Rachael Sage

Rachael Sage (born Karen Rachael Weitzman in 1971 The New York Times describes Sage as "alternately channeling her inner Fanny Brice and Jewish Norah Jones".

Early life Sage was born Karen Rachael Weitzman in 1971 in Port Chester, New York, to shoe designer Stuart Weitzman and author Jane Weitzman. 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. Sage attended Stanford University where she hosted a nighttime college radio show as "Full Moon Rachael". and graduated in 1993 with a degree in drama. For one year, she was in the Actors Studio MFA program. Her performance in their New York talent search won her a place on the Village Stage of the 1999 Lilith Fair.

Music Sage's career includes the writing of jingles and theme music for film and television; her first notable jingle customer was Crystal Light. and in 1996 she started her own record label, MPress Records,

On April 23, 1996, Sage released her debut album, Morbid Romantic, on MPress. She toured Europe four times and released four more albums. "Brave Mistake" from the album Delancey Street was nominated for Best Story Song at the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2011.

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.

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

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

On March 6, 2020, Sage released her fourteenth 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." The album reflects on themes such as compassion, gratitude, authenticity, optimism, mindfulness, forgiveness, vulnerability, and resilience, as well as issues surrounding co-dependence.

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

Sage's sound has been described as theatrical. 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."

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

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".

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.

Discography

Studio albums Morbid Romantic (1996) Smashing the Serene (1998) Painting of a Painting (2001) Illusion's Carnival (2002) Public Record (2003) Ballads & Burlesque (2004) The Blistering Sun (2006) Chandelier (2008) Delancey Street (2010) Haunted by You (2012) Blue Roses (2014) Choreographic (2016) Myopia (2018) Character (2020) The Other Side (2023) Canopy (2025)

Acoustic albums Choreographic (Acoustic) (2016) PseudoMyopia (2019) Another Side (reimagined) (2024)

EPs Haunted by You – Acoustic EP (2012) New Destination (2014) The Tide (2017) Character (Acoustic) (2020)

Collaborations New Arrivals Vol. 1: Artists For Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief (2006) New Arrivals Vol. 2: Artists Against Hunger & Poverty (2007) New Arrivals Vol. 3: Artists For Eating Disorders Awareness (2008) New Arrivals Vol. 4: Artists Against Youth Homelessness (2011) New Arrivals Vol. 5: Artists For Hurricane Sandy Relief (2013) Both Sides Now – The Very Best Of Judy Collins (2014) Poetica (2021)

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

+ Selection of awards and nominations received by Rachael Sage Year Award Category Nominee/work Result 2001 The Great American Song Contest Acoustic Rachael Sage John Lennon Songwriting Contest Rock Rachael Sage 2002 Billboard Songwriting Contest R&B Rachael Sage 2005 OutMusic Awards OutStanding Songwriter Rachael Sage, Ballads & Burlesque Independent Music Awards Song – Folk/Singer-Songwriter Rachael Sage, "Sacrifice" 2008 Grand Prize Rachael Sage, "Hunger In John" 2009 OutMusic Awards OutStanding Producer Rachael Sage, "Vertigo" OutStanding Songwriter Rachael Sage, Chandelier 2011 OutStanding Producer Rachael Sage, "Hope's Outpost" 2021 Pop Awards Icon of the Year Rachael Sage

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

Notable artists include: Rachael Sage A Fragile Tomorrow K's Choice Melissa Ferrick Seth Glier