Rachael Yamagata is a singer and songwriter with a diverse career. She has released numerous albums, had record label deals, and toured globally with sell-out concerts. Her fan base continues to grow, and she has made appearances on shows like Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Carson Daly, 30 Rock, One Life to Live, and The O.C. She has also been profiled by NPR and appeared in Sony Pictures' "To Write Love on Her Arms." Her songs have been featured in TV shows such as NCIS: New Orleans, Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, Alias, How I Met Your Mother, and movies including Hope Springs, Prime, Monster-in-Law, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In 2012, she was nominated for Best Female Vocal by the Chicago Music Awards.
Yamagata has opened for artists like Patti Smith, David Gray, and Pete Townsend. She has performed at notable venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, SXSW Austin City Limits Glastonbury Bonnaroo.
She performed with Bette Midler and Sheryl Crow at Senator Harry Reid’s 2008 fundraiser for President Obama; at the White House Cherry Blossom Festival for First Lady Michelle Obama; twice at Deepak Chopra’s ‘Sages and Scientists’ Symposium; as part of the R.E.M. tribute concert; with Steve Earle and Allen Toussaint for the Woodie Guthrie tribute; collaborated with artists including Toots and the Maytals Ryan Adams Ray LaMontagne Conor Oberst Jason Mraz Katherine McPhee Australia’s The Voice winner Karise Eden reached #1 with her song ‘You Won’t Let Me.’
She was invited by the White House to take part in its Official White House ‘Tweet Up’ in the West Wing with fans. She was one of Chopra’s music playlist selections featured on Oprah Winfrey’s website.
Artist Gregory Colbert asked Yamagata to be a guest vocalist on his upcoming project "Ashes and Snow," which is known as the most attended solo exhibition by any living artist in history.
Yamagata collaborated with John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) covering director Robert Altman’s song ‘Let’s Begin Again,’ featured in the documentary Altman (2014). Medeski commented: “Rachael blew my mind with her performance. She’s a natural jazz singer.”
Her fans include people from various walks of life such as spiritual healers helicopter pilots military women hostage negotiators heads of television networks single mothers. They often share how her music helped them through difficult times.
Famed Korean photographer Jungman Kim calls Yamagata ‘his muse,’ while writer/journalist/broadcaster Katherine Lanpher cites her as the only twice-invited guest of Barnes & Noble's series “Upstairs at the Square.”
On the business front Yamagata was a guest speaker at 2013 Chicago Ideas Week profiled in two separate Topspin Berklee School of Music marketing classes using her Pledge Music DIY campaigns as course curriculum.
Yamagata defies traditional singer/songwriter stereotypes working without management representation for four years now. Her discography includes Heavyweight EP (2012), Noisetrade Mixtape (2012), Chesapeake (2011), Elephants (2008), Loose Ends EP (2007), Live at the Loft (2005), Happenstance (2004), Rachael Yamagata: EP (2001).
Her latest album "Tightrope Walker" is slated for a fall 2015 release showcasing her ability to articulate humanity's struggles within relationships celebrating what we face alone head-on. The production is described as riskier cinematic compared to Tom Waits Roberta Flack Nick Cave Rufus Wainwright reflecting her versatile artistry proving that individuals are never simplistic but full of surprises.