RACHAEL YAMAGATA plays The Constellation Room Oct. 22 and Teragram Ballroom Oct. 26; photo Laura Crosta
Rachael Yamagata brings her emotionally charged music to SoCal this month, appearing at The Constellation Room Oct. 22 and Teragram Ballroom Oct. 26.
Yamagata, when asked how the tour was going so far as she prepares for California, responded very positively.
“The tour has been excellent,” Yamagata reported. “I’ve got a brand new line-up of musicians mostly based in California.”
This music line-up features Michael Chaves on the Electric guitar, Adam Kovic playing the drums, Brandon Walters providing the bass and Anne Simpson on the keyboard. The latter two are both in the band “My Name is You” with Walters also playing for the band “Lord Huron”.
Despite this, Yamagata said she was happy to be able to convince them both to set aside time to join her tour.
“They opened for me on a fall tour a year ago and they’re just incredible musicians so I took them as my lineup and I’ve got them involved.”
One member of this line-up which Yamagata places great emphasis on is John Alagia. She mentioned that, despite “popping on and off the tour” due to how busy he is, he will accompany the band into California.
“He’s actually my longtime producer who worked on my very first record Happenstance. He did my very first independent release Chesapeake, Heavyweight EP, and he and I co-produced Tight Rope Walker, the new record together as well and he also did some sections on Elephants…Teeth Sinking into Heart.”
The songs on these albums have proven invaluable in helping Yamagata become a household name in the music scene. Besides becoming recognized for appearances in films and many television shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” the songs are also known for their somber, emotional explorations of human intimacy.
Songs such as “Over” and “Nobody” on her latest album, Tightrope Walker, still touch upon this favored subject. But Yamagata notes that musically they are quite different compared to her previous songs. This difference is something the singer eagerly looks forward to bringing to the stage.
“It’s always very interesting to me to figure out how to perform the songs that have very different production flavors for me, particularly on this record. We’re playing with certain things like electronic samples and sound. We’re weaving in some Philippe Petit quotes referencing, of course, the real famous tightrope walker.”
Yamagata derives not just enjoyment from singing her music but even more when sharing it onstage with others. She always does her utmost to guarantee that each of her concerts is a unique and fun experience for those who attend.
“My main goal at a live show is to make them spontaneous and to never offer the same thing twice. There’s a few shows where I’ve just jumped offstage and had some crowd interaction. They really love the sections from the heartbreak ballads and the Arcade Fire-esque delivery of massive background vocals and high energy things.”
The enjoyment of the crowd is instrumental in helping Yamagata find what can best be described as a sort of musical serenity. Being able to achieve it through her music is empowering and is what helps provide an invaluable means of personal motivation.
“There is a moment where I find that on-stage you can almost bend the energy… you can feel a moment when it’s all in sync with the audience, the band, the song, the vibe of the room and that’s what keeps me on the road and looking for it because it’s very, very much based on the energy.”