‘Fight Songs’ Rachel Platten on the monster that is singing the national anthem
Ten years have passed since Rachel Platten released the song that changed her life, and became an eternal global hit that will be performed by the cover artists that she once was.
“Fight Song” is one of those tunes that will live long after she is done performing, a song that has become an anthem for women.
The native of New York was the portrait of the struggling artist who bounced from small gigs to part-time jobs just to pay the rent, all the while pushing back the temptation to end the dream.
Ten years later, Platten, 43, is a name. She no longer has to pay for her own tour van. Not a bus. A van.
She’s married with two children, and after a brief hiatus she returned to the recording studio, and is now touring again.
She recently released a new album, “I am Rachel Platten.” She is on the road, and she will play the House of Blues in Dallas on Thursday, April 3, on her “Set Me Free” tour.
Over the phone during a stop in Bend, Ore., she spoke to the Star-Telegram about her career, performing the national anthem, and why mental health awareness is a priority for her work.
How does a performer have any idea if they’re any good?
Wow ... what a great question. It has to come from inside, not the outside. If you are following the influence of the masses, you are going to be on this ride. If they love you, you have to believe it. If they don’t love you, you have to believe it. I let it come from inside. It’s a deep internal feeling of purpose.
When did you know you could do this, and support yourself?
It wasn’t until I started to tour. That was early on. I came up in New York City’s Bleecker Street, the village scene. I’d play these gigs from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. Cover gigs. Whatever I could to pay rent. Singing commercials. It was a struggle. Once I bought this van to tour, and started to play house concerts and not relying on venues, I could take the whole cut.
I would go to living rooms. They’ll put me up and feed us. It was this beautiful and nomadic lifestyle. I’ve slept on more stranger’s couches.
What were your really lean moments when you were the struggling artist?
Those early tours. I was driving around in snow storms. We were in Ohio and had to make it to a venue they were going to pay $800, that was going to pay for who knows? The ice was freezing our windshield. We had no choice but to pull off the road.
Those shows were so sweet, and I was so flattered people showed up because they heard me on MySpace or something. It’s unreal. It’s not my mom inviting friends. It’s the most amazing thing when you meet someone who is a real fan. You can’t believe it when someone knows who you are and is there for you.
You said when you wrote ‘Fight Song’ that you were at a point when you were ready to call it a career; did you have other moments when you thought, ‘That’s it. It’s over.’
Many moments of that. I temped a lot of places. There were a lot of side hustles. Someone asked me once why I went after music and not another career; my drummer said, ‘Because she got fired from everything else.’ He wasn’t kidding.
I can read the room and be charming in order to get the job, but in two weeks I’m in the break room using the copier printing out fliers for shows.
You released ‘Fight Song’ and it hit; when did you realize it had become an anthem for women globally?
Thank you. It’s really wild as time goes on how true that is. You don’t know if it’s evergreen until time passes. In the moment it felt like a phenomena. We were surprised and it was overwhelming; with time and distance it’s pretty wild.
Ten years later, it’s a mix of things. There is this whole generation, and I’m not being eloquent, it’s the women who show up to my shows sobbing. It’s so much bigger than me.
You performed that song with Taylor Swift on her 1989 Tour in front of about 50,000 fans in Philadelphia; out of body experience?
It was incredible. It was the best. It felt like, ‘Yep, this is what I was born to do.’ All of these major moments, like singing when the ball dropped in Times Square in 2017, they were larger than life.
You performed the National Anthem before Game 1 of the World Series; what makes that song difficult to perform?
It’s the worst. It’s a beautiful song, but it is the worst to perform because it’s all over the place. The notes go everywhere. It’s not all in one range. You need all of these breath techniques. There is no hiding. There is no music, no track. It’s the moment. It’s holy, and it’s sacred; hand over heart. Everyone knows it. The next time I do it I am bringing my piano. There is nothing like it. It’s a hard thing.
You’ve made mental health awareness a priority in your work, especially after you experienced postpartum depression following the birth of your children. Why do you think people are so reluctant to admit that being a parent right out of the gate can be so miserable, and not the Hallmark card?
For me it was pretty shocking how different the expectations versus the reality of it. I don’t know why it wasn’t more talked about before. My best friend handed me a book titled, ‘The Fourth Trimester.’ I remember willfully thinking, ‘I don’t want to read that.’
Maybe it’s denial. The picture that is painted on social media is the sunlit filtered, sepia toned photo of a mom holding a baby. That’s not the case. It’s my goal to erase the stigma of talking about mental health, and postpartum.
I talk about it on stage. I partner with mental health coalition. It’s a shame that more mothers aren’t warned.
‘Mental health’ is a term that seems to be growing bigger; that we went from this tight coverage to an ever-broadening spectrum. Does anything get lost in that expansion?
You swing wildly to come to the middle, and if nothing else we’ll find the right amount. I don’t think there is any harm in everyone understanding everyone suffering but that it’s relative. I am just really proud to share my experience on stage and written a record to shine a light for people that, ‘Here is a way out.’
You’re established, what else do you hope to do now?
I want to tour so much more, and I want to integrate it with my family. I do love it on the road. That’s in my DNA. We are going to try touring with (her two kids and husband) on the road. I want to write more music. I’d like to write a book. I’d love to host a show where I interview people. There is a lot more I want to do.
Thank you so much for your time and continued success with your tour and best to your family.
Thanks so much. This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this.
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM.
