Rachel Platten

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Rachel Ashley Platten was born on May 20, 1981, in New York City. She was raised in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, where she attended Mason-Rice Elementary School and Oak Hill Middle School. Her parents are Paul and Pamela Platten, with her mother working as a therapist. She has a younger sister named Melanie and was raised in the Jewish faith.

1.2. Education

Platten began her musical journey at a young age, studying classical piano from the age of five and later picking up the guitar in high school. She attended Buckingham Browne & Nichols high school, where she was an active member of the school's singing group. During her time at Trinity College, she was a member of the Trinity College Trinitones, which was the college's first all-female a cappella group. She graduated from Trinity College in 2003 with a degree in political science.

1.3. Early Career Development

As part of her academic pursuits, Platten participated in study abroad programs, spending a few months in Rome, Italy, and a full semester in Trinidad. In Trinidad, she undertook an internship at both a diplomat's office and a record label. During her time there, in 2002, she had a pivotal experience singing backup for a friend's band in front of over 80,000 people at the International Soca Monarch finals. This performance was a turning point for Platten, solidifying her decision to pursue music as a full-time career.

Following her graduation, Platten moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. She recorded demos and performed with a Prince and Sly and the Family Stone cover band called Dayz of Wild. She also performed her solo music around the Village and began touring across the country. During this period, she took on various jobs to support herself, including working as a waitress, a jingle writer, and a salesperson for Estée Lauder.

2.1. Independent Releases and Pre-Debut

Platten self-released her debut album, Trust in Me, in 2003. This was followed by her first album released through a label, Be Here, which came out in April 2011 from Rock Ridge Music. The single "1,000 Ships" from this album achieved moderate success, peaking at number 24 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and receiving airplay on various radio stations.

Her songs also found early placements in television and film. An earlier song titled "Seven Weeks" was featured in the film The Good Guy. Platten also performed "Work of Art," the theme song for ABC Family's series Jane by Design. Her song "Begin Again" was used in the 100th episode of the teen drama television series Pretty Little Liars, titled "Miss Me x 100". Additionally, "Don't Care What Time It Is" was featured in VH1's Basketball Wives, and "You're Safe" was used in MTV's Finding Carter in September 2014.

2.2. Breakthrough with "Fight Song"

In early 2015, Rachel Platten signed with Columbia Records, marking a significant step in her career. She first debuted her song "Fight Song" on the social networking website We Heart It on June 27, 2014, as part of an artist spotlight. The official release of "Fight Song" followed on February 19, 2015, as the lead single from her major-label debut album, Wildfire.

The song quickly gained widespread popularity, becoming a global phenomenon. It peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and secured top positions on charts worldwide, including number 2 on the Australian Singles Chart, number 6 in Ireland, number 8 in New Zealand, number 9 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, and number 9 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. "Fight Song" achieved significant sales, selling over 2.4 M copies and earning quintuple platinum certification in the United States.



In June 2015, Platten performed "Fight Song" alongside Taylor Swift in front of 50,000 people in Philadelphia during Swift's The 1989 World Tour. The song's empowering message also led to its use in various contexts, including Hillary Clinton's 2016 United States presidential election campaign and as a walk-up song for Japanese professional baseball players Seiichi Uchikawa and Yutaro Itayama. Additionally, it was featured in a promotional commercial for the 2019 Japanese drama Good Wife.

The success of the single was followed by the release of the Fight Song EP on May 19, 2015, which reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 26 K copies in the US. Platten also received a Daytime Emmy Award for her live performance of "Fight Song" on Good Morning America.

2.3. Subsequent Albums and Tours

Rachel Platten's major-label debut studio album, Wildfire, was released on January 1, 2016. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and performed well internationally, debuting at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, number 12 in Australia, number 6 in Canada, number 84 in Ireland, number 37 in New Zealand, number 29 in Sweden, number 85 in Switzerland, number 35 in the UK, and number 38 in Japan.

Two more singles from Wildfire followed: "Stand by You", released on September 11, 2015, and "Better Place" in 2016. "Stand by You" peaked in the top 10 in Canada and the United States, and in the top 20 in Australia and Poland. It has been certified Platinum in the United States and Australia, and Gold in Canada and Poland. "Better Place" reached number 21 on the US Adult Top 40.

On August 18, 2017, Platten released "Broken Glass", the lead single from her fourth studio album, Waves, which followed on October 27, 2017. Platten co-wrote every song on the album. Waves debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 142 in Japan. ABC News praised the album, noting that "Platten's songs often are cemented by a strong message to believe in one's self... she always sounds like she believes every word she says. You have to give her credit for attempting to turn her art into an inspiring platform."

In 2023, Platten released a new song titled "Girls," which she performed at the Gracie Awards on May 23, 2024. On April 26, 2024, she released "Bad Thoughts," a song she originally wrote to help herself cope with a panic attack. Her fifth studio album, I Am Rachel Platten, was released on September 4, 2024, through her own label, Violet Records.

Throughout her career, Rachel Platten has engaged in various tours and performances. In early 2015, she served as a support act for Alex & Sierra and Andy Grammer's "The Good Guys & A Girl Tour." She then co-headlined the "Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour" with Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri during the summer of 2015. In 2016, she embarked on her own headlining "The Wildfire Tour." In 2017, she was an opening act for two Los Angeles shows and one Las Vegas show on Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul: The World Tour. From May to July 2019, Platten toured with the a cappella group Pentatonix as the opening act for their North American shows. She also announced "The Set Me Free Tour" for 2025.

Other notable performances include singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 of the 2016 World Series in October 2016. On New Year's Eve 2016, Platten co-headlined the Times Square Ball festivities in New York City alongside Gavin DeGraw, performing "Fight Song", "Stand by You", "Beating Me Up", and John Lennon's "Imagine". In 2018, she was the main musical attraction at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, where she performed "Stand By You", "Better Place", and "Fight Song", and shared childhood memories of Boston. On July 4, 2022, she performed "Stand By You" at A Capitol Fourth, an Independence Day concert in Washington, D.C., which aired on PBS. She also performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the 2024 NFL Wild Card Round.

3.1. Studio Albums

3.2. Extended Plays (EPs)

3.3. Singles

3.4. Promotional Singles

3.5. Other Appearances

4.1. As Herself

6.1. Charitable Work

Platten has actively supported numerous charitable organizations, demonstrating a strong commitment to giving back to the community. Her involvement includes working with Music Unites, the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, Autism Speaks, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, BuildOn, and Live Below the Line.

She has maintained a long-standing relationship with Musicians on Call since the early 2000s, participating in a program where she sings bedside to hospital patients. Platten has volunteered for over 50 Musicians On Call programs, and the organization honored her with the Music Heals Award at a benefit event on December 1, 2015, in recognition of her dedicated volunteer work.

In February 2017, Platten performed "Fight Song" and walked the runway at the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection fashion show, presented by Macy's at New York Fashion Week. She also performed at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's virtual fashion show on November 14, 2020. Following the Orlando nightclub shooting, Platten announced that proceeds from a new acoustic version of her "Fight Song" would benefit the National Compassion Fund, providing support to those affected by the tragedy.

6.2. Inspirational Music and Social Impact

Rachel Platten's journey and her song "Fight Song" have served as a significant source of inspiration for people around the world. The song's message of perseverance and not losing hope has resonated deeply with individuals facing various life challenges, including cancer, postpartum depression, and unemployment. Listeners have shared stories of how the song motivated them through difficult times, such as financial struggles or recovering from accidents.

In 2017, Platten was presented with the Gracies Impact Award, an honor given to artists who have made a positive impact on society through their music. Platten herself has spoken openly about the personal origins of "Fight Song," revealing that she wrote it during a low point in her career. She described it as being about her own inner fire that refused to die, despite numerous rejections and the seemingly impossible odds of achieving her dream. The song emerged from a moment of "sheer desperation," as a declaration that she would not give up on herself.

7.1. Marriage and Family

On July 31, 2010, Rachel Platten married Kevin Lazan in a Jewish ceremony. Their wedding pictures were featured in Southern New England Weddings magazine in 2010. The couple has two daughters: Violet Skye, born on January 26, 2019, and Sophie Jo, born on September 9, 2021.

7.2. Personal Experiences

Platten has been open about her personal struggles, including experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety after the births of both her daughters. She has shared that she "hid from social media" due to postpartum anxiety, describing it as a "daily mental rollercoaster." Her song "Bad Thoughts," released in 2024, was written by Platten to help herself navigate a panic attack.