer-Songwriter and performing artist. I performed at the open mic every Monday and eventually made it onto shows and a small Florida tour. I recorded my first song back in 2019, then in 2020 everything came to a halt. Not only was I faced with the global pandemic, but also a cancer diagnosis. I spent most of 2020 going through the process of getting tested and eventually getting my thyroid surgically removed, to find out afterward I had two types of Thyroid Cancer. I am beyond lucky to report my voice was completely preserved, and I am now 3 years cancer-free. After 5 years, I will be in complete remission. Facing the possibility of losing my voice and maybe even losing my life really put a lot in perspective for me. I promised myself and my higher power that if my voice were preserved I would pursue my music and share it with the world wholeheartedly without holding back any longer, in hopes of helping others in their moments of need. Before my surgery, I recorded demos of all my music, wrote a “Goodbye Song” to my fans, and set my song “Holes” to be released on my surgery day. Thank you to Josh Hana for producing that song & helping me record my music at that time. I am blessed to still be alive, to be able to sing, and not a day goes by when I am not immensely grateful. Thank you to Dr. Ruth Catignas, Dr. Golding, and Dr. Bimston for saving my life and my voice. Through it all, music got me through. This is why my phrase is “feel it to heal it.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I have friends come to town, my go-to spots are definitely brunch at Cyth & Co in Oakland Park, especially on a Sunday for their live music brunch, Monday night open mic at Riverside Market Plantation, Tuesday night open mic night at My Mama’s Book and Record Café, Wednesday night at Wine Garden on Fort Lauderdale Beach for Ladies Night with Sunny Side Up Market and live music, and any night at Loch Bar in Boca Raton at Mizner Park since they have live music every night. If we were to venture to Miami, I would take them to Lagniappe for some live jazz & wine or over to Bar Nancy to support local Miami musicians.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am blessed with so many people who have supported me along the way; so many I may not be able to name everyone off the top of my head, but I will try my best because they deserve a shoutout! First and foremost, my family, especially my parents, Kathy and Paul Rocuant, my grandparents, for always supporting my love of music and my dreams (thank you for all the piano lessons.) Thank you to my piano teacher Suzanna Kalina, who taught me from 5 years old, all the way through high school. Thank you to my amazing music teachers K-12 who inspired me to pursue a degree in music. Thank you SO much to all of my incredible professors at Florida Gulf Coast University, especially Dr. Jeanie Darnell (Professor/Head of Vocal Studies), Dr. Michael Rohrbacher (Music Therapy Program Director), Brandon Robertson (Head of Jazz Studies), Carolann Sanita (Vocal Instructor), Dr. Christopher Endrinal (Music Theory Professor), and Dr. Trent Brown (Director of Choral Activities.)

Since graduating with my Bachelors Degree in Music Therapy at FGCU, I have made many new friends, mentors, and other amazing musicians by living and working in Fort Lauderdale. It all started thanks to local comedian Blake Woodrow, who invited me to my first open mic at Riverside Market Plantation, now run by the multi-talented Lucas Doytier (follow @instracoastal.entertainment for more.) There I met my incredibly talented producer CAROLENA, with whom I am working on my debut album, set to come out in spring of this year 2024! Mix/ master and some instrumental parts by Alex Ramos, string arrangement by Orchestero. I also met other amazing musicians and gained a true community of support. A few talented friends I’d like to shout out are: Erica Gard, Violet Jeffries, Caleb Jerome Morales, Allison Kershner, Danielle Smith from Spine Candy, Elilo, Dylan Howe, Josh Hana, Crystal Marie, Emily Dini, and my girl duo, Parallel Lives, partner Dominique Mitchell. Shoutout also to Radmila Lolly, an amazing opera singer who I got to be a background singer for the national anthem at the Miami Heat vs LA Lakers game. There are so many more wonderful people I can name. Shout out to everyone in the South Florida Community!

Lastly, I have three big shoutouts to highlight: 1.) My artist who captures my vision for my music and has supported me from the day she met me, KK. You can find her at @kkays_art on instagram. 2.) Nicole White, owner of Sunny Side Up Market who gave me my first ever residency in Fort Lauderdale in partnership with Wine Garden, owned by Greger Nilzen. You can find them on Instagram and Facebook at @sunnysideupmarket and @winegardenbv. 3.) To all the backers of my Kickstarter project which is helping fund my first album!

Thank you to EVERYONE who supports my music and my well-being as a person. I cannot thank you all enough.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Rebeccamariemusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamariemusic/?r=nametag

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rebecca-Marie-Music/100072202939600/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rebeccamariemusic444?app=desktop

Other: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unclescotchy/episodes/Covid-saved-my-life–Bus-trip-gone-sideways–Ring-of-freedom–This-little-bitch-is-a-sponge-e142nrk https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DxkImDgPLefxB6DE3OL7o?si=_wJJZCjxTISXThZVVtYE4w&dl_branch=1&nd=1&dlsi=683cea2da75a4720