Rachael Yamagata

Biography

Rachael Amanda Yamagata (born September 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from Arlington, Virginia. She began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist and releasing five EPs and four studio albums. Her songs have appeared on numerous television shows and she has collaborated with Jason Mraz, Rhett Miller, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Toots and the Maytals, Ray LaMontagne and Matt Nathanson.

Early life and education

Yamagata was born to a Japanese-American father and an Italian mother and grew up with comedian-actor Josh Ruben as a half-brother. She graduated from the Holton-Arms School and attended Northwestern University and Vassar College.

Career

Yamagata became the vocalist for the Chicago group Bumpus and spent six years touring, writing and recording with the band before leaving in 2001 to begin a solo career. In September 2002, she obtained a two-record deal with Arista's Private Music and her self-titled EP produced by Malcolm Burn, Rachael Yamagata EP was released in October. Her first full-length album, Happenstance×Happenstance8 June 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Be Be Your Love4:122Letter Read3:443Worn Me Down3:434Paper Doll5:175I'll Find a Way5:15619634:047Under My Skin4:138Meet Me by the Water4:009Even So4:1810I Want You2:5711Reason Why5:0712Moments with Oliver1:0213Quiet9:2214Ode To...5:48, followed in 2004. The album was produced by John Alagía at Compass Point Studios. Between 2003 and 2005, Yamagata played venues such as Amoeba Records and The Hotel Café, both in Hollywood.
Yamagata was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites.
Yamagata toured with Mandy Moore and contributed a song to Moore's 2007 album, Wild Hope.
In May 2008, Yamagata released a three-song EP, Loose Ends×Loose Ends22 May 2008 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1The Other Side4:152Parade3:233Answering the Door4:08. Her second full-length album Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart was released in October 2008. Billboard characterized the album as much darker and sadder in tone than its predecessor. That month, her two-song live acoustic video performance appeared on LiveDaily Sessions and featured the songs "Faster" and "Sunday Afternoon". In April 2009, Yamagata performed her song "Elephants" on the television drama One Life to Live.
Yamagata digitally released a new album in the fall of 2011 through Pledgemusic. Her third studio album Chesapeake×Chesapeake11 October 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Even If I Don't4:092Starlight4:433Saturday Morning5:004You Won't Let Me3:325Stick Around2:466Miles on a Car4:147The Way It Seems to Go4:428I Don't Want to Be Your Mother3:409Full On5:2210Dealbreaker5:4611It'll Do3:2312Heavyweight4:21 was released through Frankenfish Records in October 2011. In 2012 Yamagata released her next EP called Heavyweight×Heavyweight20 November 2012 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Heavyweight3:232Has It Happened Yet4:393It'll Do4:234Falling in Love Again4:015Nothing Gets by Here4:446Keep Going4:33. Yamagata has appeared numerous times as a guest vocalist for other artists including: Jason Mraz's "Did You Get My Message?", "Fireflies" and "The Believer" by Rhett Miller, on Toots & the Maytals's album True Love, the song "Barfly" by Ray Lamontagne, and several songs on Ryan Adams' Cold Roses album. She contributed vocals to six songs on the Bright Eyes album Cassadaga. Yamagata contributed writing, keyboards and vocals to the song "Kaleidoscope" by Jill Cunniff a former member of Luscious Jackson. Yamagata also performs with an ensemble cast on the 30 Rock episode "Kidney Now!" The soundtrack for the film Dear John features the song "You Take My Troubles Away", Yamagata's duet with Dan Wilson. She also performs the Muppets song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" on a cover album, Muppets: The Green Album.
Yamagata again partnered with PledgeMusic for her album Tightrope Walker×Tightrope WalkerJune 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tightrope Walker5:432Nobody4:533EZ Target4:014Over4:135Let Me Be Your Girl4:496Break Apart4:597I'm Going Back5:588Rainsong4:419Worthless5:0710Black Sheep3:3911Money Fame Thunder3:50, released on September 23, 2016. She also offered an acoustic digital version of Happenstance as a pledge reward.

Personal life

Yamagata has a twin brother, Benji. Her half brother, Josh Ruben, is an actor and director who worked for CollegeHumor.

Other soundtrack appearances

Yamagata's songs have appeared in a number of films and television shows. These include: