Rachael Yamagata On The Road

Tightrope Walker is due out Sept. 23 on Frankenfish Records/Thirty Tigers, marking her first new album since 2011’s Chesapeake and fourth LP overall.

The release is described as representing “an artist rebirth both lyrically and sonically” for Yamagata, with “themes of perseverance, relentlessness and owning your own power.”

The songstress launched a PledgeMusic campaign to finance the album, her second independent release. Yamagata co-produced Tightrope Walker with her long-time producer, Grammy-nominee John Alagia, who has worked with John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band.

Album pre-orders are ongoing and include the single “Nobody” as an instant grat download.

Tightrope Walker was inspired by French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who is best known for walking between the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in 1974.

“When Philippe Petit was asked why he walked the tightrope he responded, ‘Why – there is no why.’ This really f**ked me up,” Yamagata said. “I was devoting an entire theme of the tightrope walker to my new record: defending the weary spirit and empowering the underdog while using the high wire artist as a symbol of how to get through, but it hadn’t yet occurred to me to contemplate the why of getting through or the why of even my own art. Beyond that, why continue in an industry that I’d not yet conquered or pursue this when you have to give up so much to do so? Something propels our survival and search for happiness and it’s this desire to overcome what threatens to break us that continues to fascinate me. If you’re thinking of quitting – anything – this is your record.”

The fall tour, which will showcase fans’ favorite older songs along with the new tunes, begins Sept. 19 in Nashville.

Sept. 19 – Nashville, Tenn., Mercy Lounge  
Sept. 20 – Atlanta, Ga., Vinyl           
Sept. 22 – Charlottesville, Va., The Southern
Sept. 23 – Philadelphia, Pa., Union Transfer 
Sept. 24 – Washington, D.C., The Howard Theatre  
Sept. 26 – Brooklyn, N.Y., Music Hall Of Williamsburg      
Sept. 27 – New York, N.Y., The Bowery Ballroom 
Sept. 28 – Pawtucket, R.I., The Met 
Sept. 29 – Portland, Maine, Port City Music Hall     
Oct. 1 – Toronto, Ontario, Velvet Underground       
Oct. 3 – Pontiac, Mich., Pike Room  
Oct. 4 – Chicago, Ill., Thalia Hall      
Oct. 5 – Madison, Wis., High Noon Saloon  
Oct. 7 – Minneapolis, Minn., Triple Rock Social Club          
Oct. 10 – Dallas, Texas, Dada Dallas
Oct. 11 – Houston, Texas, White Oak Music Hall    
Oct. 12 – Austin, Texas, Antone’s
Oct. 14 – Denver, Colo., Larimer Lounge     
Oct. 15 – Salt Lake City, Utah, Urban Lounge         
Oct. 17 – Seattle, Wash., Tractor Tavern       
Oct. 18 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Fox Cabaret
Oct. 19 – Portland, Ore., Star Theater           
Oct. 21 – San Francisco, Calif., The Independent    
Oct. 22 – Santa Ana, Calif., Constellation Room @ The Observatory
Oct. 26 – Los Angeles, Calif., Teragram Ballroom   

Tickets are on sale now. Head over to RachaelYamagata.com for more information about the singer/songwriter.