RACHEL ANA DOBKEN
(bandleader, drums, guitar, vox, piano, producer) studied jazz at Bard College and describes herself as “My Morning Jacket-meets-Amy Winehouse.” The Asbury Park native has a knack for blending indie-rock and soul, and has been featured by BTRtoday (Understand, Always), Relix, The Deli Magazine, Substream, Guitar Girl Magazine, Atwood, New York Times, Asbury Park Press (Top 12 Songs of 2018 in NJ- “Everybody Wants”, RAD Factor), the Star Ledger (Top 31 Bands to See in 2019), Travel+Leisure, The Aquarian Weekly & more.
She plays regularly with her RAD Band, or solo.
Dobken’s LP, When It Happens To You, dropped Oct. 2018 and features Rachel Ana Dobken (producer, drums, vox, guitar, piano), Dan Haase (bass), Ryan MacLean (guitar), Andy Jackle (drums), with special guests Chris Dubrow (bass), Mark Masefield (B3), Joey Henderson (guitar, vox), Danny Clinch (harmonica) Ian Gray (trombone), Bruce Krywinski (trumpet), Denis Daley (bari sax). Recorded at Cedar Sounds in Oceanport, NJ.
Dobken worked closely with famed music photographer Danny Clinch (who photographed her album) at his Transparent Gallery in Asbury Park, where she is from. She has sat in with national acts Mike McCready, G. Love, Robert Randolph, Rayland Baxter, Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem, Grahame Lesh, Nicole Atkins, Blind Melon, Tash Neal & many more.
Her highly anticipated upcoming LP, “Acceptance” features Dobken (drums, guitar, piano, vocals), her bandmates (Dan Haase- bass, Erik Rudic- guitar, Mark Masefield- keys) and a whole slew of special guests, including members of The Parlor Mob, The Front Bottoms and more TBA soon.
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“Dobken does an excellent job telling a story not just with the lyrics on “Everybody Wants,” but in the music as well…She crafts an incredible rock ballad here, the horn section mixing with the tones of her guitar to create a truly moving piece of music.””
“There’s plenty of sway between the vocalists projected melodies, dancing between the grooving instrumentals and steady pulse. This is a vivacious tune with audible energy being transferred…” ”
QUOTES
“Rachel Ana Dobken isn’t satisfied with the ordinary. Her work is a brilliant amalgamation of extraordinary jazz influences, heart-aching soul rhythms and incendiary indie rock instincts.” - Southern Sounding, Nov. 2018
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“Smoky, shimmering” - Relix Magazine, Aug. 2018
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"Dobken does an excellent job telling a story not just with the lyrics on 'Everybody Wants,’ but in the music as well....She crafts an incredible rock ballad here, the horn section mixing with the tones of her guitar to create a truly moving piece of music.” — Substream Magazine, Oct. 2018
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“Rachel Ana Dobken is a unique musician. The multi-instrumentalist, based out of Asbury Park, NJ, first landed on our radar while drumming in another band, but in the years since has seen her own career as a strong front-person take off, with her soulful, hook-laden indie rock finding a strong base in her local music scene.”
- BTRtoday, Apr. 2019. (Live session: Understand, Always)
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“Rachel Ana Dobken…gives us a listening experience full of moments of searing truth and lush beauty while showcasing her immense musical talent… [her] songs manage to be emotionally resonant and musically dynamic.” — StarsandScars.com, Nov. 2018.
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