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Media Relations

A Kelley grad's career change leads to a debut album

A 1993 graduate from the Kelley School of Business, Rochelle Bucher is making strides in her career -- as a singer-songwriter. Her soulful debut album, "Convince Me," swims with conviction and emotional resonance, made possible by her reliance on faith and her gratitude for her family and supporters.

"Convince Me" follows her 2003 self-titled extended play (EP) collection, powerfully displaying a more polished tone and a crisp, sweet-sounding accent. The album is a deliberate allegory of her past and her self-designation as a new artist, mother and wife.

While making her album, Bucher's life has become a transformation of roles: Working full-time as a financial planner at Legacy Advisors LLC in Indianapolis, as a caretaker for her 2-year old daughter, and as a part-time traveling artist. But from the title track alone, "Convince Me" shows every indication of enduring success, with a melodious tone that sparks comparisons to Alison Krauss -- an American bluegrass-country singer and fiddle player -- and a deep affection that duplicates through each track.

Bucher, who will be performing in Bloomington on Aug. 27, shared her thoughts on her past and future, and a post-college career decision that landed her a debut album produced by Darkhorse Recording in Nashville, Tenn.:

Live at IU: How would you rate Convince Me (the song and album) as a follow-up to your debut self titled album in 2003? What types of emotions or experiences were you going through as the album was taking shape?

Rochelle Bucher: 'Convince Me' is still my favorite song. I love how it turned out. It took my writing and music to a whole new level. I originally recorded the E.P. as a simple means of presenting my music to venues to get gigs. It was a six-track E.P. with guitar vocals and not representative of the full-length, full production album I just came out with. That's really all it was intended for, although, because I was so pleased with how it came out, I began to sell it at my shows and online. However, from the very beginning, I planned on doing a complete production with 'Convince Me'. I found a co-producer and a reputable studio in Nashville and spent 18 months writing and recording the music. Throughout that time, I was really going through a lot of changes, both personally and professionally, and I'm sure that shaped my songs quite a bit. I was a new mother, and we had just moved into a new home. There was a lot going on, to say the least!

LIU: Did Indiana University (and your business degree) help or challenge you to make this decision? Most people would presume you were a music major, do you wish you ever were?

RB: I do often wish I had majored or at least received a minor in music, but I also think I have a great story to tell, beginning with the fact that I didn't pursue music until after college. I want to be able to use that to inspire those around me who've been told it's too late to start something they are passionate about. I don't regret getting a degree in business at all, music is -- in the end -- a 'business' and a 'job' like anything else. It just happens to be a very creative one and one that I love doing. To be successful in any industry, you have to have a plan, goals and drive and know how to manage them all at the same time. This is something I learned as a business major and through working in several business environments. My degree has allowed me to pursue my passion and put food on the table at the same time. It has challenged me to work even harder to do what I believe in.

LIU: Tell us about your family roots. Do they play a factor in your writing and music?

RB: Although my family loves to sing, I wouldn't say I have 'musical' roots. My grandfather can play several instruments and loves to sing and so do my parents, but no one has really pursued that as a career. I do have a couple of distant cousins who recorded a gospel album a long time ago. So, I think it's always been in my blood. And now that I think about it, my dad and uncle both love to write lyrics, so maybe I have more roots in music than I realized!

LIU: What are your goals musically in the next five years, and will you ever consider changing course and becoming a full-time artist?

RB: Hmm, that's a hard one. I would consider becoming a full-time artist if the right opportunity came along. It's important to me to use my music to make a difference in this world, so if that becomes a full-time gig, then that would be wonderful. I'm working on getting my songs into TV and film and have been following up leads with a few different labels. I guess you could say that I'm just very content and open-minded about what path my music career takes. I'm happy doing it part-time because I enjoy doing financial planning as well. But, I'm sure I would be excited to do it full-time if I had that opportunity.

Bucher will play at the Players Pub in Bloomington at 8 p.m. on Aug. 27. For more information about Bucher, visit her Web site at: http://www.rochellebucher.com.

This story was written by Tom Fecarotta, a 2007 Master of Arts in Journalism graduate. He can be reached at tfecarot@indiana.edu.

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