Latest News

Rachael is now featured on a great compilation of cover songs from the Greenwich Village music era, and performs Joni Mitchell's classic "Both Sides Now." You can get the album (The Village - A Celebration of the Music of Greenwich Village) by going to Amazon right now!

Hi all. As i'm writing the new ones, here are some songs of the past to share. they'll be in rotation with whatever spur of the moment la di das that i think you'd enjoy. xo ry

"Jonah": I had a really hard time with whether or not to put this one on the past record. I love it and it's one of the only songs I've written with 'characters.' There's a tribal vibe to it that I really like. We've only attempted it a few times in a live show, but may bring it out of it's shell again. It's a good one as it's getting colder outside...

jonah
rachael yamagata

produced and mixed by mike mogis
engineer - matthew cullen
add'l engineer - brian smith (glockenspiel)

vox/piano/acoustic guitar - ry
drums - jason boesel
upright bass - catherine popper
nylon guitar - mike bloom
melatron - nate walcott
marimba - nate cambell
glockenspiel - matthew cullen
marimba arranagements - nate walcott

mastered at sterling - ted jensen

5:44 am. Blog time. Pitch black in woodsville and my cats are confused. If I let them out this early they’ll find mice/ coyote find cat. (click "read more" to see the whole thing!)

It’s been a long hot summer. It hasn’t, but I’m getting back into the ‘this is my blog I get to say what I want’ mode. Summer actually flew. Went to loads of weddings this summer. Summerlove in fact long lasting/ Oli’s had the best cake frosting. I’ve learned that I’m a wedding crier. It used to be those mastercard commercials and now it’s weddings. The walk down the aisle, the speeches, toasts – I am no longer safe. Tears upon tears. So much love. And I’m supposed to be writing a record. Dare I let my summer into my song?

The first night I got up here to my little creative hideaway, I heard the slaughter of what I think was a rabbit. Ten minutes of horrid squealing. Coyote won. Not a good sign. Yesterday I caught one of my cats scraping my new song sheet music, that I’d left on the floor, and settling in for a good pee. Not a good sign.

Seriously though, it’s record writing time again and songs are coming. I’m not one to write on tour, so it’s a funny task to sit down and say ‘ write… write now’. It doesn’t work. Or rather, it gets you writing, but not necessarily anything that should ever see the light of day. So, I run down the mountain (that’s how I got ‘elephants’ – don’t worry – no more animal songs, only animal blogs), watch dvds (sex and the city – 2nd time through the whole series), venture to town (when I’m not feeling agoraphobic), read books, watch the news and finally bed by 8pm. 987 unanswered emails haunt me daily through all of this and I’m getting old enough to know that I am just not a multitasker if writing is on the docket. Dwindling friendships hang in the air because of this and I fear most folk assume I’m roaming sunset blvd at fancy parties and hipster bars. I’m not. I’m biting my nails and staring at trees. Image be gone I’ve said too much.

I hate the phone. I haatttteee the phone. My cell phone died three days ago and I have no desire to get a new one. I mistakenly dropped it out a 5 story window and it still survived, but thankfully it’s now dead. I fear the phone. I cannot even order take out. Seriously, someone else has to do it. I can tweet, but no take out eat. I fear the ‘mean’ stranger at the other end. Ridiculous, but true. Something about stranger anger that really gets me. A few weeks ago I was driving and someone yelled out ‘asshole’ as I was going through a stop sign. For the blog record – I got there first, it was my turn to go. I almost drove after the guy to get closure. Not road rage. More like road depression. Let’s make up now so this doesn’t haunt me in the middle of the night stuck in the woods and surrounded by coyotes.

Back to the music, I’m loving the new Bat for Lashes record as well as Regina Spektor’s. Regina has a song about god that I would’ve traded a cat to have written. I’m watching Salem Witch trial specials and wondering if I could write something as compelling about the Puritans.

And that’s the news from this end. I wish I could hint to you more about my own next record, but so far it runs the gamet from a rap about trinkets to a poem about healthcare. A toast to all who are in love, and maybe a tear – hooray for the lightest of blogs in a world overcome with fear. Keep loving your cats, keep eating your cake, and come out with a record – whatever it takes.

Xoxoxo
R

Tune in to ABC this Thursday night at 9pm to hear "Brown Eyes" on this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Hi everybody! Hope summer is going well and beautiful for all. I'm back in the woods in hibernation to write for the next record, but we're doing one important show so please spread the word! My friend Irena is hosting a benefit for her father who has needed mounds of hospital care and we're pitching in to help support. For anyone who has ever suffered the limitations of health care available, you know what I mean. Check out the attached flyer for more details. If you are in Chicago, or have friends in the city, please do come out! This will also be the first double bill we'll be doing with BUMPUS! They are the fab band that I started in back in the day and taught me all I ever needed to know about live performance. I'm so excited for you to see us reunited. Be well and hope to see you there! xoxox r

Tune into 30 Rock next Thursday May 14 at 9:30pm on NBC for a surprise appearance by Rachael! (Check local listings).

RY will be playing a free show for National Train Day in Philadelphia at 1pm on Saturday May 9th, 2009.

You can find details here:
http://www.nationaltrainday.com/2009/events/philadelphia

Check out this podcast interview and performance of RY from KIRO [Seattle].

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=140&cmsid=93

This link takes you to last night's podcasts. Rachael was the 9pm hour.

Rachael has just started using twitter! Start following her at twitter.com/rachaelyamagata now for fun stuff.

Rachael just played a show in Milwaukee on March 24th, and there are some great pictures in the photo section of this site. Take a peep.