Ingrid Michaelson

Biography

Ingrid Ellen Michaelson (born December 8, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 2006 single "The Way I Am×The Way I Am28 November 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1The Way I Am2:132Far Away3:04" and her 2014 single "Girls Chase Boys×Girls Chase Boys2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Girls Chase Boys", both of which achieved success on Billboard's Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts, and received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She has released eight independent albums.

Early life

Ingrid Ellen Michaelson was born on December 8, 1979, in Stapleton, Staten Island. Her father, Carl Michaelson, was a manager of copyrights for the publishing company Carl Fischer Music and a composer on the side. Her mother, Elizabeth Egbert was a sculptor of Dutch ancestry.
As a child, Michaelson performed in a musical theatre group called Staten Island Kids On Stage. She took up piano at age four, and trained until age seven at Manhattan's Third Street Music School. She continued piano at the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island's Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute. While there, she met vocal coach Elizabeth McCullough, who worked with her through high school.
Michaelson is a graduate of Staten Island Technical High School and Binghamton University, where she received a degree in theater. While at Binghamton University, she was a member of the Binghamtonics, a co-ed a cappella group; the Pappy Parker Players, an improv comedy group; and the theatre repertory company under Sue Peters.

2004–08: Slow the Rain and Girls and Boys

While living on Staten Island and mainly busking in Lower Manhattan, Michaelson self-released her debut album Slow the Rain×Slow the Rain11 January 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Let Go3:262Around You4:053Charlie3:394Porcelain Fists3:485Morning Lullabies4:156Empty Bottle3:597Mosquito3:518A Bird’s Song3:249I’ll See You in My Dreams4:15 on January 10, 2005.
In 2006, Michaelson independently released her second album, Girls and Boys×Girls and Boys16 May 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Die Alone4:212Masochist4:113Breakable3:104The Hat3:465The Way I Am2:156Overboard4:067Glass3:048Starting Now4:539Corner of Your Heart3:0710December Baby5:5311Highway3:5112Far Away3:04. The album, like her previous music, was streamed on Myspace. A music producer from the ABC drama Grey's Anatomy found her music online. After being contacted by the music producer, Michaelson began to be approached by several record companies. Wanting to retain all of the rights she had as an independent artist, Michaelson developed a deal with Original Signal Recordings, acting as the marketing and distribution arm for Michaelson's label. Through Original Signal, Michaelson re-released Girls and Boys into mainstream marketing on September 18, 2007. It peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard charts and received positive reviews from critics. "The Way I Am×The Way I Am28 November 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1The Way I Am2:132Far Away3:04", a song from the album, was featured in an Old Navy commercial. In less than 3 weeks, more than 65 appearances in prime-time had been made, including 17 season premieres. In 2007, Ingrid played her first Holiday Hop, an annual Christmas concert in New York City.
In 2006, Michaelson teamed up with William Fitzsimmons on his album Goodnight, which was released that same year.

2008–10: Be OK, Everybody, and Human Again

In October 2008, Michaelson released her third album, and first compilation album, Be OK×Be OK19 August 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Be OK2:27, a charity record to support cancer research. In December 2008, Michaelson and Sara Bareilles released "Winter Song." The song was featured on The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs, a compilation of holiday tracks sung by a lineup of female singer-songwriters. Michaelson and Bareilles performed "Winter Song" for Barack Obama and his family at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in December 2010.

In 2009, Michaelson released her fourth album, Everybody×Everybody25 August 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Soldier3:382Everybody3:303Are We There Yet3:524Sort Of3:215Incredible Love3:546The Chain3:007Mountain and the Sea3:348Men of Snow4:339So Long3:1410Once Was Love3:3611Locked Up3:5712Maybe3:14. Everybody debuted on No. 18 on the Billboard charts. It features the single "Maybe×Maybe14 July 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Maybe3:13".
In 2010, Michaelson co-wrote the song "Parachute×Parachute14 September 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Parachute3:19" with Marshall Altman for British singer Cheryl Cole. It was featured on Cole's debut solo album 3 Words, peaking at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. Michaelson initially believed the track was "so poppy" that she could not release it herself. However, after the song was reworked by "Everybody" producer Dan Romer to make a more "interesting, funky production", Michaelson released the song as a personal single.
On January 24, 2012, Michaelson released her fifth album, Human Again×Human Again14 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Fire3:202This Is War3:193Do It Now3:164I’m Through3:275Blood Brothers3:126Black and Blue3:377Ribbons3:278How We Love3:339Palm of Your Hand3:1110Ghost4:0111In the Sea3:1812Keep Warm3:1813End of the World3:4214Save Me2:2415Always You2:12. Human Again debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard chart and received positive reviews, with critics praising the album's unique sound. To promote the album, Michaelson embarked on The Human Again Tour, with three North American legs, and one international leg.
In 2012, with her husband and fellow musician Greg Laswell, Michaelson co-wrote and sang the duet "Landline", which appeared on his album of the same name.
In September 2012, she was featured in a campaign called "30 Songs / 30 Days" to support Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a multi-platform media project inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book.

2014–2017: Lights Out, It Doesn't Have To Make Sense, Alter Egos, and The Great Comet

On February 4, 2014, Michaelson released the lead single, "Girls Chase Boys×Girls Chase Boys2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Girls Chase Boys", from her album Lights Out×Lights Out15 April 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Home4:242Girls Chase Boys3:41303. Wonderful Unknown5:024You Got Me3:145Warpath2:286Handsome Hands3:377Time Machine3:338One Night Town3:159Open Hands4:0710Ready To Lose3:3311Stick3:3612Afterlife4:0513Over You4:4314Everyone Is Gonna Love Me Now5:1715My Darling16(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascall You17When I Go. The song reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Afterlife" and "Time Machine" were released as the second and third singles.

On April 25, 2014, Lights Out was released. The deluxe edition, which was released in November later that year, contains an additional six bonus tracks.
On April 29, 2016, Michaelson released the song "Hell No×Hell No29 April 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hell No2:54". It served as the lead single from her seventh studio album, It Doesn't Have to Make Sense, which was released on August 26, 2016. In July, she released a second video of "Hell No", which incorporates members of the Deaf West theater company performing the lyrics in American Sign Language. In support of the album, Michaelson embarked on the Hell No Tour beginning in Cincinnati on October 6, 2016.
In 2016, Michaelson and AJR co-wrote their single "The Lotto×The Lotto30 September 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Lotto3:14". AJR would go on to support Michaelson on the Hell No Tour.
On May 12, 2017, Michaelson released the five-track EP Alter Egos×Alter Egos12 May 2017 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Whole Lot of Heart3:352I Remember Her3:093Drink You Gone3:454Miss America3:395Celebrate3:18. It consists of re-worked songs from It Doesn't Have to Make Sense with guest vocalists on each track. The EP featured collaborations with Sara Bareilles, Tegan and Sara, AJR, Lucius, and The Civil Wars' John Paul White.
In 2017, Michaelson contributed "Smallest Light" and "Stay Right Where You Are" to the soundtrack for the film The Space Between Us.
Michaelson made her Broadway debut playing the role of Sonya Rostova in the musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 from July 3 to August 13, 2017.

2018–2021: Songs for the Season and Stranger Songs

Michaelson made her film debut in the comedy film Humor Me alongside co-stars Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould, which was released January 12, 2018.
On October 26, 2018, Michaelson released a Christmas album called Ingrid Michaelson's Songs for the Season. On the album, Michaelson collaborated with Christina Perri, Grace VanderWaal, Leslie Odom Jr., and Will Chase. The deluxe version of the album was released in 2021 and features collaborations with Jason Mraz and Zooey Deschanel. Ingrid and Jason Mraz originally released "Christmas Valentine" as an Amazon Original single on November 14, 2019, before the song was added to the deluxe version of Songs for the Season in 2021.
On May 10, 2019, she released "Missing You×Missing You10 May 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Missing You2:55", which served as the lead single off of her ninth studio album, Stranger Songs×Stranger Songs28 June 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Freak Show3:122Young and in Love3:283Hey Kid3:534Hate You3:295Jealous3:086Missing You2:557Best Friend2:468Mother3:419Christmas Lights3:1010Pretty2:5611Take Me Home3:4712Boy Behind the Camera3:5813Friends Don’t Lie3:26. Michaelson first announced the album in January 2018, writing that it would be inspired by the Netflix series Stranger Things. The album was released on June 28, 2019.
In 2020, Ingrid featured on an acoustic version of Ben Rector's song "It Would Be You." In 2021, Ingrid Michaelson collaborated with British-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik on the single "To Begin Again," which released on March 17.
Michaelson has scored songs for television, circa 2020, including Little Fires Everywhere (Emmy nominated) and Tiny Beautiful Things (both for Hulu), and was executive music producer for Apple TV+’s Slumberkins, creating original songs for the series. Michaelson was seen as a guest star in Season 3 of Netflix’s Girls5Eva, and starred in the 2017 indie film Humor Me alongside co-stars Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould.
In July 2020, Michaelson was nominated for her first Emmy Award in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for the song "Build it Up×Build It Up17 July 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Build It Up3:49", written specifically for the finale of Hulu's miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. Michaelson partnered with collaborators Juan Ariza and Gabriel Mann to compose an original song "Not Gone," a cover of "Closer to Fine" and the score for the Hulu miniseries Tiny Beautiful Things. Michaelson served as executive music producer for Apple TV+’s Slumberkins, creating original songs for the series with her bandmates Allie Moss, Hannah Winkler, and Billy Libby.

2022–present: The Notebook and For the Dreamers

In January 2019, Michaelson announced she was writing the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of The Notebook. After its world premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2022, the musical premiered on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 14, 2024. "Carry You Home" won a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite New Song. The musical received three nominations at the 77th Tony Awards. The original Broadway cast recording, released via Atlantic, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Cast Albums Chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
In 2022, Michaelson featured on Ariza's song "The Sky and Me". Later that year, Michaelson collaborated with A Great Big World on an original song called "It's Almost Christmas", released on November 11, 2022. In 2024, Michaelson made a guest appearance in season 3 of Netflix's Girls5eva, playing the role of Pixie, a folk singer-songwriter.
Michaelson released a string of singles from her album For the Dreamers×For the Dreamers23 August 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Wait There for Me3:132Love Is2:353We Belong3:164A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes2:305If This Is Love (For the Dreamers Version)3:376What a Wonderful World2:287Grow Up2:578Only You3:089You Make Me Feel so Young2:4810Hallelujah3:1011It Never Ends3:5912Backyard2:40, including "Love Is" with Jason Mraz on February 2, a cover of the song "What a Wonderful World" on May 23, and "It Never Ends" on May 30. The album was released August 23, 2024. On the May 16, 2026 season finale of Saturday Night Live, Michaelson performed backing vocals for Paul McCartney during his three song performance. Two more songs were performed but were unaired.

Band members

Past and present band members include Allie Moss (guitar and background vocals), Hannah Winkler (keys and background vocals), Chris Kuffner (bass), Bess Rogers (guitar), Saul Simon MacWilliams (keys), Billy Libby (guitar and background vocals), Sarab Singh (drums), and Elliot Jacobson (drums).

Personal life

Michaelson married fellow musician Greg Laswell in 2011. They divorced in 2015. In late 2015, Michaelson announced her relationship with film and stage actor Will Chase. As of 2018, she was living in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Michaelson identifies as a feminist.