When singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata was growing up, she went to all-girls school that she says warped her into the relationship-obsessed woman she’s become, at least in the lyrics of her songs. She began singing with a funk-crazed dance band called Bumpus while she was in college studying theater. While touring and recording with Bumpus, she was also writing confessional, deeply emotional songs that didn’t fit the band’s format. Happenstance, her first solo album, was a folk/pop charmer. Her tunes have appeared on The O.C., The L Word, Grey’s Anatomy and Alias, and Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst all expressed admiration for her vocal style. Having just issued Chesapeake (Frankenfish), Yamagata will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with her.
Yamagata: Am I of a dying breed, I wonder? Paper products—they do it for me. The latest binder, a great pen, the perfect compartment for your calculator. I’m old school. I’m a fan of envelopes and bubble wrap, stationary and paper clips. You want me to swoon: Grab me a yearly planner. I dream of having a proper office someday where I can go nutty with file cabinets and desk organizers to house my office supplies. I’ll wander a Staples just as quick as gals go nutty for Prada. I’m sure all of this speaks to a deeper desire to organize my life, but I just can’t get over how useful colored stickies can be. Am I the only one who never forgets her hole puncher and mini stapler? In truth, I have a small file cabinet sectioned off for batteries and misc. cords, letters, stationary and stamps. I cannot help it. OK, I can help it. I marvel at the people who need a stamp and go the post office for one stamp and then mail the letter. Done. Over. Sent. Me, I like my folders. If I needed to know where I lived in 1993, I could pull out the rental agreement and show you. You say you need to laminate something; come to my house, I’ve got it covered.
P.S. I recognize this is a problem.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sBfWQ0BIoA
