Stephanie Rabus: Finding Strength Through Song

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Stephanie Rabus for a conversation about resilience, perseverance, and what it really looks like to build a music career one performance at a time.Stephanie shares how she balances life between Nashville’s Broadway scene and weekends performing with her longtime cover band, Borderline, in the St. Louis area. We talk about the unique challenges of performing for different audiences, reading a room, developing as a live vocalist, and how every show becomes another opportunity to grow.Our conversation also explores Stephanie’s remarkable personal story. From open-heart surgery as a child to another heart procedure earlier this year, music has been a constant source of purpose and healing throughout her life. We discuss how those experiences shaped songs like “I Told Me So,” and why honest storytelling has become the foundation of everything she writes.Along the way, we dive into Nashville, songwriting, harmony singing, touring as a backup vocalist for Georgette Jones, learning from country music’s rich traditions, and why Stephanie continues to pursue her career entirely on her own terms. It’s an inspiring conversation about resilience, artistry, and believing that your best work may still be ahead of you.Key TakeawaysStephanie balances a demanding schedule between performing regularly on Nashville’s Broadway and traveling to St. Louis for weekend shows with Borderline.Music became both an emotional refuge and a source of confidence after childhood health challenges, including open-heart surgery.Her recent single “I Told Me So” reflects the importance of perseverance and trusting yourself through life’s setbacks.Stephanie discusses lessons learned from an early record deal and why independent artists now have more opportunities than ever.Touring as a harmony singer for Georgette Jones deepened her appreciation for vocal phrasing and supporting another artist’s musical identity.Live performance continues to shape her artistry as she adapts every show to the audience in front of her.New music is already on the horizon, including several upcoming singles and a possible Christmas project.Music from the EpisodePayback's a Beach - Stephanie RabusAbout the PodcastThe Bandwich Tapes is a long-form interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams featuring thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and artists about creativity, craft, collaboration, and the stories behind the music. Each episode goes beyond biography to explore how music is made and the experiences that shape the people who create it.Connect with the ShowEmail: [email protected]