I still remember the day Rachel Assil entered my life. It was the first night of the 2009 ASCAP Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop, and in walks Rachel, clad in one of her trademark overcoats, hair tied back and swept up in a marvelous 'do, bright pink lipstick gleaming. And Rachel had a striking personality to match: She revealed everything about what she did - singing, writing, playing piano, producing, directing, graphic design and much, much more - all within the first minute of shaking her hand, but spoke in such a candid way that it felt like she was opening up to you completely rather than bragging.

What you get from talking to Rachel in person is the same thing you get from any Rachel Assil performance, including the 14 tracks on her debut album, The Opus Unplugged. Rachel confronts emotions head-on. She sings of love and heartbreak and death as blood-red, visceral things, not just ideas. She is effusive. She sings passionately because she knows no other way. You get the impression that there is very little separation between Rachel and her art. And you love her for her honesty, just as she loves you for listening to her pour out her soul with every note.

Rachel's had a career full of highlights, many of which you'll hear about below. She'll have another one on August 30th, 2012 at the Roxy, her official LA release show for The Opus Unplugged. While you're hyping yourself up for that, read on for some of Rachel's amazing anecdotes and candid thoughts on everything under the musical sun.