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Relationship goals

Rachel Lewis has a new song, 'Just Me,' a new name and life, and lots of plans for the future
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Hitched There was no way Rachel Lewis would stay off the stage at her June wedding. PHOTO submitted

Rachel Lewis (formerly Thom) has had a summer of change and she couldn't be happier.

She was married on June 10 to Derek Lewis, who first spotted her as she sang the national anthem at a Whistler hockey game he was in town to play. They met later, and the rest is history.

"A lot of people assumed I would keep my name as a stage name, but I didn't want to," she says.

And then there is her single "Just Me," which Lewis released on her wedding day.

With rich acoustics and Lewis' honey-smooth vocals, "Just Me" tells the story of the end of an important past relationship and was written four years ago.

"I wrote it just before I went on a big road trip to California with my best friend after ending a five-year relationship. I never released it because it wasn't the right time," she says.

"It was an interesting choice to release it on my wedding day, because the single was about being alone and the marriage was about being united with another person."

"Just Me" is about moving on and living for yourself, something Lewis clearly believes.

"The song is about me needing time to be on my own and do some self-exploration," she says.

The song evolved for Lewis over time.

"They always say that songs are inspired by times when you are in an extreme state of feeling, whether that's when you feel heartbreak and loneliness, or joy and elation," she says.

"They were two very different times in my life, but the single is relatable and relevant to many hearts. To me, as a piece of history in my romantic life, it definitely needed to be released and it was mixed, mastered and ready to go.

"I figured that it would be a good time to release it as I changed my name."

"Just Me" was recorded in Pemberton studio Bunker 7, with Vancouver musician Alexis Mery backing her on guitar.

"I've played with him in the past and he is just fantastic," Lewis says.

"I asked him to come up to Pemberton and I wanted it bare bones. I didn't want to over-produce it."

The ultimate goal is to have enough material for a full album, but Lewis' priority has been performing, which she does as a solo artist and with her band Blame the Weekend.

"I've been so busy, and my focus has been rehearsal time with the band, and learning new stuff for my solo project. There isn't a lot of time for when I find myself thinking, 'Hey, I should write a song!'" she says.

Blame the Weekend, which has been together for over three years, is busy with corporate shows, private parties and weddings, as well as other live shows.

"We just did a party at Dusty's for Hyundai. They had a party for their top sellers. We do shows for people like that, who come from all over the States and Canada," Lewis says.

"Just Me" is available for purchase on iTunes and can be streamed on Lewis' website, www.rachellewismusic.com.