Rachael Yamagata Hitting the Road with Her New Tour: Songs – Stories – Solo

Rachael Yamagata is Someone You Should know

Interview Conducted on January 23, 2018

By Daniel Locke

Rachael Yamagata has reunited with Happenstance producer, John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, Liz Phair) for her third studio album Chesapeake, the follow up to her heralded 2 CD Set Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart.

Praised by critics for her intimately confessional songwriting and arrangements, Rachael released her last album, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart on Warner Bros. Records in October of 2008. Entertainment Weekly called her delivery “Gorgeous” and Rolling Stone said her “soulful, cigarette-scratched voice and melancholy lyrics recall Fiona Apple and PJ Harvey.” She toured extensively in support of the album playing to crowds throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Songs from the album appeared in various television programs and films including Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters and more. She also made an appearance in the season finale of 30 Rock in 2009. – FB

Rachael and John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) did the song Let’s Begin Again’ for Robert Altman documentary, featured in the opening scene and end credits of the documentary.

Unratedmagazine: How did you start your musical career? And your beginning with the band Bumpus?

Rachael Yamagata:I always music theater in high school so began performing in those productions. I’d had one year of piano lessons when I was twelve and would write little spontaneous songs off the cuff, but never thought of pursuing music as a career. I met the guys in Bumpus in college and trailed them around bringing coffee to rehearsal and such until finally they needed a third harmony on something and there I was.

You studied at Northwestern University in Chicago, then Vassar, then Northwestern again, studying French, Italian

and opera in addition to your theatrical pursuits. How have those experiences helped your

musical career?

They were stops on a map to a life I couldn’t have predicted really. I left NU because I wanted a change, found theater at Vassar, but the instructor I loved left the next year so I went back to pursue theater at NU. I love languages, but was really trying to get into a study abroad program to get out of school, or at least be in another country. That didn’t happen and then I was basically kicked out of acting class because I was all over the place as a student, but got into the acting program for opera students. School was not my forte, but being flexible and channeling my creativity into music became my life. Now I travel and can order bread in French and Italian and the opera background helps my vocal exercises for certain.

Tell me about the development of your musical style?

It’s forever changing. I think the best we can do is find our authentic voice, listen to our instincts, study the best, steal when you can and play.

You have collaborated with a lot of artist over the years. Who was your favorite and who did you learned the most from?

I could never pick a fav because I’ve been so fortunate in that respect. I will say that my first touring experience was with Liz Phair and I still feel like she was a master class in performing, being her own CEO, grace under pressure with her fans, band and family… All of it was amazing to watch and I learned a lot.

You are about to start This Song-Stories-Solo Tour. How did this come about?

I wanted to do a round of touring solo to challenge myself and also give my audience a new show. I’ve never done a tour like

Rachael Yamagata at the Metro

this, but I’ve always had fans ask about it – something intimate with just myself and a piano and guitar. This will be that tour and it’ll be a nice send off to the older songs before I go back into the studio to work on new material.

How were the openers picked for the tour?

I’ve chosen artists that are either starting their own solo work or coming back to it. They are all folks that I believe in that I’ve played with before and in a sense it will be like a road trip tour where I meet up with different good friends along the way.

Do you prefer writing with guitar or piano?

Both.

If someone was listening to you for the first time, what 3 videos or songs would you tell them to look/listen to and why?

‘Elephants’, ‘Sunday Afternoon’ and ‘Nobody’ (From the album TIGHTROPE WALKER  2016)would be a good first listen.

How do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

With more cats.

Anything in closing you would like to say?

Be kind and follow your heart. Xoxo r

Thank for chatting with Unratedmagazine…..

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