Rachael Sage

Rachael Sage is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and visual artist from Port Chester, New York. She is the founder of indie label MPress Records. Sage has released fourteen solo studio albums. Her performances combine music with between-song banter. Sage was named one of the Top 100 Independent Artists of the Past 15 Years by Performing Songwriter magazine.[1] The New York Times describes Sage as "alternately channeling her inner Fanny Brice and Jewish Norah Jones".[2]

Rachael Sage
Background information
Born (1971-11-21) November 21, 1971
Port Chester, NY, US
GenresPop, Folk, Rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, producer, poet, writer, visual artist
InstrumentsVocals, piano, keyboard, hammond organ, guitar
Years active1995–present
Labelswww.mpressrecords.com
Websitewww.rachaelsage.com

Biography

Early years

Sage was born in Port Chester, New York. She 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.[3] Sage graduated from Stanford University with a degree in drama.[4] For one year, she was in the Actors Studio MFA program.[5] Her performance in their New York talent search won her a place on the Village Stage of the 1999 Lilith Fair.[6]

Career

On April 23, 1996, Sage released her debut studio album, Morbid Romantic, on her own record label, MPress Records.[7]

For her song "Sacrifice" from the album Ballads & Burlesque, Sage won Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song at The 4th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2005.[8] "Brave Mistake" from the album Delancey Street was nominated for Best Story Song at The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2011.[8] In the same year, Sage won OutStanding Producer for her song "Hope's Outpost" at The 7th Annual OutMusic Awards.[9]

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.[10]

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".[11]

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.[12]

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."[13] The album reflects on themes such as compassion, gratitude, authenticity, optimism, mindfulness, forgiveness, vulnerability, and resilience, as well as issues surrounding codependence.[14]

Sage regularly tours in North America and Europe and has shared stages with A Great Big World,[15] Semi Precious Weapons,[16] Sarah McLachlan, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn, The Animals, Jamie Cullum, and Ani DiFranco.

Sage's sound has been described as theatrical.[17] 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."[18]

Sage's paintings and collages have been shown in small galleries in Lower Manhattan,[19] and she has also contributed original artwork to her own CD package designs.

Discography

Studio albums

Acoustic albums
  • Choreographic (Acoustic) (2016)
  • PseudoMyopia (2019)

EPs
  • Haunted by You – Acoustic EP (2012)
  • New Destination (2014)
  • 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)

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 five wins at the Independent Music Awards.[20]

Selection of awards and nominations received by Rachael Sage
Year Award Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2001 The Great American Song Contest Acoustic Rachael Sage Won [21]
John Lennon Songwriting Contest Rock Rachael Sage Won
2002 Billboard Songwriting Contest R&B Rachael Sage Won
2005 OutMusic Awards OutStanding Songwriter Rachael Sage, Ballads & Burlesque Won [22]
Independent Music Awards Song – Folk/Singer-Songwriter Rachael Sage, "Sacrifice" Won [8]
2006 The Great American Song Contest Contemporary Acoustic/Folk Rachael Sage, "93 Maidens" Won [23]
2008 Grand Prize Rachael Sage, "Hunger In John" Won [24]
2009 OutMusic Awards OutStanding Producer Rachael Sage, "Vertigo" Won
OutStanding Songwriter Rachael Sage, Chandelier Won
2011 OutStanding Producer Rachael Sage, "Hope's Outpost" Won [9]
Independent Music Awards Song – Story Rachael Sage, "Brave Mistake" Nominated [8]
2019 Music Producer – Pop Rachael Sage & John Shyloski, Myopia Won [25]

MPress Records

Rachael Sage started MPress Records in 1996 to release her own music.[26] She currently serves as the label's president.[27]

MPress Records roster[28]

References
  1. "The Indie 100". Performing Songwriter (Issue 110). June 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. "A Ninth Night of Lights". The New York Times. December 23, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  3. "Rachael Sage – Bio". Artist Vision. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. Saval, Malina (June 18, 2004). "Sage for the Ages". Forward.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  5. Damiano, Mary (July 28, 2003). "Rachael Sage: Music's Best-Kept Secret" (PDF). Q Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. Hay, Carla (August 7, 1999). "Sage Advice". Billboard: 18.
  7. Phares, Heather. "Rachael Sage – Morbid Romantic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  8. "Past IMA Programs". Independent Music Awards (IMAs). Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. "Winners from Monday night's OutMusic Awards". Dallas Voice. May 24, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  10. Sage, Rachael (June 22, 2011). "Celebrity Causes: Rachael Sage for Artists Against Youth Homelessness". Editorial against homelessness. The Morton Report. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  11. "Both Sides Now: the Very Best of Judy Collins". Best Buy.
  12. "Rachael Sage Releases New Album CHOREOGRAPHIC", BroadwayWorld.com, May 20, 2016
  13. "Rachael Sage Releases New Album Character" (Press release). Newswire. March 6, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  14. B, Jae (June 25, 2020). "Interview: Rachael Sage on Survival, Gratitude and Artistic Positivity". Pop Magazine. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  15. "Rachael Sage / Lux Deluxe". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  16. "MPressFest SXSW 2012". M Music & Musicians Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  17. The Columbus Dispatch (June 5, 2008). "Little bit of theater sets stage for songwriter's stories". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  18. Bangshowbiz – Mon, June 6, 2011 (June 6, 2011). "Rachael Sage praised by producer – Yahoo News UK". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. "A Big Week for Rachael Sage". The Muse Box. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  20. "Rachael Sage – Awards". RachaelSage.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  21. "Great American Song Hall of Fame". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  22. "The Outmusic Awards". Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  23. "8th Annual Great American Song". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  24. "10th Annual Great American Song". The Great American Song Contest. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  25. "The 17th Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards (IMAs). Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  26. Zimmerman, Peter (May 21, 2012). "Rachael Sage Continues To Be Haunted By You". Glide Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  27. "About – MPress Records". MPress Records. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  28. "MPress Records". MPress Records. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
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