Rachael
Sage announces the release of her new studio album, Blue Roses, out November 4,
2014 on MPress Records. The NYC singer-songwriter, poet, actor, visual artist
and record label owner has thrived in the indie songwriter scene since her
self-produced 1996 debut, Morbid Romantic. Her new album, Blue Roses, is a
perceptive rumination on the human condition. Her voice pulsates with soulful
melancholy over her driving piano, augmented by string-soaked arrangements.
Sage’s
music is prominently featured in the current season of Lifetime® TV’s hit
reality series,Dance Moms, with eight of Sage’s songs serving as accompaniment
to the Abby Lee Dance Company’s award-winning choreography. The show will be
airing two more tracks from Blue Roses later this season, for a total of an
unprecedented ten placements. As a former student of The School of American
Ballet, Sage says “it’s been pretty thrilling to watch young dancers like
Maddie Ziegler and Chloe Lukasiak perform week after week to my music. They’re
incredible young artists, and have brought me back to dance in such a unique
and unexpected way!”
Sage
plays more than a hundred gigs annually with her band The Sequins, and has
shared stages with Marc Cohn, The Animals, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan, A
Great Big World, Jamie Cullum and Judy Collins. Collins makes a guest
appearance on Blue Roses, dueting with Sage on her elegiac cover of Neil
Young’s “Helpless.” “She has a very unusual way of treating a pop song,” said
Phil Ramone. “I admire her editorial and musical ability when it comes to
crafting a tune.” Rachael Sage’s working methods reminded Phil Ramone of Bob
Dylan – and he should know, having engineered the Blood on the Tracks sessions.
Ramone
was not alone in his admiration for Sage’s qualities – she was accorded the
Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, claimed the Outstanding
Producer accolade for “Hope’s Outpost” at the OutMusic Awards, is a 4-time
Independent Music Award Winner and was named one of the top 100 independent
artists of the past 15 years by Performing Songwriter magazine.
About
Blue Roses
Blue
Roses, the new album by Rachael Sage, is a collection of songs about the impact
any single person can have upon the destiny of another. Sage has spent most of
the last two years trying to channel evidence of compassion into her creative
output. "These are incredibly confusing, chaotic times we're living in,
and the older I get, the more vital it seems to me to document unabashed,
wholehearted empathy wherever and however I can as an artist."
On the
title track, "Blue Roses", Sage depicts an unusual relationship in
which two people who won't ultimately stay together connect in a way that is
permanently transformational. “Salvation from my point of view is when you can
look another person in the eyes, have no regrets, and know you are both better
people for having known each other."
The
theme of transformation recurs on several other tracks, including
"Wax", featuring theremin player Armen Ra (Antony & The
Johnsons). Over hypnotic drum-loops, Sage muses bittersweetly over prior risks
and current dangers in loving someone who can't commit, while acknowledging the
element of her own karma in the situation ("if you break one heart it'll
boomerang back / where was I when they taught that lesson").
"Happiness
(Maddie’s Song)”, is the brightest and most hopeful track on the album, with an
upbeat piano melody and swirling string lines. "I wrote this song after
seeing a performance that was so extraordinary that I felt I had met a soul
mate - even though I was merely in the audience."
Produced
by Sage with two-time Grammy nominee John Shyloski (Stephen Kellogg, Johnny
Winter), Blue Roses features 13 chamber-pop gems, supported by an impressive
lineup of musical guests including drummer Quinn (Daft Punk),
percussionist/singer Everett Bradley (Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates) and
guitarists James Mastro (Garland Jeffries, Ian Hunter) and Jack Petruzelli
(Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright). Closing out the album with a cover of Neil
Young's "Helpless" - reimagined as a duet featuring folk icon Judy
Collins and accompanied by Charleston alt-rock band A Fragile Tomorrow - Sage
comes full circle, imbibing the classic anthem with a warmth that is entirely
her own.
About
Rachael Sage:
A
soulful vocalist and innovative multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and
producer Rachael Sage has been performing 100+ dates a year with her band, The
Sequins throughout the US, UK, Europe and Asia. She has earned a loyal
following for her dynamic piano playing, delicate guitar work, and soulful
vocals. The Sequins are drummer Andy Mac, cellist Ward Williams and violinist
Kelly Halloran.
Sage has
shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, A Great Big World, Judy Collins, Colin Hay,
Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, The Animals and Ani DiFranco. She has performed at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received numerous songwriting awards including
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Grand Prize) and several Independent Music
Awards. Her songs have appeared on MTV, HBO, the Fame Soundtrack, and in the
current season of Lifetime’s #1 reality series, Dance Moms. Blue Roses is
poised for a November 4 release, available everywhere through MPress Records.
Rachael Sage and The Sequins will be touring the U.S. in support of the
release, check out rachaelsage.com for dates.
On Tour
Now:
Aug
23 Midland, TX Wagner Noel PAC w/ Judy Collins – 8PM
Aug
24 Dallas, TX Granada Theater w/ Judy Collins – 7PM
Sep
21 Rockville, MD Benefit Concert @ Ted's 355 Diner – 5PM
Sep
26 Savannah, GA Sentient Bean – 8PM
Sep
28 Birmingham, AL Moonlight on the Mountain – 7PM
Oct
5 Chicago, IL Uncommon Ground on Devon – 8PM
Oct
10 Los Angeles, CA Genghis Cohen – 9:30PM
Oct
15-26 United Kingdom UK Tour - dates TBA
No comments:
Post a Comment