Since founding her own label MPress Records two decades ago, NYC-based alt-pop artist Rachael Sage has steadily released a slew of vibrant, dynamic albums with poetic lyrics spanning subjects as wide as her inspirations. She has toured with an eclectic list of artists including Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart, Sarah McLachlan, Judy Collins and Howard Jones. Sage also continues to significantly grow her visibility via her many song placements, including 22 songs on top reality show Dance Moms, translating into over 10 million YouTube hits.
Her new album Myopia, which was released last year, is a bold departure for Sage, with a much stronger emphasis on her guitar playing over her signature piano palette. Produced by Sage and her longtime engineer, 2-time Grammy Nominee John Shyloski, the album features drummer Doug Yowell (Joe Jackson, Duncan Sheik), keyboardist Rob Curto (Lila Downes), trumpeter Russ Johnson (Elvis Costello, Deborah Harry) and bassist Mike Visceglia (Suzanne Vega). On March 22nd, Sage will be releasing an acoustic version of Myopia, entitled PseudoMyopia, and will support the album with a full schedule of performances throughout the year.
The album is a companion acoustic album to Myopia, a collection of 11 songs focusing on the concept of vision – including narrow mindedness – in all its many manifestations. Legally blind without corrective lenses, Sage balances the political and the personal with a striking depth and perspective. A multi-instrumentalist herself, Sage enlisted a diverse cast of guest musicians to bring a warm intimacy to these very timely tracks, touching on topics as varied as government surveillance, environmental protection, and female empowerment. Guests include guitarist Ben Butler (Sting), bassist Richard Hammond (Joan Osborne), cellist Ward Williams (Sara Bareilles) and Grammy nominated musician Seth Glier.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the acoustic version of “Alive”, one of the standout tracks on both Myopia and PseudoMyopia. From the opening notes, this song feels optimistic. Sage sings a series of colorful metaphors about savoring life, painting a portrait of what it means to be grateful for the gift of life. With her poppy folk sound at the core, there is a transcendent feeling of euphoria that comes when she sings the chorus. Between global warming, violence and war, and the current political climate, the future can look increasingly dire if you dwell on it too much. With “Alive”, Sage reminds us that it’s okay to enjoy the moment, smile, and that maybe we aren’t as doomed as we think. She does this with playful vocals and the confidence of a songwriter who knows how to pen infectious hooks and choruses, and lyrics that resonate in a universal way.
Rachael Sage shares the story behind the song:
“I wrote ‘Alive’ to be an anthem about relishing life to the fullest and appreciating every moment, even in these turbulent times. With the acoustic version, I wanted to present the song like I’m playing it with my band unplugged in your living room. It’s always been important to me to be able to strip even my most ambitiously produced songs down to their core, which with ‘Alive’ is all about the driving acoustic guitar in the track.
For this version, it was an honor to bring in my old friend Ben Butler on additional guitar and mandolin. He has contributed to several albums throughout my career, and he instinctively knew just what was needed to bring fresh intimacy to the song. (He has also toured with two of my all-time favorite artists, George Michael and Sting, and I certainly couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring some of that mojo to this project!)”
LISTEN:
PseudoMyopia is out March 22nd on MPress Records For more music and info visit rachaelsage.com.
