Rachael Yamagata

Rachael Amanda Yamagata (born September 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from Arlington, Virginia. She began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist and releasing five EPs and four studio albums. Her songs have appeared on numerous television shows and she has collaborated with Jason Mraz, Rhett Miller, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Toots and the Maytals, Ray LaMontagne and Matt Nathanson.

Early life and education Yamagata was born to a Japanese-American father and an Italian mother and grew up with comedian-actor Josh Ruben as a half-brother. She graduated from the Holton-Arms School and attended Northwestern University and Vassar College.

Career Yamagata became the vocalist for the Chicago group Bumpus and spent six years touring, writing and recording with the band before leaving in 2001 to begin a solo career. In September 2002, she obtained a two-record deal with Arista's Private Music and her self-titled EP produced by Malcolm Burn, Rachael Yamagata EP was released in October. Her first full-length album, Happenstance, followed in 2004. The album was produced by John Alagía at Compass Point Studios. Between 2003 and 2005, Yamagata played venues such as Amoeba Records and The Hotel Café, both in Hollywood.

Yamagata was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites.

Yamagata toured with Mandy Moore and contributed a song to Moore's 2007 album, Wild Hope.

In May 2008, Yamagata released a three-song EP, Loose Ends. Her second full-length album Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart was released in October 2008. Billboard characterized the album as much darker and sadder in tone than its predecessor. That month, her two-song live acoustic video performance appeared on LiveDaily Sessions and featured the songs "Faster" and "Sunday Afternoon". In April 2009, Yamagata performed her song "Elephants" on the television drama One Life to Live.

Yamagata digitally released a new album in the fall of 2011 through Pledgemusic. Her third studio album Chesapeake was released through Frankenfish Records in October 2011. In 2012 Yamagata released her next EP called Heavyweight. Yamagata has appeared numerous times as a guest vocalist for other artists including: Jason Mraz's "Did You Get My Message?", "Fireflies" and "The Believer" by Rhett Miller, on Toots & the Maytals's album True Love, the song "Barfly" by Ray Lamontagne, and several songs on Ryan Adams' Cold Roses album. She contributed vocals to six songs on the Bright Eyes album Cassadaga. Yamagata contributed writing, keyboards and vocals to the song "Kaleidoscope" by Jill Cunniff a former member of Luscious Jackson. Yamagata also performs with an ensemble cast on the 30 Rock episode "Kidney Now!" The soundtrack for the film Dear John features the song "You Take My Troubles Away", Yamagata's duet with Dan Wilson. She also performs the Muppets song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" on a cover album, Muppets: The Green Album.

Yamagata again partnered with PledgeMusic for her album Tightrope Walker, released on September 23, 2016. She also offered an acoustic digital version of Happenstance as a pledge reward.

Personal life Yamagata has a twin brother, Benji.

Discography Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Happenstance Released: June 8, 2004 Label: RCA Victor 40 —Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart Released: October 7, 2008 Label: Warner Bros. Records — 53Chesapeake Released: October 11, 2011 Label: Frankenfish 13 122Acoustic Happenstance Released: April 23, 2016 Label: Sony Music 47 —Tightrope Walker Released: September 23, 2016 Label: Frankenfish 32 —Starlit Alchemy Released: October 3, 2025 Label: Jullian Records - —

Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions "Worn Me Down" 2003——33EP"Letter Read"2004———Happenstance"1963" ———"Be Be Your Love" 26 1 — KOR: 1,635,206 "River"2005———Live at the Loft & More"Elephants"2008———Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart"Faster"———"Sunday Afternoon" ———"Starlight"2011———Chesapeake"Even If I Don't"———"You Won't Let Me"—12— KOR: 337,397 "Nothing Gets By Here" 2012—6— KOR: 53,513 Heavyweight EP"I'm Not in Love"2014—28— KOR: 10,053 The Very Best of Rachael Yamagata"Nobody"2016———Tightrope Walker"Over"———"Let Me Be Your Girl"———"Be Somebody's Love"2018———Porch Songs EP"It's Always the Little Things" ———

Original soundtrack contributions TitleYearPeak chart positionsSalesAlbum 2005— Prime OST "Jesus Was a Cross Maker" 2005— Elizabethtown OST "He Needs a Kidney" 2009— "Hand of God" 2012— That's What She Said OST "Let's Begin Again" 2014— Altman OST "Something in the Rain" 2018 10 Something in the Rain OST "La La La" 2019— One Spring Night OST "Is It You" — "We Could Still Be Happy" —

Other soundtrack appearances Yamagata's songs have appeared in a number of films and television shows. These include: Title Year Media "1963" 2005 Monster-in-Law 2015 November Rule "Be Be Your Love" 2004 One Tree Hill 2005 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2005 Trust the Man 2006 Brothers & Sisters 2009 So You Think You Can Dance 2011 2012 Wilsberg "Be Somebody's Love" 2018 Something in the Rain "Blister of the Spotlight" 2008 Ugly Betty "Brown Eyes" 2009 Grey's Anatomy "Collide" 2005 In Her Shoes "Don't" 2009 Private Practice "Duet" 2008 Brothers & Sisters 2009 Grey's Anatomy "Elephants" 2009 One Life to Live 2010 Gravity 2015 The Vampire Diaries "Horizon" 2009 One Tree Hill "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" 2012 Hope Springs "I Want You" 2006 Men in Trees "I'll Find a Way" 2005 ER "Keep Going" 2015 The Vampire Diaries "Meet Me by the Water" 2006 Bella "The Other Side" 2008 The L Word "Paper Doll" 2005 Trust the Man "Quiet" 2006 How I Met Your Mother 2023 Ted Lasso "The Reason Why" 2004 Smallville 2005 The O.C. 2008 Cashmere Mafia 2009 Hotel for Dogs 2009 Brain Drain"Saturday Morning" 2020 Scare Me "Sunday Afternoon" 2010 One Tree Hill "The Way It Seems to Go" 2013 Lucky Them "Worn Me Down" 2003 Miss Match 2004 The O.C.