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Nathanson:
Rachael Yamagata
Rachael Yamagata would defend you in a bar fight and then invite everyone out to stargaze in the parking lot. Sheʼs 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 — sheʼs 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.
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. Sheʼs performed for President Obama and Deepak Chopra, been a featured artist on NPR, and has over 38 million streams on Spotify. Sheʼs 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 sheʼs got more to say.
Over his almost 30 year career, Matt Nathanson has evolved into one of the most applauded songwriters and engaging performers on the music scene today. His sixth studio album, Some Mad Hope, yielded his breakthrough multi-platinum hit “Come on Get Higher.” He followed up with Modern Love, a critically acclaimed album (PopMatters called it “the closest a pop album comes to perfection this year”) that garnered Nathanson two RIAA Gold Certified singles, “Faster” & “Run (featuring Sugarland)”. His 2013 release, Last of The Great Pretenders, debuted at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 while hitting #1 on iTunesʼ Alternative Albums chart. His most recent album, Sings His Sad Heart spawned the hit single “Used To Be” which was a chart climber - hitting top 20 at Adult
Top 40. Throughout his career, Nathanson has been known to cover songs and artists that inspire him. His Def Leppard approved cover album of their iconic Pyromania, called Pyromattia, shot to #1 on iTunes Alternative chart and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott called the album “an amazing reinterpretation” with “heart & soul.” Last year he covered U2’s Achtung Baby as a tribute to his all time favorite album. His holiday LP Farewell December, includes "Blue Christmas” to “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” — as well as his somber take on Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Nathanson has performed on The Howard Stern Show, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Dancing with the Stars, Rachael Ray, and The CMA Awards to name a few.