Norah Jones Is Playing Along
Original podcast
Singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata joins Norah for a catch-up on music, life, and what’s next.
10,708 words · 8 speakers
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This episode is also available as video on YouTube. You can visit Norah Jones' channel and be sure to subscribe while you're there. Hey, I'm Norah Jones, and today I'm playing along with Rachel Yama Gata.
Hi, welcome to the show. I'm Nora, this is Sarah Oda.
Welcome to our show. Today, we have the incredible Rachel Yamagata. She's a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist with a critically acclaimed catalog of very honest and personal songs.
Yeah, she's a great singer. I've been a fan of her since that first album came out. I was a big fan of that album. That was back in 2003 or '04. And yeah, I was excited to have her here.
Yeah, her voice is very unique. It really resonates with so many listeners, I feel like.
We actually first met, I already was a fan of her music, but we met on the set of 30 Rock for this big episode they did about the "Just Give a Kidney," the kidney donation episode. It's full of crazy musicians, and that's where we first met.
It's really funny. I just rewatched it and I was cracking up.
It was fun to talk about that.
So you'll hear about that, and you'll hear about what she's kind of been up to lately, musically and otherwise, and also beautiful duets, including a French love song.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, this was great. I hope you enjoy this episode, me hanging out with Rachel Yamagata.
There is some spicy language in this episode, so listener discretion is advised. It's not that bad, but just so you know, it's there.
What's that big place in Austin that everybody plays during "South by Southwest"? It's like a bar venue, something. There's an upstairs.
Oh, Stubbs.
Is it Stubbs?
Stubbs, yeah.
So you were playing at Stubbs, and every A&R person in the world was there.
Oh, during "South by" that year?
"South by."
It was like 2002.
2002, yeah. I think I had just started. I don't even know if I, maybe I had an EP out, and it was packed, and every hobnob person in the world was there. You played a flawless, gorgeous set. And it was, I feel like people were, you know, you were in the middle, and then people were just surrounding. It wasn't like a stage or something?
No, it was in a little bar on the side.
Something, yeah.
And then it was incredible. Everyone erupted. There was some other woman who had to go after you, another artist. I don't remember who it was. And the whole crowd was just ushering towards you and wanting to talk. And it was almost like you just did the coolest move. You didn't talk to, maybe you said a brief hello.
Like, what did I do?
You turned around, went right back and sat on the floor in front of this person who had to play. So that every single person, hobnabi schmobbies, stayed to watch. And it was like, that was the only way that crowd was gonna stay in the room.
That's so funny.
And I was just watched it and I was like, oh, class act. I love her.
I like that person too. I don't know that person.
Oh, my God.
Who's that person?
It was amazing.
That's sweet.
So I tell people that.
Aww.
Yeah, it was beautiful.
That's so long ago.
Well, it was so long ago.
Yeah.
First impression.
That's so great.
Oh, now you have me built up in your mind.
I've done all these other things that are probably not as nice.
No, I hear so many beautiful things. So I'm, I'm just really happy to finally talk to you and meet you.
I'm so happy because when your first album came out, when did that come out? Was it 2003?
2003 or 4 maybe.
I think it might have been 3 or 4, yeah.
I think it was 4, actually.
Well, I remember reading about you. I mean, like, who's she? And then I listened to that album so much.
Really?
I loved that album.
Oh, thank you.
Still love it. I was listening to it, preparing for this. And I was like, I know this album like the back of my hand.
Yeah, I'm so excited. Yeah, so I've been a fan since back then, too.
So funny. And we have mutual people in common over the years, for sure. I worked with Jesse Harris early, early on.
Yeah, I think we wrote some songs together.
Oh, cool.
Of course, you know Pete.
Of course, I know Pete.
So there's many, many a flotation around, I'm sure.
That's so cool.
I've been to your house before also.
I know.
Which is funny because you weren't there.
That's right.
That's right. It's crazy, right? It's insane.
It's beautiful.
Like, I was like, oh, my God. You left a really sweet note. I remember that because you guys filmed a podcast.
Yeah, we did like some intros there. Pete recorded for us. And you built us a fire. At least he said you built it.
Yes, I probably did. Well, that's nice of me.
We've been circling.
Yeah, it's so crazy. And now we're neighbors with Sarah and it's just like small world.
I know, it's great.
Crazy.
Well, I love your new album. It's so beautiful.
Thank you.
Yeah, congrats.
Thank you so much. It's a labor of love.
Did you do a lot of it at your house?
We did most of it at the house, a little bit at my friends and longtime collaborator on many things, Michael Chavez. He has a place out in Pine Mountain Club, which is a little town outside of LA, like an hour in the mountains. So we did a little bit out there, a little at a local studio, Utopia. You probably know Utopia, it's right in the Bears' full complex.
I've heard of it, yeah.
But most in the house, yeah.
That's great.
That's cozy.
Cozy.
Cats, rainstorms.
Yeah, how many cats?
The fire, three cats.
Three cats.
Lots of squirrels.
Nice.
Yeah, very woods.
It's a very woodsy place and it almost feels like a treehouse, even though it's not high.
Well, I guess it's kind of in the mountain a little bit.
It's kind of, it's a little too much tree, but like, I'm always like, sometimes I'll set up a table in the driveway because I'm like, here's where the sun is today and I just need a little sun.
But yeah, I'm very pleased to be there.
A little secluded spot.
Well, do you want to do a song from the new album?
Do you think we could do Break Apart first?
Break Apart, yeah, sure.
I love this one.
Thank you. This one was actually on a different album.
Oh, it's not from the new album?
I don't know which one. Maybe Tightrope Walker?
Okay.
I tend to take like a lot of time between the records, so I just forget.
How many, how much time this time?
This one was nine years.
Wow.
But I don't count three of the years because it was like 2020 to 2023, like.
That doesn't count.
No.
But everybody's counting in articles. But yeah, Tightrope Walker came out in 2014, I think, or 16.
Who knows?
But you've done a lot of stuff between. Little singles.
I do a lot of touring.
Yeah, a lot of touring and then a couple random EPs here and there.
Yeah. Yeah, it's not like you're...
I'm not just sitting around feeding squirrels.
One question.
No, not on this one. That's on the other one. Okay.
If it's wrong, it's because I did something wrong. Just know that.
Don't be like that. Don't be that.
It's a badge of honor.
I pave the way for people who are nervous.
Please...
Baby, please, don't go.
Please, baby, I... I need you now.
Walking the world without you,
it just won't do.
'Cause I gave up
on your heart.
Nobody loves like you do.
Nobody makes me feel whole.
And if you don't fall for me too,
I'm gonna break apart.
And please, baby, please, don't you lie.
Don't say it's not old, say it's not our time.
Nothing could stop me now from wanting you.
'Cause I, I get so high on your, your heart.
And nobody loves like you do.
Nobody makes me feel alone.
I'm gonna break.
Apart.
I'm gonna break into
a million pieces around you if you don't fall for me too tonight.
If you don't fall for me too tonight.
Oh my God.
You are beautiful.
You are.
Come on.
Your voice.
Your voice. You're playing. Come on.
I love that song.
Ooh. Thank you. Thank you. God, I love her. You just have the most beautiful touch. It's just beautiful.
Really great.
Fellow piano player.
I clank a lot.
On piano?
Yeah, I'm not a big like, listen back. I think I should have been. It might have made a big difference.
Well, I don't, I don't like reviewing things when they've just happened. I like to ride the like, energy of whatever the show was. But I think you can learn a lot by listening and seeing how it's translating. And I only started doing that because it freaks me out. So I know, I know I'm a little pounder.
It's not the fun part.
But I think that's cool that you don't want to do that.
I hope.
Because most people overthink things and then they perfect it until it's soulless. You know? So.
It's better to not do that.
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If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories,
you'll hear what happened before the moment that made them who they are today. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, you play guitar great, too.
Oh.
What came first?
Uh, piano first, yeah. Um, I took lessons for a year when I was 12.
And then the teacher, who was great, but she, she kept trying to stop me from moving. And, cause I did this at the piano all the time. And I was like, eh, this isn't fun.
The ti ti ta ta math part, I was like, mm, I'd rather learn it by ear. Um, I did take music theory, but I failed it twice in school. And I was like, um, so I came up on that and then, but I just kept playing piano. I loved it. I'd find those empty rooms.
More by ear?
Colleges by ear. And just like meandering things, new real purpose behind it. And then I didn't pick up guitar until I started, um, writing songs.
Okay. Did you find it easier to write on guitar because it was like more basic in a way? Or?
I, I don't, I wish I, or I want to learn more chords. Cause I tend to write the same chord formation, just because I don't know what I'm doing on guitar. And, um, I find it easier on piano for some reason.
Oh, really?
That's funny.
Cause I, I like dissonance a lot and I like just sort of, um, I have to write out all the letters of every single.
Chord.
To know what it in there, a lot of arrows and.
You have a whole system that's 100% you.
Yeah, I try and, and share it.
You should publish those.
I mean, it's great, cause if I ever lose them, everybody's like, I don't know what this is. It's not gonna help them.
So, yeah. How about you? Do you?
I, well, I, I mean, I started on piano and then I, I think when I moved to New York, I started playing guitar, cause I didn't have a piano yet. And then I started writing songs on guitar. It was a simpler, more, because I learned jazz piano at first.
And so everything had a seventh chord or like an alteration.
Right.
And I couldn't write, I don't know, I didn't really write on it.
And then when I started playing guitar and I was just playing these simple chords, the melodies and lyrics came easier.
Crazy. And then do you play bass as well?
How about drums? I feel like-
I dabble.
A dabble?
Isn't that fun?
It's so fun. Do you play drums?
I think it's the hardest instrument to play.
Like, I, I cannot, I'm good at tambourine. I had starring roles in previous bands on a tambourine. And I've tried playing drums and, um, but once you sit down and try, it really gives you an appreciation for-
Yes.
-an incredible drummer. Like, I used to, you know, I'd look back and be like, why can't you play this? Or like, switch that? And then I was like, please, I will never give you a commentary again.
It's funny.
Yeah. It's really hard.
It's hard, but it's so fun. Well, I mean, I only plays very simple backbeats-
-in the band Puss in Boots for Sasha and Kat.
But, um, it's so fun.
It's great.
Yeah. Now I want to play more drums.
I know. I want to learn, I think I want to do like a string instrument.
Oh, yeah?
I've always wanted to do that, yeah.
I picked up the fiddle once, um, for about a few months. And, um, that, it was something I really wanted to do.
Then I, like, had a kid and I forgot about it.
Got the kids.
I think it was while I was pregnant and I was just kind of nesting. And I was like, I want to play the fiddle.
That's amazing.
Then I haven't touched it since.
Oh, wow. I wonder if you, if you did, if there'd be a reaction.
I wonder, yeah, I don't know. I should try that. I don't think he'd, I don't think he'd remember at this point.
You never know.
Oh, my gosh.
Um, so, did you sing from a early age?
Um, a little bit in like different choirs, like school choirs.
In high school, there was a thing called the swing choir, where you like dance and sing.
Oh, yeah.
And do those kind of things.
I'm familiar with those.
Do you, were you, did you do what?
I wasn't in the one in my high school, they had a show choir.
Show choir?
Yeah, but I was in like the jazz singers, which was less dancy.
But, yeah.
I love to dance, but I'm, I'm not a great dancer, but I love doing it. And, uh, so this was fun. And then I did music theater stuff.
Did you do plays and things like that?
I, maybe in junior high.
Junior high.
Yeah, I went to an arts high school, so once I got there, it was very focused on jazz.
Cause it was more special, specialty.
Specialized, yeah.
And then you started playing the late night clubs early, right? How old were you?
I mean, I, I was in college in, in Denton, Texas.
And, um, for two years, and I, I really just played restaurants. And then I was in a band that had a few gigs.
Where I sang, and I was the front person, which was very awkward for me, cause I was not, I was not a great front person. I'm still not.
It's hard.
Yeah, because I'm used to being behind an instrument.
So I never had to learn that skill of like working the crowd, or.
Or moving.
It's such a other area of showmanship.
That's not necessarily a natural thing.
Unless it is totally natural.
Yeah, and I, I think, I've also seen so many people do it where I'm like cringing a little, so I don't.
Ever wanna do that.
I don't wanna be unnatural.
And it's almost like you have to start it out of the gates. It's like you can't adopt sort of a.
A showmanship style.
If people start knowing you. See, I think your voice is so, um. Velvet and layered, that that's the commanding attention. I think it would be.
Well, I'm riding on that.
Ride on that, Norah Jones.
But I do know what you mean, because I remember at some point, I got really into Tom Waits, and my drummer at the time, Andrew Borger, used to play with him. And he was talking about how he has all these things that he does on stage that, you know, there's like dust on his coat. It's like stage dust. I'm like, really? Oh, so he plans it all. He's just not. And he's like, yeah, there's something theatrical about it. And then I started wanting to do something like that. And then, yeah, it felt weird to just start doing something very effect, like different.
Even though it doesn't seem affected if you start out doing it.
I mean.
Like, I wanted to wear wigs and, you know, wear different clothes.
I know, me too. Like, I love that idea. I saw Tom Waits, and he did, he had the piano was on a platform. It was a wooden platform, covered in sawdust, so that when he would smash his boot, for the first time, he'd hear it was like a drum, a kick drum under it, and the sawdust would come up.
I thought that was, it was beautiful. It was like, I don't know, it's tricky little stage production things that add a little element, could be something, or we could just like come out in spacesuits. I think I would see that show.
I would see it too, but I think I would feel too, too self-conscious about it.
Doing it now.
Yeah, I know.
You know? Like David Bowie, you know? He always changed it up, but he was always doing something.
Something, something different, yeah.
I don't know.
Do you ever stand up and sing without playing an instrument at your shows?
Yeah, every now and then. I have a song called Elephants, and I was doing that a cappella a little bit. And that was fun, because that's how I wrote it, so it had a thing that was kind of magical. And then, depending on where it is, I'll do some, I'll do a lot of touring in Asia and.
There's a different audience energy with my songs in Asia for me.
Where we can stretch it a little bit. So that I will take the mic off and run around and be a very sort of
How fun.
Different front.
So you're like a total
Which is not fun.
Pop icon in Asia.
Is this what we're getting?
Wouldn't that be nice? No, it's not quite that. But it is like more. It feels like otherworldly in that way.
I think because they discovered my early records later, after I had a good sort of run as my solo career in the States. And so I I felt like it was newer for them in a way and I could try some a little more out.
That's so fun.
Yeah, it was totally, totally fun.
You guys go over there a lot, right?
We do, yeah.
All over.
Yeah, a lot. And I've gone to Korea many times, South Korea. China, we've been going to. I've been there about like seven or eight times. Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore. Yeah, just different realms. It's very fun.
That is fun.
Yeah. Do you ever go international anymore?
I do, but I I haven't been anywhere like that in a very, very long time.
I go to Japan a lot, like every few years.
But I, yeah, I'm kind of overdue for the rest.
After I had kids, I feel like I had to sort of limit everything.
Sure.
You know?
Yeah. Well, you're a workhorse in terms of like so many projects. That's the other thing is like Pete used to tell me, I was like, you'd get off the road. I'm like, what is she, what's she doing now? Oh, she's going in to record a Christmas song or a new record or she's, you know, and she's sitting in over here. I'm like, man, like, it's really, I read this book, the Patti Smith Just Kids book.
Yeah, I read that.
It kicked my ass in terms of like, um, sorry, I don't know if I'm allowed to say that.
Yeah, you're allowed.
Can you bleep that? It kicked my, it kicked my booty into.
What it can mean to do some form of art every day and live an artistic lifestyle on a consistent basis of any, for no purpose other than just doing it, like writing a poem and doing a painting, writing a song, whatever it is. And you strike me as somebody sort of akin to that, just consistently creating and showcasing what you find. And it's beautiful.
Thanks. Do you have any other artistic things you do?
I rearrange furniture.
That's pretty artistic. That's like, that's like you need an outlet.
I love that kind of thing. I love sort of making, making spaces, excuse me. And I always think there's a, there's a, an avenue for collapsible stage decor that needs to happen, like things for-
You're right.
That can squish and fit.
Yeah, but looks-
But looks cool or looks like a big vision.
I would rent it if you make it.
Right, alright, perfect.
I'm always looking for something to put on the stage.
Excellent, me too, right?
Like a sofa.
Yeah, I know. Well, Barbra Streisand does that.
She does?
Oh, my gosh, she had a whole living room set. It was amazing.
That's cool.
She makes it feel like her living room.
Well, that's nice. You could do like a blow up version.
I think totally. I mean, I'm really seeing this whole alien space suit, couch, living room.
I don't know if those two things could be-
I think, I think, I think they could. But it just hasn't been done yet, which is, yeah, we'll see.
Well, I'm not good at sitting still, I've realized, but at the same time, I want to.
You know, so sometimes I feel like I've done this since the beginning, when, when I get off a big, long tour and I don't have anything to do. The side bands have been really great for that because it's a way to play music without having to think about the next big thing.
But also, like, I'll take a pottery class. Right now, I'm taking a painting class.
It's so good.
It's my favorite thing to do always.
What kind of painting? Oil, watercolor?
It's acrylic.
Acrylic.
Yeah. It's just fun.
Yeah, having a hobby that's not music.
And it's hard to do it.
To remember that it's nice to do, you know? It's just hard to remember to do it.
Yeah, to take, it's good to have your- Your creative channel in something that has no, we really are like learning a new, something that you've never done. And yeah, I love that.
But this podcast is so fun for me because it's, it's creative, but it's also kind of loose.
Which is how I am.
I hate to practice.
Me too.
So if I didn't have all this stuff going on.
It's so hard.
Yeah. I wouldn't be playing if I didn't have a reason to, like a gig.
Or something to do.
Yeah, same, same with me.
Yeah. I just rearrange firms.
Everybody comes, come over again, you'll see a totally different.
I'll help you.
Please.
Let's start a business of interior design. We just come over, you have to leave. We have eight hours, we get to do whatever we want. I have a friend who, that she's like, we should open a design, design company. She's like, yeah, I just don't want anybody's feedback. And I'm like, I agree totally.
Yeah, you're not trying to drum up a business line yelp.
Yeah, exactly. Like if you let us do whatever we want. I like that idea.
Yeah, that would be fun.
Oh my goodness.
Will you play piano for me?
Yeah, I would love to.
Sweet.
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If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Niall explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment
that made them who they are today. Listen to "Before the Moment", a Lincoln original series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. I don't think I played your piano when I was at your house.
It's dark. It's Kauai.
It's nice.
But it's heavy, which I like.
Yeah. I like a dark piano. This one's kind of dark.
Yeah. Beautiful.
So this is a song from your new album?
This is the first song on the album?
Yeah. It's backwards.
It's deep.
It's a deep one.
It's got some depth to it.
We did have a debate about, is that the right title or the right song choice to do as a first
first song. And then it just made, it actually ended up making sense with the flow of the record.
It's hard to sequence a record.
Really hard.
I can't be no use to you. If I can't be good for myself, I can't make it better for anybody else. Maybe it's all right, it's gone out.
Turn off in an empty house.
Nothing's gonna change until I do.
And I can't be no use to you if I can't make this on my own. I can't make it better if I can't face the soul.
And it would be so easy to say, "Easy" unless what I feel. I'd never wanna look back and regret it all by staying here. And maybe it's our life going out.
Back there's not a place that I can be.
Oh, I'm so far from home, from where we've been. I'm scared and yet I'm not alone. I know that you are here with me, inside my heart. You'll always be, you're all I've ever known.
I'm just afraid of slipping backwards.
All that I am is slowly turning.
And now you're not in front of me.
Baby, it's the last thing that I'd ever wanna do. Is go ahead and leave you now.
Maybe it's a moment that you find a way to run. Says, "Baby, I can't turn around."
Maybe it's our lights gone out.
Turned off in an empty house.
That there's not a place that I can be.
That song's so sad. It's so sad, right?
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If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Niall explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment that made them who they are today.
Listen to "Before the Moment," a Lincoln Original Series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Had you written a lot of these songs? Had you had them kicking around for a long time? Or how did it all come about?
For this record, like in 2019, I finished a lot of touring, a couple rounds of Asia, US. And then I had a batch of them. And I had taken 2020 off and saved up all this money to go make a record in 2020.
Got it.
And then 2020 hit, and it was, everything changed for everybody. And during that time, I actually wrote a few more songs. I realized I wrote almost every song in the same key. So, and it just became a meandering something. And so I actually went in and started trying to demo them, five of them, as like a short film, or a short, in my head, like just something that bled one into the other.
And I started playing with transitions. And then as time went on, I built sort of more songs around it. And that's where the figuring out the order and the, you know, time changed from the perspective I had when I first started writing the record versus when, after going through that change, some of it infiltrated, of course. And then...
And then we started recording in 2023 and four.
Something like that, yeah. I was doing little bits and pieces. But then I had spent all the money that I had saved to make the record. So I had to go out and tour again.
Gotcha.
To sort of fill up an account. And then we went pretty hard. Well, I guess 23 is when we really started digging in and then.
Yeah. People don't realize that you have to spend money to.
Pay musicians and studio time and mixing.
It's crazy.
So many people just do stuff at home on their computers. But it's so nice to work with people and collaborate.
It's so beautiful.
Yeah, it's funny. It's a, the model is changing. I think it has to change for different levels of artists. And yeah, financially, I just finished a run and it's, you know, it's, it's like, wow, I spent a lot of money on sort of to go out and do it. I'm like, I wonder, I had this long discussion, just, just doing it. At the level that I'm at, it's sort of like, it's, it's, I have a lot of friends sort of where I'm at and, and people have to cancel tours because it's just the cost to do it.
Versus.
I've heard of that happening so much in the last few years, too.
I think so. So it's, it's always nice to figure out new avenues of creativity. And even something like this, which is contained in its own space in a certain respect, is like so beautifully inspiring and wonderful and yeah.
Yeah, it's fine. It's, it's, it's in the hole, though. You know what I mean? Like, it costs money to do it.
It does.
And it's fine for now.
But I don't know.
If it'll ever get out of the hole.
But, you know, it's definitely like a.
I think things will change. I, I do have high, high hopes for sort of the evening out of, of what is, you know, important and crucial and stirs your heart and compensation that makes it so you can keep going at it.
I hope so. I mean, I think people love. To see live music.
But at the same time, people don't want to leave their houses.
I know. It takes a lot to get me out.
Yeah, I kind of stopped inviting people to shows.
Because I don't expect anyone to want to leave their house.
Like friends and stuff.
Yeah, sure.
It's really hard. People get snuggled in. It's true. And it's a whole evening. It's not just like the comes to the show. I have to struggle. I mean, we have so many great venues in Woodstock and I have to really like, okay, it's gonna be a 10-minute drive.
Yeah, that's not even that far.
I know. It's kind of nuts. Yeah.
You have to psych yourself up for a night out.
You do.
It's such a funny age. Maybe that's just our age. I don't know.
I think there's a little bit of an age thing there too. I mean, most of my audience now is probably in bed by nine. And like, that's a healthy, like, if I play an early show, they're like, thank God. How civil is this? I'm like, I agree.
Yeah, I know. I'm like, can I open for somebody?
A late sound show, an early show, go to bed.
That would be my ideal gig.
I'm telling you, there's so many ideas happening right now. Afternoon shows with alien costumes and sofas for everybody. Sofas for the musicians and cots for the people not.
4 p.m. show. Actually, that might even be too late.
It could be a 1 p.m. show.
1 p.m. I like one.
I like one.
As soon as it starts getting dark, I'm like, ah, try again tomorrow.
I know. It's so funny.
Conversations.
It's awesome.
Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval. If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success,
before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment that made them who they are today. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm like, I had other things I wanted to ask you. What are they? Oh, so when you do tour Asia, since it's a little bit of a different vibe, is your audience younger?
Yeah, you know what? It spans, you know, I never even thought about it. It's, it's a pretty wide range.
Yeah, it's a pretty wide range. I would, there probably is a bigger, younger contingent, just because there might be finding the music younger.
It's so fun.
Yeah. It's, it's really, it's intriguing to ask somebody younger, how did you find this?
You know, and I don't even know what the channels, it's like a lot of YouTube. People are like, or social media, TikToks, the whole, all the things.
I think that's how they find a lot of things.
Yeah. Those youngins.
Those people, yeah. It's just, that's why if you do figure out the way to get yourself out there in that way, it's good.
I wonder if we're moving into a time where we all become curators and they'll come to you for...
You know, you're introducing so many artists into your world. And so they're, and you do so many different things. Or same, like if I'm doing, you know, if I feed the squirrels, whatever I do, if somebody's interested in that, like, but you're curating a world that I think people appreciate. Cause there's, I just don't know if there's, the algorithms are really tricky. So I think just be you and do what you do and showcase your world.
I think that's all you can do.
And that used to be the advice people would give when we were younger too, and, and starting out playing music. Just be you and do what you do.
It's the same kind of theory, I guess.
I guess, yeah.
Yeah, but I think the younger generation is so, having grown up with it.
I, I read this thing about how everyone at the Grammys a couple of years ago, the young people, they were all so good because they've grown up on camera. It's like a whole other thing.
At, at performing, that thing, you know?
Oh, I didn't even think about that.
I know, I didn't either until I read this somewhere and I was like, oh yeah, you're right.
That's wild.
I mean, I guess in a way, the, the young, young.
The polish button was like, the tau was turned on.
There's just no when it's, how to turn it on, in a good way.
Yeah, yeah.
And it's natural and like, you know, I'm like, I don't know.
That is so wild.
I don't know how to do that. But.
I heard there was a study where kids who were using like the, with the VR sets or the gaming or that, the tricky part was that the colors are so vibrant and the sounds are so vibrant that when you take it off and it's like, you're looking at sort of daily life, the excitement factor isn't there.
Like your dopamine gets.
It's too low.
Which was, I had never thought about that.
That's interesting too.
That's freaky.
That is freaky. I mean, I know the dopamine thing with phones and touchscreen.
It's really bad.
So I started the television the other day and I was like, this is just a giant phone turned horizontally. I'm like, why is this just occurring to me now? It's like time sucking me in.
It is, but somehow it doesn't feel as bad.
But when I was a kid, I remember being home from school, maybe.
Watching eight hours of TV and feeling like crap.
And knowing that that did it, but it's still not the same.
You knew, yeah.
It's not as bad.
Now I'm like, please watch eight hours of TV. I mean, not really, but like
Again, I know.
Over a screen.
It's wild. It's so wild.
Yeah. No, I just sound like an old lady now.
I know, me too. Like, no, we're good. We're young. Edit all that out.
We're cool.
I think we're super cool.
I do too.
I think we're really cool.
So this new album, are you gonna do, Sarah was saying that you're doing like a string quartet version of some of that?
Yeah, I did this living room in the house and we got this incredible string quartet and, who I found because they do a lot of playing with Natalie Merchant.
Cool.
And I saw them play and I was like, who are these? They're amazing.
Do they have a name, like a band name?
They don't have their own name, but, and there's three corps and then I think they're searching for their fourth, but we got really lucky because there, some are split in the city, some are in upstate. We had never met. I had never played with a string quartet. I had never played without headphones. And so we had like 20 people over and filmed this two day shoot of seven, I think six or seven songs and arranged them and just
sort of flew by the seat of our pants and it was amazing. We had everything under the sun happen where, you know, there was a copperhead in the yard and I thought we'd film all these scenes in the yard and like, I know, I know.
We used the same guy.
Cobra Kai. We got his number. He came over with the equivalent of like a wardrobe pincher or whatever, looking for, I'm like, is that really gonna protect you? Looking for this snake. And, you know, that shifted where we were filming and, but yeah, we got some beautiful versions of. The songs and it was it was a magical two days that I think we captured. So I'm gonna go through and start sort of listening back to versions and and we'll put the video piece of it together and release it early next year.
That sounds really beautiful.
It'll be good.
Just the sound of strings in the room.
And your voice.
So gorgeous.
And no headphones.
It was the no headphones was really interesting. Even with this, I was like, oh, like, what's that gonna be?
It's kind of wonderful.
It's pretty nice.
Yeah, if you can do it.
It's just like, I was gonna say rubbing. I was gonna say like friction, rubbing, but then it sounded wrong. Then I got confused. Anyway.
I know what you mean.
You know what I mean.
Thank you, Rachel.
I do. It's like intertwining like atoms of texture.
Exactly.
Yes, that'd be.
We should write books.
I can't think of words anymore.
Again, I'm so old.
I'm like, I'm starting to worry about my memory.
I have a terrible memory.
It's awful. Have you done that thing where you walk into a room and you're like, I know I had a, I know I'm in here for something?
I've written songs about it. Yeah. I'm like, literally, I have a song about it called Staring at the Wall. And it's like, I literally go to every room and then I I leave the room. I do something, but not the thing I meant to go do.
It's the phone. I, for me, I think it's just like sucked all my attention.
Span.
It's it's fast. Everything's fast. It's one minute to the next, minute to the next.
That's why music is so nice. I think it's like my only time to really just be in the moment.
It's really hard to be in the moment nowadays and.
Yeah, and it's more important than ever, right?
Like, are are you in the metaphysical interest world at all of sort of consciousness?
What does that mean?
Of like consciousness.
Please explain more.
Cosmicness.
Oh, got it.
And all just like the importance of things that fascinated me. I went on deep dives in 2020.
But these, the idea that we're all energy waves, everything matter is like an actual just moving energy.
I like this.
And that we're interacting and our consciousness is sort of. Intertwined and we're a collective.
And these ideas of frequency and.
I like that.
Oh, it's amazing.
You need to tell me more about this.
I will send you lots of things.
Send me more things.
I will send you many things.
Does this intertwine with like ways to elevate your consciousness?
Absolutely. You know what, for me, it, I think when you can maintain sort of a a frequency of gratitude, of love, of sharing, like the highest that you can go, like on your best day. And then you start seeing the reactions of what you encounter every day and the, and how it reiterates the idea that maybe we are co-creating more than we think we are.
And especially when the world gets nuts and there's so much zing on a consistent basis. This idea of centering your own energy and grounding it and stillness and breath work and, which I do because I chain smoke. I mean, I have to, I'm not saying I know what I'm doing, but like, there's a lot of like,
A lot to be gained in terms of like integrating that so that what you're zinging out to the rest of the world is more balanced, more peaceful, and then that starts to shift things. It shifts my world on a daily basis and it's not easy, but the more you investigate it, the more interesting it becomes.
I like it.
I'll send you some stuff.
Send me some stuff. Do you have a practice you do every day?
I journal. I do a lot of journaling.
Do you always do it in the morning or do you?
I'm a morning person.
Like a first thing?
Yeah. Not every day, but I'll even like, you know, sitting with the animals, the various animal, yard animals that come. That does a lot for me.
And that clears something. Because I wake up with a to-do list, like almost
Ready to go.
And
I have to stop myself from sending emails too early.
Or text messages.
I know. I love
Because I'm just ready to go.
Do you know who does that, which I really appreciate? Emily King.
Oh, she does.
She's an early morning texter. And I love that.
Yeah, because you are.
Like, and like Joan Osborne does it. Like, there's a couple of buddies who I'm like, they're up doing it. Like, I know that I could call any of them and we could have a whole, like, I've already had three cups of coffee conversation because you're on it. But yeah, I go the other direction. I don't even look at emails.
I'm, it's a, yeah, I'm just starting to get back into it.
I feel like emails, kind of, nobody looks at them anymore.
I wonder.
I mean, I think for business, you have to sometimes. Some people do that.
Yeah. The chain.
I don't think young people look at emails.
I don't know that they
I don't think they do.
But I don't even know if they look at texts. Like, there's probably
I don't know, but I will say, I used to be wordy as a texter.
But now, I can't even read a paragraph. I can't focus on what somebody's saying.
Do you do the voice memo? Do you do the
I don't, and I hate, I don't like it.
You don't?
I don't like it when I get one. Because then I have to stop and listen to it. And I, it's like, I always read the translation instead.
See, I don't even know how to make the translation button yet. That's one of my things, taking time out, I'm going to learn all these things about like, file folders on computers and how to back up a computer. And it's such a list of like
I know that the voice text thing is good in a way.
But I just, I think I'm too wrapped up in doing stuff.
I have a hard time.
You have a full plate. You have a very full plate.
I do, but I don't, I mean, I, it's not that I do. It's that I
Sometimes I just get wound up, you know?
I understand.
Because I drink more coffee.
Because you drink more coffee. Well, this is so fun.
So fun.
Are you going back out on tour?
Uh, not yet. I'm gonna, yeah, I think the String Quartet EP, whatever that will become, is the main priority.
Do you think you'll tour with the Strings?
You know,
I do a few special things.
I just came off a run that had violin and cello and Michael Chavez, who plays a little bit of everything. And that arrangement was really nice. We played rooms that already had, you know, real acoustic pianos in them. And that had a thing to it. And I really loved that. So if there's a way to kind of continue that, I would do that. Yeah, I would love to do that.
Yeah, that would be nice.
So you tour with a small band usually?
Just depends. Yeah.
Do you ever tour solo?
I have. I have, and I love it, actually.
Okay, I've never done it.
No, I think I just, it feels too hard or also boring, maybe. Like, I'm afraid I'll get bored by myself.
I bet. I get that. I get the internal thing of like.
But you're not alone. You're interacting.
You are, yeah.
So I forget that.
Oh, and people would love it. They would be just, they would eat it up. Like, it's scary, right?
It seems scary, yeah. But it's intimate and in a way that is beautiful.
Totally.
When you do, when you've done it, do you do some piano and some guitar?
Piano and guitar.
I think that would be nice for me. I think thinking about doing like an hour and a half just on piano feels limiting for me.
It's a lot, yeah.
Like, I miss the backbeat of something.
And there, you know, there's, I would use like a stomp pedal or a couple loop things so that I could, you could trigger some things. And I actually also did a, like a projector movie. Because there was something about having like a visual in tandem if you're doing solo that helped me, my show. But I think people would love it.
I love that idea.
But then you can't beat like the connection of another musician that you're like.
Yeah, I just like it.
Yeah, you're so good at it.
I feel like if I was gonna do a solo thing, I would have to practice it.
I don't like that.
That's the thing I don't wanna do.
I know. Well, I know. Well, you could do exclusive, like preview shows.
Where I'm just practicing.
Yes. Do it in our living room. You're invited anytime. I will rearrange the furniture.
I mean, actually, I thrive on a practice gig. That's kind of my jam.
Yeah, like with Puss in Boots, that's what we always do. We do the little bar gigs and then.
So good.
We mess up and then we get it together.
You gotta give Cat Popper a big hug, don't you?
Yeah, I will.
She played on my Elephants record.
That's right. I kinda knew that. I forgot that.
Yeah, she's amazing. Incredible.
You know, we met one time at, wasn't it the 30 Rock?
Oh, right. Yes.
That's the only time we've met.
That is, we did meet that time.
Yeah, we did meet then, yeah.
And the Just Give a Kidney episode, the like, We Are the World.
Whatever. Oh, my God, that was so funny.
That was so funny.
That was so funny. To this day, people are still calling. They're like, I was just watching. I'm like, yep.
I know, it's funny.
So funny. That was a magical day.
That was a fun day.
That was nutty.
Yeah, I was right across the hall from Cyndi Lauper in the dressing room.
I kept watching her exchange phone numbers with the Beastie Boys.
Oh, that's hilarious.
This is incredible.
Yeah, there were some crazy people there.
So, Moby's like, what's this harmony? I'm like, I don't know, Moby.
I forgot Moby was there. Oh, my God.
Michael McDonald was right in front of me. He's like, oh, yeah.
The whole day blew my mind.
I know, it's crazy. I feel like you were behind me, maybe?
I think I was on the other, Rhett Miller was around. Yep. Yeah, I was on the left. I think you were by Borellos. Was Borellos there?
Yes, that's right.
Yeah, Borellos was there and. Yeah, it was just wild.
When you look at the photo, do you have that photo?
I don't. I should, I should find it.
You gotta find that photo.
Yeah, this was wild.
Surreal.
Yeah, I just remembered. That's the movie I'm in.
No Biggs.
No Biggs. Yeah. What? Oh, right.
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If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before
the moment that made them who they are today. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wow. So, do you do a lot of cover songs? Not really.
Not so much.
Yeah, I had a hard time finding it.
Yeah. Not so much, but I'd like to. But then that would involve practicing and learning.
Which is why for this next one.
You would play the piano. But yeah, it's a, I've done a couple here and there, but, and I love trying them if I have a band or something, for sure. Yeah.
I think it's okay. You don't need to necessarily do them.
Yeah, I did like Sheryl Crow's "Home on a Zither" once.
Oh, wow.
I was like, I can't believe this.
A zither?
Ding ding.
That's fun.
Yeah, it was kinda nice. Yeah, but I gotta branch out. Gotta branch out.
Well, I asked if you wanted to try it. Cover and you suggested the song, "I Wish You Love." Which is, I love this song.
I love this song.
It's like from the 40s, right? Yeah, it's a beautiful song.
But did you do this for soundtrack or something?
For "Prime," the movie "Prime." Yeah, Kevin Salem and I just went in and did two versions. I think the movie actually has sort of a more uptempo,
traditional version, and that was the one that they used in the film. And then we had one that was like, really like, hey. And that version, I think, maybe was on the soundtrack as well, or it's just it's living on the internet somewhere. But, yeah. You do anything you want.
I wish you bluebirds in the spring
to give your heart a song to sing. And then a kiss, but more than this. I wish you love.
And in July, a lemonade to cool you in some leafy glade. I wish you health and more than wealth. I wish you love.
My breaking heart and I agree that you and I could never be. So with my... My best, my very best, I set you free.
I wish you shelter from a storm, a cozy fire to keep you warm. But most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love.
My breaking heart, and I agree that you and I could never be. So with my best, my very best, I set you free.
I wish you shelter from a storm,
a cozy fire to keep you warm. But most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love.
But most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love.
That's a 1 PM hit, babe.
1 PM? It's not even 1 PM. It's probably noon right now.
It's perfect. I love it.
This is so fun.
Okay, let's hang out all the time.
Let's do it.
Thanks for listening. That was Rachel Yamagata. That was really fun to play together.
She's incredible.
Yeah. If you want to know the songs we played, the first song was "Break Apart" from her album called Tightrope Walker, which was released in 2016. The second song was "Backwards" from Starlit Alchemy, released in 2025. And the last song we did was "I Wish You Love." The music was by Leo Charliac and Charles Trenet, and French lyrics by Trenet, written in the 1940s. The new lyrics by American composer and lyricist Albert Askew Beach. Special thanks to Rachel Yamagata for joining us today, and we'll be back next week with Long Long. Norah Jones is Playing Along is a production of iHeart Podcasts. Visit Norah Jones' channel and be sure to subscribe while you're there.
I'm your host, Norah Jones. Today's episode was recorded by Kyle Pass, mixed by Jamie Landry. Additional recording by Matt Marinelli. Audio post-production and mastering by Greg Tobler. Artwork by Eliza Frye. Photography by Sherwin Lanaz. Produced by Norah Jones and Sarah Oda. Executive producers Erin Wong Kaufman and Jordan Runtog. Marketing lead Allison Cantor-Graeber.
If you love music and great artist interviews, check out Before the Moment, hosted by Nile Rodgers. This new series follows Nile as he travels across the country talking with some of today's most fascinating artists about the moments that shaped their lives and careers. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every musician remembers the point where everything changed, and this podcast tells the stories that came before it. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series on iHeart Radio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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