Rachael Yamagata plays The Observatory June 26
Featuring an intimate show with pianos, guitars, and emotional music, Rachael Yamagata will be accompanied by Michael Chaves and Sanders Bohlke at the Observatory’s Constellation Room on Wednesday, June 26.
Yamagata’s ability to tie emotion into her songs has captured the attention of the entertainment industry since the release of her first full-length album Happenstance in 2004.
Since then the 35-year-old singer has made multiple appearances on television series The O.C., 30 Rock and One Life to Live and has also been featured through Grey’s Anatomy, How I met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars, etc.
Leaving Warner Music Label in 2011, Yamagata self-produced her most recent full-length album Chesapeake and EP Heavyweight through her label company Frankenfish Records.
Orange County Concert Guide spoke with Rachael Yamagata to learn more about her inspirations, achievements and music.
OCCG: How would you personally describe your music? How is it different than other artists in your genre?
RY: Cinematic articulation of heartache with a quest to connect with one another. I draw much from the storytellers of the 70s – Carole King, Roberta Flack, Stevie Nicks, Ricki Lee Jones – for the classic sensibility to the lyric itself etc, but I’m all over the map with musical influences. Nick Cave, Tom Waits, French romance…they’re so many elements I’m inspired by. How am I different? I think my greatest gift is something in the way I pinpoint particular relationship emotions and can articulate them – it starts some sort of healing process.
OCCG: What can fans expect when attending your live show? What does your setlist consist of?
RY: For this round we are touring as a duo, but have really experimented with arrangements that get to the meat of the song. Michael Chaves is with me and he’s literally acting as a one man rhythm section as well as guitarist, keys etc. I’m playing some electric as well as acoustic and piano and we’re both singing. Fans can expect that intimacy of a song when I strip it down, but colored in really interesting ways. We’re doing songs from all of my releases.
OCCG: Do you have a favorite song to perform? If so, what song and why?
‘Sunday Afternoon’ and ‘Has It Happened Yet’ are really fun for me right now. I’m performing them in a new way and it’s a bit scary (which keeps it fresh for me). They both have some great builds that I can really get lost in…
OCCG: What are you looking forward to when playing at the Constellation Room in Santa Anna? If you have played in Orange County before, how is it different than other places you have toured?
I believe this will be the first time I’ve played in Orange County in quite some time. I’m always excited about inspiring locations for music and an Observatory seems like it’s going to be right up my alley.
OCCG: As an artist you have made multiple appearances on television shows, toured and collaborated with a variety of artists, and have performed for the President. What has been your defining moment in your career thus far?
Having all my parents watch me open a show at Madison Square Garden. It was the first time my parents and step parents were all at the same show..It meant a lot…
OCCG: You released your first album Happenstance in 2004, after 9 years how do you think you have grown as an artist’s? What have you learned through your career?
The music really is the best answer for the ‘artist’ part – how it’s changed, evolved etc.. I’ve learned to trust my instincts more and that I’m capable of so much more than I knew. Resilience, work ethic, drive, integrity, inspiration – all have been priceless to me throughout the years.
OCCG: What or who influences your music?
RY: Along with what I noted previously, people do – watching them, trying to understand what goes on inside us and between us as we try to reach out to one another. Nature, travel…
OCCG: What are your plans for 2013? Can we expect any new albums?
RY: This tour will be the wrapping up of about 2 years on the road and my final U.S. tour for a bit. I’m planning on another trip to Asia in the fall and hopefully back in the studio by the end of the year.
OCCG: Outside of music, what are some of your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing on your off time?
RY: Honestly, there is never any off time. I’m obsessed with HGTV and it helps me plug into another side of my brain. I’d love to find a house and build/renovate it all. For now though, it’s all about record making, touring, planning etc. etc..
OCCG: Anything else you would like to add for your fans?
RY: Just that I’m so grateful to them for listening and spreading the word about my music. Much much love to them. xoxo