Music Without Labels

A conversation with Nat Timmerman, the creator of Rabbitology 

The crowd's energy was palpable the moment Rabbitology took the stage. They were opening for The Oh Hellos, but the cheers after (and during) each song were more reminiscent of a headlining act than an opener.

Nat Timmerman is the creative genius behind Rabbitology, the folk-horror band that defies genre expectations. While she's still a senior at the University of Michigan, taking part-time classes, she's also embarked on her first-ever tours this year— opening for Madilyn Mei and now touring with The Oh Hellos.  

The Oh Hellos were an artist Timmerman regularly listened to in high school, and she drew a lot of inspiration for her creative writing from their music, so it's a full-circle moment to be supporting them on tour. 

"It's very surreal to be here with people who have very much inspired my creativity," Timmerman said. "At the end of the day, we're all just this web of inspiration for each other."

Timmerman certainly knows how to put on a show, with just herself and a guitarist, she transports audiences into her creative world. Her music perfectly balances mundane universal experiences with a fantastical folk element. 

For example, 'Millie, Warm the Kettle' is a metaphor for experience with mental illness, and the lyricism is incredible. It includes the line, "I'm tossin' turnin' in an open grave," which is both metaphorical and relatable.  Another of her songs, 'Wolf House,' is about being a protective sibling. Once again, it showcases her unique writing style and highlights their ability to tell a fantastical story that is relatable to listeners everywhere. 

"When it comes to saying things directly, I struggle with that, so being able to do it through metaphor, I feel like I get more out of myself than if I were to directly say it," Timmerman said. 

One of the hallmarks of Rabbitology's set was the unique instrumentation. Since so many of these songs were created in Timmerman's dorm, she didn't have proper instruments, so she had to improvise using everything from an apple to raw chicken to create the music. In fact, she had the most unique opening to her set I've ever seen, taking a large bite out of an apple, showcasing how she used that to create her music. 

Another distinctive aspect of Rabbitology’s music is that it's nearly impossible to pinpoint their genre—it includes elements of folk, electronic, folklore, and horror. That's precisely the way that Timmerman wants it, she isn't seeking to fit neatly into a box in music or in life. 

"My music doesn't fit into a box,” they said. “I feel like that kind of connects my identity… I don't try to fit within a label.” 

If the cheers and audience participation are any indication, Timmerman's unique genre-bending style is resonating with listeners far and wide. One concert attendee even mentioned that because of their amazing set, they were going to go home and listen to all of Rabbitology's discography. 

The future looks bright for Rabbitology, with unique music, excellent live vocals, and a stage presence that leads to audience participation; they're only going to continue to grow from here. For Timmerman, though, the first order of business is focusing on the tour they're currently on. However, they mentioned that they're sitting on some cool things that they can't wait to share with listeners in the future.