After almost 40 years, TRAX records still keeps its leading role in the house music movement across the world. We all have in mind classic releases such as “Your Love” by Jamie Principle & Frankie Knuckles, “Move Your Body” by Marshall Jefferson, “Can You Feel It” by Mr. Fingers. Today, we have the pleasure to speak with Screamin’ Rachael herself, the current boss of the label. Her first release on TRAX Records, “My Main Man”, dates back to 1985. A couple of months ago, she released “Disco 3000”, a collection of 11 tracks in collaboration with emblematic figures such as Marcus Mixx, Mike Macharello and Joe Smooth, the mixed edition of the album being crafted by none other than DJ Chip Chop from the House of Ninja. Her new album reflects her aspirations for more freedom and unity, and her willingness to honor the legacy of house music. The Queen of house music shares with us some memories about her career. She looks back at her beginnings in the early 1980s with her punk band “Screamin’ Rachael & Remote”, at her “Disco 2000” era in New York, and at her recent freestyle singing performance at the ADE in Amsterdam.

Welcome Rachael, a glass of?
Baccarat Dom Perignon Champagne.

Where do you come from? 
I was born in Chicago. My mother was entrepreneurial and very creative with fashion. She loved designing outrageous hats and decorating. My father had a great voice, as did his own father. But neither of them sang professionally. The favorite song that I loved to hear my dad sing was “Moon River” from the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. I also loved listening to Maria Callas, The Sound of Music, Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin. 

How was your childhood environment? 
I was lonely. A lot. So, I created my own world and loved dancing, singing and acting. This is where my creativity comes from in the first place.

What is the story behind “Disco 3000”?
Disco 3000 was curated by Jorge Cruz who has known me for many years. If you listen to the lyrics, and know me — or wish to know about me — a lot of my story is being told in this album.  Disco 3000 was somewhat inspired by my years in New York. At the same time, it is meant to take you beyond the past, into a more hopeful future. Take the song “Bitch” on this album, it’s a reminder of that punk attitude which I never lost. Being a successful woman with strong opinions and values in the music business is not an easy thing. It was not easy back then and, let’s not lie to ourselves, can still be challenging nowadays. But things are evolving in the right direction. Many people were jealous of my success. They were not nice to me, to say the least. It just made me more determined… To shove it into their face! I love to help people around me gain success and elevate their game, it helps me elevate mine. This is how I select those I work with. Generous and hard-working people.

How long did you need to produce this album?
Jorge convinced me to become serious about it for a little over a year ago. There are a lot of brand-new songs and remixes together with a couple of older tracks that I wanted the audience to finally dance to. When we produce tracks, we work hard to always be ahead of our times, and of trends. Jorge and I felt that people were finally ready for songs like “I am House” and “Everlasting Acid Trip”.

How did you make the decisions regarding collaborations on “Disco 3000”? 
TRAX Records has been blessed with so much great talent over the past four decades. And on top of that, talent with a wonderful attitude, both creative and positive! I've written lots of songs with many people, so it was difficult to make the final choices. Jorge and I would go over things, and talk about how certain tracks would take you on a journey. I'm too close to a lot of my material, so his opinion meant a lot to decide on which tracks would make the final cut.

“I’ll take you there” is the opening track. I really love it! We were surprised to find Jacques x Gregory amongst your collaborators!
Well, first of all let me just say: I LOVE FRANCE! Obviously, France loved us too! Think about Trax Magazine! We had an office in Paris for 2 years, and those days were some of the happiest days of my life! We were located at Kiron Espace, where there were art galleries, a theater, a book publisher and a movie company amongst many other creative people. Just being there was a dream come true. I would love to know what happened to Cesare Rancillio, who created that amazing place. Jacques Lavoisier and Gregory Lion are bringing back that great creative feeling again. I was introduced to them as the Jacques x Gregory duet by my producer friend Pi Rho, and we immediately clicked. They are true musicians and studio wizards. I adore their musicianship and symphonic sound with unique textures that they generate from actual brainwaves! The first time we heard “I'll Take You There”, Jorge and I knew it would open the album! I hope to do live performances with them. Besides DJing, I actually think what I love to do most is freestyle singing. Rappers do it, and I just have my own way of doing it with on-the-spot vocals. It's natural for me and it works best with DJs who are also great musicians like Jacques x Gregory.

What motivated you to work with DJ Chip Chop?
Chip Chop is an amazingly creative person! We have known each other for many years. But I believe that everything in life has a time and season. I met him through Willi Ninja — Rest in Peace. The Willi who founded the House of Ninja. Willi is often referred to, rightly so, as the “Godfather of Vogue”. I think he is the greatest dancer who ever lived. I really feel that a lot of the parties in the states have gotten extremely boring. Chip Chop brings on the fun and excitement again. He does the type of parties I love to attend. He's a wonderful DJ and producer. He and his sister Dee are a blast to spend time with. 

Could you tell us more about “Disco 2000”?
“Disco 2000” was the wildest party that ever happened! It really was a magical time. You can check documentaries, books, and movies about it but nothing will ever come close to experiencing it! I got to live through a number of truly historic moments. There really is too much to be said about those days, and of course people that know the full story are aware that it came to a sad ending. Still it showed the world a type of freedom that had never been experienced before, and remains unmatched to this day. Some think that we opened Pandora's box and that it can never be closed again. It would be easy to be too nostalgic about this era, but I am a forward-looking person: I aspire to even more freedom and can’t wait for more magnificent times!

When and how did you first become involved with TRAX Records? 
I was there from the very beginning, probably before it became an official company. There was a sign on the highway that advertised Precision Record Pressing Plant. Precision Records was the actual name back then. The sound was different. The music was essentially not songs! They were thought of as tracks. Thankfully Larry Sherman, the founder of the label, was a terrible speller so we agreed on TRAX Records. It was a happy accident! Vinyl releases were the thing back then and Larry Sherman owned a pressing plant. It was serendipity!

In your opinion, what are the main values of TRAX Records, and why do you think, in addition to its obvious legacy, the label is still so relevant today?
The label is more relevant now than ever! A lot of people lost the entire idea of what music can be. It's not about social media and TikTok numbers. We follow the same path we began with, finding great music whether it has 10 fans or millions. Even more important are the people who create this music with me. If you are an a..hole and don't fit in with our family, you might be a genius but you are not TRAX material!

What is your definition of house music? 
Simply put, my answer is: TRAX!  There is no formula, and anything goes!

What’s your take on the global house music scene today?
I feel that the global house music scene has never been better! Nowadays, thanks to technology, we are truly global. The new TRAX artists, along with some of the dedicated pioneers, are all here for the right reason: creating house music that makes people happy, and get them to dance, and dance again. It's not easy to make money these days as an independent label or artist, so if you are not a sell out and you stay in the game, it’s because YOU LOVE MUSIC!

We heard that TRAX Records had a great presence at the ADE with many of your international artists performing there. How was the ADE experience this year?
The ADE experience made me feel the bond that music creates with people from all corners of the world. We may not speak the same language, but we communicate on an existential level.  I debuted several songs from my new album there. People showed us so much love that I realized just how important it was to keep going in the face of all adversity. I'm on a special lifetime mission and I am so thankful for the extended TRAX family that is making it all possible. I was surrounded by my artists who flew from all over the world to perform at the ADE with me: Zewmob, D Beat, Jacques x Gregory, and even Cartoon & Tennan from Japan. I was amazed by their set, some of which I contributed to with freestyle singing. Together we rocked the 2024 edition of the ADE. And we will be back next year with even more TRAX artists.

Which one of your tracks best represents who you are today?
I can’t choose because everything I write is a piece of who I am.

In three words, what is a good track?
A psychedelic experience. 

If I say “sampling”, you say? 
We don't do sampling, but others sample us a lot! Including Kanye who recently sampled Marshall Jefferson’s iconic “Move your body” (a.k.a. “The House Music Anthem”) without clearing the sample first.

If I say TR-909, you say?
Great kick drum, it's a classic part of the Chicago sound!

If I tell you “Can You Feel It”?
Yes! Music is a body orgasm!

A little bird told us that TRAX Records will soon be putting out its first official vinyl release in years. Can you share more about this?
We had to wait for the right songs, the right message and the right moment! That moment is no other than the 40th Anniversary of house music! This release is called “Rising Again” (TRX 2620). Everything from the packaging, to the talent, and of course the music is stellar, thanks to my friend Pi Rho who is the executive producer of this record and, of course, thanks to the artists from various countries I cut tracks with especially for this record. Even more important, Pi Rho and all of the great musical talent have agreed that all profit will be given to charities supporting music and education. I think that this record will be the most significant project that the TRAX legacy has ever created! Be ready for bangers that I recorded with my friends Joe Smooth and DJ ThadX from the US, Kushgad from Jamaica, Spada an Italian born who lives in the Czech Republic and two new tracks with Jacques x Gregory from France.

What kind of message do you want to convey through your art? 
I want my art to convey freedom, fearlessness, strength, and an indefatigable spirit. I want it to insinuate that it doesn't matter what you look like, how much money you have, or who you choose to love. My dream is that though we are all unique and different, we are ONE HOUSE on the dance floor.

Any tips for the new generation of DJs and producers out there?
Be yourself, don't let anyone intimidate or influence you negatively, listen to others, respect others, create your own style and believe in yourself with every bit of strength you can muster.

If you could teleport yourself for a few hours…
I would go back to the night that I was performing with my punk band Screamin’ Rachael & Remote at The Space Place. We got raided and I heard that Frankie Knuckles was mixing my record at the legendary Warehouse, right around the corner. That was a life altering night and I'd love to experience the power of that moment again.

What makes you proud of yourself today?
I am proud that I could not be bought. I'm proud to say that I stood up to some of the biggest companies in the business and I'm still standing! And I know in my heart that my truth will be told. I'm proud to be a woman who defied all the odds, and I hope to set an example for those who will come forward in the future.

You’re the Queen of house music. In your opinion, who is the King? 
I'm going to give a history lesson to many who might not know this person. His name is Robert Williams. He brought both Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy to Chicago! He is the humble man who started the revolution! He always made me feel welcome and he believed house music was a rainbow tribe. He wanted everyone included. He deserves so much more credit! I adore him and I hope someday his story will be told. He deserves so much more than a crown.

In three words, who is Screamin’ Rachael today?
The Tinker Bell of TRAX! If you wonder why, it's because at the age of 5, I decided never to grow up or grow old!

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi /