About the music

Champagne Honeybee is singer/ songwriter, Rani Weatherby, her trusty ukuleles, and talented backing band.  Their sound is a mix of contemporary jazz, blues, folk, and ukulele soul.  In June of 2014, they released an EP of original music called "No Love Songs".  The CD release concert packed Rock City Cafe in Snohomish.  They rounded out the year playing acoustic showcases at The Benbow Room, a rockin' set at The Evergreen State Fair, funk jams at Nectar Lounge, comedy nights at The Rendezvous and Feedback Lounge, a sold out Jazz Christmas house show, and many private events.

Media appearances that year included performances and interviews on The Bob Rivers radio show, Sessions of She and Sabrina in Seattle podcasts on Critical Sun Radio.  Their Christmas single, "Kimchi for Christmas", received rave reviews.  Champagne Honeybee was also voted #4 in King 5's 2014 Best of Western Washington Contest, in the Best Local Bands Category. 

2015  brought new experiences and opportunities, including a Spring tour with stops in Moorhead, MN, New York City, New London, CT,  and Philadelphia, PA.  They taped a performance for the television show, "Band in Seattle", which airs on the CW Network, as well as a live performance on Seattle's King 5 Morning News. Performances also included the Seattle Mayor's Arts Awards Ceremony at Seattle Center, Seattle Music Insider's photo exhibition at the Triple Door, Northwest Event Show, and collaboration with Prince's former keyboardist, Dr. Fink, at the Sea Monster Lounge.  A new EP, entitled "Once in a Lifetime", was released on April 1st, 2016.  The year ended with another East Coast tour, and radio and television appearances.  2017 kicked off with a newly acquired partnership with KHS America, as a spokesperson for their new line of Lanikai Ukuleles.  Champagne Honeybee's first album was accepted into Seattle Public Library's online music catalog, and they were voted Best Band For Hire in the Best of Western Washington competition. 

Rani achieved a life-long dream of performing in India, in February of 2018.  She put on a concert through the US Consulate in Kolkata, and was featured on the cover of the Calcutta times.  Upon her return, the story of her musical and personal journey was featured on King 5's Evening television program.  She got the band back together in April of 2018, to record an original radio commercial for Verity Credit Union, which aired on Seattle's Movin' 92.5 FM.  The band is currently recording a full length album, which is scheduled for release in 2020.

Champagne Honeybee has a heart for charitable causes, and has performed at fundraisers for The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, WACAP adoption agency, Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, the YWCA of Snohomish and King County, and rhino conservation programs for the Woodland Park Zoo.  Stay tuned for upcoming projects and events! 

Rani Weatherby is an Indian-born, Washington-raised singer-songwriter and instrumentalist.  Her influences include Elton John, Prince, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Heart, and Chaka Khan, just to name a few.  She began taking piano lessons at age 6, classical voice lessons at age 15, and performed in jazz and chamber choirs in high school and college.  She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Central Washington University in 2005.  That same year, Rani was selected to attend Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead residency in Washington DC, where she performed an original song at the Kennedy Center, backed by a band of her talented peers.  After college, she performed occasionally, and continued to write new music.  In 2011, she sought a simple, portable way to accompany her voice.  She found Lenny, taught herself some chords, and thus began a new chapter in her musical journey. 

About Rani

UPCOMING SHOWS



07/08/20

Rani is pleased to play a solo live stream show for Learning with STYLE, a remote learning program for students. This will be an interactive show with plenty of singing, strumming, and impromptu songwriting! Tune in to their Facebook page at 11am Pacific Time HERE.



08/12/20


Join Champagne Honeybee for the Heart of Bellevue Summer Music Series, streaming live from Downtown Bellevue! Catch the show live from 12pm-1pm Pacific Time, or watch it later on the Bellevue Downtown website HERE.