Rachael Yamagata has reunited with Happenstance producer, John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, Liz Phair) and is putting the finishing touches on her new studio album, the follow up to her heralded 2 CD Set Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart. Yamagata will self release the album this Fall.
"When I say in the studio, I mean Alagia's house that we've reconverted into one," said Yamagata. "We've shipped gear, borrowed microphones, amps, guitars, and a grand piano that is living in his bedroom because that's where we get the best sound. We've housed vox mics in his shower for some natural reverb, and stuck cellos in wads of duck tape so as not to slip on the floor."
Yamagata recruited her "dream team" consisting of Victor Indrizzo (Sheryl Crow) on drums, guitarists Mike Viola (Candy Butchers), Michael Chaves (John Mayer), and Kevin Salem, (Dump Truck, Yo La Tengo), cellist Oli Kraus (Sia, Duffy) and Tom Freund on the upright bass.
For the album, Yamagata has teamed up with PledgeMusic (
www.pledgemusic.com), the leading international direct-to-fan platform for musicians raising funds to record and tour. Starting today, July 7th, fans can visit her PledgeMusic page here:
www.pledgemusic.com/projects/rachaelyamagata.
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.
Yamagata emerged in 2005 when songs from Happenstance and her self-titled debut EP, turned up in such films and television shows as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, In Her Shoes, Prime, How I Met Your Mother, Nip/Tuck, One Tree Hill, and The O.C., on which she made a guest performance. The single "Worn Me Down" was a Top 5 Hit at AAA Radio. She also appeared on albums by Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Jason Mraz, Bright Eyes, and Mandy Moore. Her tours have included runs with Adams, LaMontagne, Moore, Liz Phair, Gomez, and Sara Bareilles, as well as playing shows with Pete Townsend, Aimee Mann, David Gray, Damien Rice, and Air.
This August, Yamagata will appear on the soundtrack to The Muppets with her version of Gonzo's "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday."
