Rachael Sage

Last updated

Rachael Sage
Rachael Sage New Headshot.jpg
Background information
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Port Chester, New York, U.S.
Genres Pop, folk, rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, visual artist
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active1995–present
LabelsMPress Records
Website rachaelsage.com

Rachael Sage (born in 1971 [1] ) is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist. She is the founder of indie label MPress Records. Sage has released fifteen solo studio albums. Sage was named one of the Top 100 Independent Artists of the Past 15 Years by Performing Songwriter magazine. [2] The New York Times describes Sage as "alternately channeling her inner Fanny Brice and Jewish Norah Jones". [3]

Contents

Early life

Sage was born in 1971 in Port Chester, New York, to Stuart and Jane. [4] [5] [6] Sage studied drama and ballet before switching to music. A self-taught pianist, influenced by her parents' doo-wop and Beatles records, as well as Broadway cast albums, she created demos on a four-track recording system she received as a bat mitzvah present. During junior high school, Sage gained admission to the School of American Ballet. [7] Sage attended Stanford University where she hosted a nighttime college radio show as "Full Moon Rachael". [8] She studied theater with professors such as playwright Anna Deavere Smith, [9] and graduated in 1993 with a degree in drama. [10] [11] For one year, she was in the Actors Studio MFA program. [12] Her performance in their New York talent search won her a place on the Village Stage of the 1999 Lilith Fair. [13]

Music

Sage's career includes the writing of jingles and theme music for film and television; her first notable jingle customer was Crystal Light. [11] She began using the name "Rachael Sage" in 1995, [14] [1] and in 1996 she started her own record label, MPress Records, [11] inspired by Ani DiFranco founding Righteous Babe Records six years earlier. [8]

On April 23, 1996, Sage released her debut studio album, Morbid Romantic, on MPress. [15] She toured Europe four times and released four more albums. [11]

For her 2004 song "Sacrifice" from the album Ballads & Burlesque, Sage won Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song at the 4th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2005. [16] "Brave Mistake" from the album Delancey Street was nominated for Best Story Song at the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2011. [16] In the same year, Sage won OutStanding Producer for her song "Hope's Outpost" at the 7th Annual OutMusic Awards. [17]

Sage wrote an editorial about homeless youth in New York City for The Morton Report. In her editorial, she mentioned a collaboration of artists, unveiling an album, New Arrivals Vol. 4: Artists Against Youth Homelessness, with proceeds going to the National Network for Youth. [18]

Rachael Sage performing in New York City in 2016 CJCS attends Roots of Resilience Gala 160908-D-SW162-0162.jpg
Rachael Sage performing in New York City in 2016

Sage appears on Both Sides Now: the Very Best of Judy Collins, performing a duet with Collins on the Neil Young song, "Helpless". [19]

On May 20, 2016, Sage released her 12th studio album, Choreographic, on MPress Records, featuring some of the songs that she wrote to accompany dance competition routines for Maddie Ziegler. [20]

On March 6, 2020, Sage released her 14th studio album, Character. Described as an "inspirational tribute to survivorship", the album was written as Sage was recovering from endometrial cancer. She expressed the hope that "these songs honor just how resilient the human spirit can be, and remind us that sometimes it's ok to not be ok." [21] The album reflects on themes such as compassion, gratitude, authenticity, optimism, mindfulness, forgiveness, vulnerability, and resilience, as well as issues surrounding co-dependence. [22]

Sage regularly tours in North America and Europe and has shared stages with A Great Big World, [23] Semi Precious Weapons, [24] Sarah McLachlan, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn, the Animals, Jamie Cullum, and Ani DiFranco.

Sage's sound has been described as theatrical. [25] Producer Phil Ramone said of working with Sage that he was reminded of collaborating with Bob Dylan and that "She has a very unusual way of treating a pop song. I admire her editorial and musical ability when it comes to crafting a tune." [26]

Visual arts

Sage's paintings and collages have been shown in small galleries in Lower Manhattan, [27] and she has also contributed original artwork to her own CD package designs. [8]

Personal life

Sage's sister Elizabeth is a film critic and children's book author in New York. [28] [29]

Sage told Curve magazine in 2020 that she came out to her parents as bisexual in the mid-1990s. She said her songs portray her "full-range of life-experience, including having loved both men and women". [9] Sage has been celebrated by the LGBT community, winning OutMusic Awards multiple times, hosted by the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts. In 2016, she teamed with cellist Dave Eggar to produce a benefit concert to help victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, a hate crime against gay people. [30]

In 2018, Sage was treated for uterine cancer; she was in remission two years later when she organized an online benefit concert to fight cancer, with appearances by Lisa Loeb, Paula Cole and more. Sage stayed in New Haven, Connecticut, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [31] [32]

Discography

Studio albums

Acoustic albums

EPs

Collaborations

Awards and nominations

Sage has received numerous awards and nominations, which includes winning the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2001, [34] three wins at The Great American Song Contest, and six wins at the Independent Music Awards. [35]

Selection of awards and nominations received by Rachael Sage
YearAwardCategoryNominee/workResultRef.
2001 The Great American Song Contest AcousticRachael SageWon [36]
John Lennon Songwriting ContestRockRachael SageWon
2002 Billboard Songwriting ContestR&BRachael SageWon
2005OutMusic AwardsOutStanding SongwriterRachael Sage, Ballads & BurlesqueWon [37]
Independent Music AwardsSong – Folk/Singer-SongwriterRachael Sage, "Sacrifice"Won [16]
2006The Great American Song ContestContemporary Acoustic/FolkRachael Sage, "93 Maidens"Won [38]
2008Grand PrizeRachael Sage, "Hunger In John"Won [39]
2009OutMusic AwardsOutStanding ProducerRachael Sage, "Vertigo"Won
OutStanding SongwriterRachael Sage, ChandelierWon
2011OutStanding ProducerRachael Sage, "Hope's Outpost"Won [17]
Independent Music AwardsSong – StoryRachael Sage, "Brave Mistake"Nominated [16]
2019Music Producer – PopRachael Sage & John Shyloski, MyopiaWon [40]
2021Pop AwardsIcon of the YearRachael SageNominated [41] [42]

MPress Records

Rachael Sage started MPress Records in 1996 to release her own music. [43] She is the label's president. [44]

Notable artists include: [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Bush</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1958)

Catherine Bush is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. Bush began writing songs at age 11. She was signed to EMI Records after Pink Floyd's David Gilmour helped produce a demo tape. In 1978, at the age of 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a solely self-written song. Her debut album, The Kick Inside, was released that same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shania Twain</span> Canadian singer (born 1965)

Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the best-selling female artist in country music history. Her success garnered her several titles, including the "Queen of Country Pop". Billboard named her as the leader of the '90s country-pop crossover stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alicia Keys</span> American singer (born 1981)

Alicia Augello Cook, known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer and songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys began composing songs when she was the age of 12 and was signed by Columbia Records at the age of 15. After disputes with the label, she signed with J Records to release her debut studio album, Songs in A Minor (2001). Met with critical acclaim and commercial success, the album sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won five awards at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. It contained the Billboard Hot 100-number one single "Fallin'." Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003) was met with continued success, selling eight million units worldwide and spawning the singles "You Don't Know My Name", "If I Ain't Got You", and "Diary". Its release earned an additional four Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Jackson</span> American singer (born 1966)

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreography became a catalyst in the growth of MTV, enabling her to rise to prominence while breaking gender and racial barriers in the process. Lyrical content which focused on social issues and lived experiences set her reputation as a role model for youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink (singer)</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1979)

Alecia Beth Moore, known professionally as Pink, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her rock-influenced pop songs and powerful voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucinda Williams</span> American musician, singer and songwriter

Lucinda Gayl Williams[a] is an American singer-songwriter and a solo guitarist. She recorded her first two albums, Ramblin' on My Mind (1979) and Happy Woman Blues (1980), in a traditional country and blues style that received critical praise but little public or radio attention. In 1988, she released her third album, Lucinda Williams, to widespread critical acclaim. Regarded as "an Americana classic", the album also features "Passionate Kisses", a song later recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter for her 1992 album Come On Come On, which garnered Williams her first Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994. Known for working slowly, Williams released her fourth album, Sweet Old World, four years later in 1992. Sweet Old World was met with further critical acclaim, and was voted the 11th best album of 1992 in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of prominent music critics. Robert Christgau, the poll's creator, ranked it 6th on his own year-end list, later writing that the album, as well as Lucinda Williams, were "gorgeous, flawless, brilliant".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aimee Mann</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1960)

Aimee Elizabeth Mann is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released more than a dozen albums as a solo artist and with other musicians. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects. Mann's work with the producer Jon Brion in the 1990s was influential on American alternative rock.

<i>Janet Jacksons Rhythm Nation 1814</i> 1989 studio album by Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is the fourth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson, released on September 19, 1989, by A&M Records. Although label executives wanted material similar to her previous album, Control (1986), Jackson insisted on creating a concept album addressing social issues. Collaborating with songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she drew inspiration from various tragedies reported through news media, exploring racism, poverty, and substance abuse, in addition to themes of romance. Although its primary concept of a sociopolitical utopia was met with mixed reactions, its composition received critical acclaim. Jackson came to be considered a role model for youth because of her socially conscious lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Lee Jones</span> American singer

Rickie Lee Jones is an American singer, musician and songwriter. Over the course of a career that spans five decades and 15 studio albums, she has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, pop, soul, and jazz. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Jones was listed at No. 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999. AllMusic stated: "Few singer/songwriters are as individual and eclectic as Rickie Lee Jones, a vocalist with an expressive and smoky instrument, and a composer who can weave jazz, folk, and R&B into songs with a distinct pop sensibility."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carole Bayer Sager</span> American lyricist, singer, songwriter, and painter (born 1944)

Carole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, singer, songwriter, and painter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Bedingfield</span> English singer (born 1981)

Natasha Anne Bedingfield is an English singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed international success with more than 2.3 million copies sold worldwide. Bedingfield received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the title track "Unwritten", and at the 2005 and 2006 Brit Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Artist. Unwritten also produced her only UK number one, "These Words".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhythm Nation</span> 1989 single by Janet Jackson

"Rhythm Nation" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson, in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jackson developed the song's concept in response to various tragedies in the media, deciding to pursue a socially conscious theme by using a political standpoint within upbeat dance music. In the United States, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Black Singles and Dance Club Songs charts. It also peaked within the top 40 of several singles charts worldwide. "Rhythm Nation" received several accolades, including BMI Pop Awards for "Most Played Song", the Billboard Award for "Top Dance/Club Play Single" and a Grammy nomination for Jackson as "Producer of the Year". It has been included in two of Jackson's greatest hits collections, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995) and Number Ones (2009).

Rachael Maureen Lampa is an American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and record producer. At age 15, she found critical acclaim and success in 2000 with the release of her debut album, Live for You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandi Carlile</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1981)

Brandi Marie Carlile is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Her music spans many genres, including folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Swift</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1989)

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. A subject of widespread public interest with a vast fanbase, she has influenced the music industry, popular culture, and politics through her songwriting, artistry, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachael Price</span> American singer

Rachael Price is an Australian-American jazz and blues singer, known for her work as the lead singer for the band Lake Street Dive. She was born in Sydney, Australia, and grew up in Tennessee, graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Seventh-day Adventist leader George McCready Price, the granddaughter of Hollywood actor John Shelton, and the daughter of composer and conductor Tom Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Fragile Tomorrow</span>

A Fragile Tomorrow is an American alternative/powerpop band from Charleston, South Carolina, United States, formerly from Montgomery, New York. The group formed in 2003 and included brothers Sean Kelly, Dom Kelly, and Brendan Kelly. In 2006, bassist Shaun Rhoades joined the group. The band has put out six studio albums, most recently the critically acclaimed Make Me Over in 2015 and Generation Loss in 2019. As of 2020, they were working on their seventh record and third MPress Records release. The band has shared the stage with/opened for Indigo Girls, The Bangles, Matthew Sweet, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Garrison Starr, Antigone Rising, K's Choice, Drivin N Cryin, Continental Drifters, Blues Traveler, The Cowsills, Danielle Howle, Susan Cowsill, Amy Ray, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muni Long</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1988)

Priscilla Renea Hamilton, known professionally as Muni Long, is an American singer and songwriter from Gifford, Florida. Under her birth name, she signed with Capitol Records to release her debut studio album Jukebox (2009), which was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart. She then spent the following decade co-writing songs for other artists, including the hit singles "Promise This" for Cheryl, "California King Bed" for Rihanna, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Love So Soft" for Kelly Clarkson, "Imagine" for Ariana Grande, "Who Says" for Selena Gomez & the Scene, and the global hit "Timber" for Pitbull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Glier</span> American musician

Seth Glier is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tones and I</span> Australian pop singer

Toni Watson, known professionally as Tones and I, is an Australian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her breakout single "Dance Monkey", which reached number one in over 30 countries including her home country Australia. In 2019–20, "Dance Monkey" completed 24 weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart, beating Bing Crosby's all-time Australian record for his version of "White Christmas", which spent an equivalent of 22 weeks at the top in 1943. "Dance Monkey" was certified 19× platinum by ARIA for shipments of over 1,330,000 units by June 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Brands and Their Companies (29 ed.). Gale Cengage. 2007. p. 1531. ISBN   9780787689551.
  2. ↑ "The Indie 100" . Performing Songwriter (110). June 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "A Ninth Night of Lights" . The New York Times . December 23, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ Tucker, Michael (March 8, 2022). "Rachael Sage: Poetica" . Jazz Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ Liebenson, Bess (November 19, 2000). "Slip Into Something More Artistic" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  6. ↑ St. John, Warren (March 3, 2002). "Tryin' Hard to Get Free, Via Rap on Your Own CD" . The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2022. Rachael Weitzman, 29, a daughter of... under the name Rachael Sage.
  7. ↑ "Rachael Sage – Bio". Artist Vision. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Miller, Louis (November 4, 2002). "Artist Spotlight: Rachael Sage". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 73, no. 787. p. 29. ISSN   0890-0795.
  9. 1 2 Staff (November 14, 2020). "Hot Licks: Rachael Sage". Curve . Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ Saval, Malina (June 18, 2004). "Sage for the Ages". Forward.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Batte, Summer Moore (July–August 2004). "So You Wanna Be A Rock Star". Stanford Magazine. Stanford University . Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ Damiano, Mary (July 28, 2003). "Rachael Sage: Music's Best-Kept Secret" (PDF). Q Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ Hay, Carla (August 7, 1999). "Sage Advice". Billboard. p. 18.
  14. ↑ Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Vol. 1262. U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 2002. p. 947.
  15. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Rachael Sage – Morbid Romantic". AllMusic . Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Past IMA Programs". Independent Music Awards (IMAs). Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Winners from Monday night's OutMusic Awards". Dallas Voice . May 24, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  18. ↑ Sage, Rachael (June 22, 2011). "Celebrity Causes: Rachael Sage for Artists Against Youth Homelessness". Editorial against homelessness. The Morton Report. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Both Sides Now: the Very Best of Judy Collins". Best Buy.
  20. ↑ "Rachael Sage Releases New Album CHOREOGRAPHIC", BroadwayWorld.com, May 20, 2016
  21. ↑ "Rachael Sage Releases New Album Character" (Press release). Newswire. March 6, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  22. ↑ B, Jae (June 25, 2020). "Interview: Rachael Sage on Survival, Gratitude and Artistic Positivity". Pop Magazine. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Rachael Sage / Lux Deluxe". Berklee College of Music. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  24. ↑ "MPressFest SXSW 2012". M Music & Musicians Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  25. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch (June 5, 2008). "Little bit of theater sets stage for songwriter's stories". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  26. ↑ Bangshowbiz – Mon, June 6, 2011 (June 6, 2011). "Rachael Sage praised by producer – Yahoo News UK". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ "A Big Week for Rachael Sage". The Muse Box. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  28. ↑ Weitzman, Elizabeth (2019). Renegade Women. Crown Publishing Group. p. 125. ISBN   9780525574545. Acknowledgments: Much love and gratitude to all my family, including my parents, Stuart and Jane Weitzman, who raised me to admire renegade women, and my sister, Rachael Sage, who has always been one.
  29. ↑ "Elizabeth Weitzman". New York Film Critics Circle . Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Rachael Sage Charity Song and Concert Benefits Orlando LGBT Community". Edge Media Network. July 25, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  31. ↑ Milano, Brett (September 19, 2020). "Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage gathers stars for online cancer event". Boston Herald . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  32. ↑ Stagoff, Cindy (September 9, 2020). "Rachael Sage to host online cancer fundraiser with Lisa Loeb, Paula Cole and others". NJ Arts. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Poetica". PoeticaProject.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  34. ↑ Staff (May–June 2000). "The Artist Formerly Known as Karen". Stanford Magazine. Stanford University . Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Rachael Sage – Awards". RachaelSage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Great American Song Hall of Fame". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  37. ↑ "The Outmusic Awards". Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  38. ↑ "8th Annual Great American Song". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  39. ↑ "10th Annual Great American Song". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  40. ↑ "The 17th Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards (IMAs). Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  41. ↑ Mackle, Jenna (January 17, 2021). "Welcome to the POP AWARDS 2021, the fourth annual Pop Awards". Pop Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Pop Awards 2021, the 4th annual Pop Awards". Pop Awards. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  43. ↑ Zimmerman, Peter (May 21, 2012). "Rachael Sage Continues To Be Haunted By You". Glide Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  44. ↑ "About – MPress Records". MPress Records. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  45. ↑ "MPress Records" . Retrieved September 22, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.