Getting Creative with Musician Rachel Trachtenburg

Rachel Trachtenburg is one of the coolest girls we know in New York City. This December she’s turning sweet sixteen (happy birthday, Rachel!) and doing so much for animals and the planet — all from her apartment, where she produces her own TV show on YouTube! It’s called “Rachel Trachtenburg’s Homemade World.” She’s also in a band with her parents and plays six different instruments! And she loves Farm Sanctuary!

We had the chance to interview Rachel and pick her brain on all sorts of fun topics. Read on and get ideas for how to help animals when you’re stuck indoors on a dreary day this winter — whether you’re making vegan food, animal-friendly crafts or songs about animals!

Farm Sanctuary: Tell us a little about yourself and what you like to do for fun.

Rachel: I love going to shows … I also really enjoy staying at home and cooking with my Mom and working on arts and crafts projects or my homemade pigeon hair clips, which I sell at shows.

Farm Sanctuary: The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players (your family’s band) sounds so neat. In a nutshell, what do you all do?

Rachel: We are a real family band — Mother, Father, Daughter. I play the drums, my Dad plays guitar and piano, and my Mom operates the slide projector. Here is what we do … We find old slide collections and write songs about what is happening in the slides.

Farm Sanctuary: What’s it like being in a band with your parents?

Rachel: It can sometimes be hard being in a family band, because we spend all of our time together. But for the most part, we have a lot of fun. I also sometimes am able to bring a friend my own age with us on tour, which makes it a LOT more fun!!!

Farm Sanctuary: Where do you find inspiration for your songs, outfits and videos?

Rachel: My Dad writes most of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players' songs. My Mom and I get our inspiration from the 60s and 70s. All of our clothes and everything in our home is either homemade or vintage/used. We do not believe in sweatshops, so we try our best not to buy anything that we do not need. But, I do very much believe in sweet shops.

(Sweatshops are where kids like you are made to work in very bad conditions. Sweet shops sell candy, so they are okay!)

Farm Sanctuary: We hear you’re doing a couple of new things, like “Rachel Trachtenburg’s Homemade World.” How cool is it to have your own show?!?!

Rachel: “Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World” is our kids’ TV show! In the newest episode I make a new friend, Gerald. (He is a mouse who lives in our apartment.) Gerald turns the color of whatever he eats! The sets are made of 100% recycled materials! If there is something that means a lot to us, then we always put it in the show, such as not killing bugs that are in your home — just put them in a cup and take them outside.

Farm Sanctuary: You sing about animals on your show. Tell us about that.

Rachel: Right now my animal songs are about city animals, because I see them every day. I wrote the “Black Cat” song after we found out that black cats are euthanized four times as often as other-colored cats at shelters, because people think that they are bad luck. Maybe my next song will be about farm animals!  
 
Farm Sanctuary: Speaking of animals, whom do you share your home with?

Rachel: We have two Chihuahuas! Their names are Munchkin and Crunchkin. Munchkin is a girl, and Crunchkin is a boy. They are boyfriend and girlfriend. Munchkin loves giving kisses to Crunchkin, but he really hates it! They are both rescues from the Harlem pound. Animals are a part of our family, because we love them so much! Crunchkin even has a solo/barking in my new dance song "Supercute." My Mom and Dad are both allergic to cats. If they weren’t, we would probably have ten cats! We sometimes foster stray cats and find good homes for them.

Farm Sanctuary: We’ve heard through the grapevine that your whole family is vegetarian — that’s amazing! Why is being vegetarian important to you?

Rachel: I love all animals, and eating them does not make any sense at all! They have feelings just like you and me!

Farm Sanctuary: Do you have any words of wisdom to share with the Farm Sanctuary Kidz Clubbers?

Rachel: It's important to be kind to all animals. And if you ever see someone being mean to any kind of animal, always stick up for the animal, because you are their voice!

And here is one of Rachel’s favorite veggie recipes she’d like to share with you. Be sure to get help from an adult in order to make it! And be sure to catch her show on YouTube!

Fried Tofu Recipe...

Ingredients
1 - 2 pounds fresh tofu
1/3 - 1/2 cup Braggs Liquid Aminos
2 - 3 cloves fresh garlic
canola oil
1/2 cup flour (white, wheat or spelt)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast

Directions
Cut fresh tofu into cubes.
Put tofu in Braggs Liquid Aminos.
Crush garlic into the mix.
Let marinate for 10 - 15 minutes.
Preheat cast-iron pan (if you have one) with canola oil. Use enough oil to fry the tofu cubes.
In one bowl pour flour.
In another bowl pour nutritional yeast.
Dip and roll tofu cubes in flour, then yeast.
Pan-fry for 5 - 8 minutes, flipping often, until crispy, brown and delicious.
Garnish with jalapenos, salt and pepper to taste.