Rebecca Aadland is a storyteller with a voice as captivating as her journey — a lifetime of observing, reflecting, and pouring all those lessons into music that resonates on a deep, personal level. This Minneapolis-based artist has lived through layers of love, loss, and reinvention, and her latest album, Stronger Broken, embodies a beautiful, bittersweet paradox: it’s the product of a heart mended by grief, finding its way back to wholeness through the power of song.
Rebecca’s story begins in Absarokee, Montana, the seventh child in a family of ten. Music was woven into her upbringing; her father was a minister and a pipe organ builder, and her mother the church organist. “Harmony wasn’t just encouraged; it was a family requirement,” Rebecca quips. Growing up surrounded by music, she developed an early fascination with themes of family, psychology, and religion, sensing how these forces shape the human journey. With a background that combined music and psychology, Rebecca has devoted her life to understanding and sharing these connections, first as a teacher, then as a psychotherapist and public speaker.
Her musical path took an unexpected turn in the ’80s when she joined an all-girl cover band, complete with big hair and an equally bold spirit. Yet, she was destined for more than covers. Rebecca earned her degree in music, specializing in voice and music education, and went on to teach choral music for fourteen years. During this time, her passion for helping others led her to pursue a master’s degree in psychology, which paved the way for a second career as a psychotherapist.
After a pivotal personal transformation in 2001, Rebecca took the leap to redefine her life and follow her true calling in songwriting. Her 2007 debut album, Foreign Soul, marked her arrival as a folk/pop artist with a gift for soulful storytelling. Two years later, she was a Midwest Regional Finalist in the New Song Contest, earning recognition for her candid, introspective songwriting.
A crucial part of Rebecca’s musical journey was her marriage to Dr. Brian Tillotson, who became both her partner in life and music. Together, they worked on Stronger Broken, an album that would ultimately become a tribute to Brian’s memory. In a heart-wrenching twist, Brian passed away from sudden cardiac arrest the very day they completed the final touches on the album. Rebecca, heartbroken yet resilient, released the album as a labor of love in June 2022. The title, Stronger Broken, now echoes with added significance, a reflection of the strength Rebecca found in the midst of heartbreak.
The album itself is a collection of soulful, layered songs recorded with some of the Twin Cities’ finest musicians. Dik Shopteau handled the engineering, and Greg Reierson, known for his work with legends like Prince and Jonny Lang, mastered it. The music spans folk, rock, and blues, with standout contributions from drummer Greg Schutte, guitarist Kurt Jorgensen, and cellist Jacqueline Ultan. Each track offers listeners a glimpse into Rebecca’s world, exploring love, loss, and transformation with raw honesty. From the tender “I’ll Walk With You” to the poignant “Broken Pieces” and the introspective “Twist in the Plot,” Stronger Broken speaks to anyone searching for a way forward after life-altering changes
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Beyond the music, Rebecca is a woman of many talents and interests — a potter, painter, gardener, mother, and grandmother. She has lived a life deeply attuned to both art and healing, using her music to touch hearts and connect people. Her return to performing marks a new chapter, as she steps back into the world with fresh songs and the courage to keep telling her story. Fans who attend her concerts are treated not just to her soulful music but to her warmth, humor, and unguarded honesty — a rare combination that invites listeners to find strength in their own broken places.
Rebecca Aadland’s Stronger Broken isn’t just an album; it’s a journey. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to pick up the pieces and press on, finding themselves stronger and more whole for having done so. For those in need of a soundtrack to accompany their own stories of resilience, Stronger Broken is a gift. It reminds us all that sometimes, in the breaking, we find our truest, most unbreakable selves.
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