Rachael Yamagata would defend you in a bar fight and then invite everyone out to stargaze in the parking lot. She’s a wilderness guide for wanderers, a galactic diplomat, a dreamscape designer, a heartache survivalist, a pioneer.
She speaks to the misfits, the soul searchers, the silent types longing to be cracked open. Her hardcore fans find her for the major surgeries of life, finding refuge in the dissonant beauty of her chord progressions and songwriting that cuts to the bone. A vocal shapeshifter, she delivers live shows that spark both playful giddiness and profound catharsis. But Yamagata is not here to heal you—she’s here to show you how to heal yourself.
Each record has marked a graduation for pivotal life moments. ‘Happenstance’ (2004) chronicled romantic heartaches. ‘Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart’ (2008) delved deeper into loss and broken promises, ushering in the confidence of ‘Chesapeake’ (2011). Going DIY, Yamagata found freedom, mixing lighter love songs with deep dives into what threatens and ultimately strengthens us. ‘Tightrope Walker’ (2016) expanded into resilience, empowerment, and forgiveness.
Her new record (yet to be titled) emerges from this lineage with a dare: sink or swim. Grounded by soul-stirring lyrics like “All of our best laid plans washed away like plastic in the sand” (“Empty Houses”) it also winks at new dimensions, suggesting worlds beyond our reach with “The galaxy members are waiting for us/ they learn from our failures and they’re sending us love” (“Galaxy”). This new record sees Yamagata as an emotional archivist, chronicling loneliness and connection and urging us to see our breaking points as opportunities to build something new.
Yamagata has earned her place amongst our top songwriters and vocalists, paving the way for the whispered intimacy of Billie Eilish and intertwining her own gravel and quirk. She will strip production bare on one track and build a story around orchestral arrangements in the next – whatever packs the greater punch. And she does it all with a tell-it-like-it-is honesty that can melt you in the moment and then become an anthem for life. Admirers of PJ Harvey and Fiona Apple find in Yamagata a kindred soul who dances on the line between tenderness and bold defiance, but whose sound is wholly her own. Mix in the songwriting honesty of Bruce Springsteen, the brooding flair of Rufus Wainwright, the gritty poetry of Lucinda Williams and you might come closer to pinning her down.
Having earned wide critical acclaim and sold over 400,000 records, she has headlined world tours and made numerous television appearances. She’s performed for President Obama and Deepak Chopra, been a featured artist on NPR, and has over 38 million streams on Spotify. She’s played Madison Garden, Carnegie Hall and collaborated with a diverse spectrum of artists including Conor Oberst, Mandy Moore, Ray Lamontagne, and Toots and the Maytals.
As we collectively face a reckoning with our planet and ourselves, Yamagata has been watching. And she’s got more to say.
“Along with the bad-assery, Yamagata brings a world-weary passion to her singing. Her voice is a soul-baring, sultry instrument that commands center stage at all times. She has that deliberate, I’ll-sing-the-note-when-I’m-ready pacing that helped make Amy Winehouse great, and before her Billie Holliday.” Associated Press
“Finally, an heir to Bonnie Raitt.” – NPR
“Catchy and engaging, but consistently smart to boot” — Mother Jones
“Yamagata’s voice is superb at evoking languid heartache” – Uncut
