14/09/2025
Rachael Yamagata Releases New Track “Backwards” 🎶
To all Ilonggos who vibe with soul-searching lyrics, cinematic soundscapes, and music that feels like a hug and a heartbreak at the same time—this one’s for you. Whether you’re having a cup of your comfort food or chasing sunsets, “𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬” might just be your next soundtrack for quiet strength and emotional clarity.
New York’s Rachael Yamagata isn’t dinner party small talk – she’s the knife and compass in a red velvet satchel.
Yamagata recently announced her first studio album in almost ten years, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐲, due out on October 3rd via Jullian Records. Sequenced intentionally and layered with dreamlike, ambient textures, full-band flourishes, and live-in-the-room warmth, Starlit Alchemy is less a diary and more a transmission: 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞.
The album’s arc begins with “Backwards,” out now—a quiet thesis statement born from years of reflection. First written for a musical, it reemerges as a reckoning with transformation and the ache of leaving parts of your world behind.
“𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯," Yamagata shares.
A fiercely independent artist, Yamagata first emerged in the early 2000s with her critically acclaimed debut 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Over two decades, she’s built a loyal following through raw, cinematic songwriting and soul-baring live performances—releasing beloved records like Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart, Chesapeake, and Tightrope Walker. She’s collaborated with Liz Phair, T***s and The Maytals, Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams, and Bright Eyes, all while forging her own path outside the major label system.
Now, she returns with her most cohesive and intentional work yet. Starlit Alchemy isn’t a playlist—it’s a deep dive.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦," she says.
The story—one of personal loss and universal rediscovery—unfolds slowly, with creative risk and emotional depth. Starlit Alchemy is not about bypassing pain, but evolving through it. “It’s forensics for trauma and beauty,” Yamagata explains. “The strength forms during the surrender and what you once were is shed.”
𝐀𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝? Imagine Tom Waits as W***y Wonka, Ricki Lee Jones as Dorothy, mentored by Hans Zimmer and Joni Mitchell (Both Sides Now era). It’s a sonic journey—strange, soulful, and spellbinding.
🎧 Streaming platforms:
https://orcd.co/rybackwards
