Rachel Arieff's Artistic Bio     Español

Rachel Arieff was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She began her career as a standup comedian in Austin, Texas. After a few years, Rachel moved to New York City. Influenced by the experimental scene there, she branched off into more theatrical one-person shows, joining the vanguard of “alternative comedians” pushing the envelope of American comedy in the late 1990’s.

Later, she began combining standup with her songwriting and piano skills to create her own form of "extreme cabaret" -- a lounge act with an edge. Seated at the piano in a cozy cabaret atmosphere, Rachel’s performances took on a more intimate tone and created a new wave of fans who enjoyed her charmingly simple songs with brutally satirical lyrics.

While drawing her material from readily available, hot-button American social issues (sex, guns, porn, domestic violence, sex, sex, and sex) Rachel draws inspiration from her own colorful life experiences as well. Some of these topics are covered on her CD, and others in her one-woman comedy show of the same title, "How to Be Happy All the Time". In 2003, the L.A. Weekly deemed her weekly comedy/lounge show Discotown! "The Best Sunday Night Comedy Show in L.A.”.

Though Rachel appeared in the movie Clockstoppers and the NBC standup comedy hour Late Friday, her passion is live performance. She’s appeared in the such respected festivals as the New York International Fringe Festival, Juste pour rire in Montreal, and the Chicago Comedy Festival. Besides performing in clubs in Austin, L.A., and New York, Rachel has crossed the Atlantic and performs throughout Europe from her home base in Barcelona.

Once a month in Madrid and Barcelona, Rachel presents her critically-acclaimed standup show, "Cómo ser feliz todo el tiempo".

Rachel is also the creator of the notorious rock-n-roll karaoke sideshow, Anti-Karaoke, which she presents every Monday night at the Apolo club in Barcelona, as well as once a month at the El Sol club in Madrid.