Rachael Sage Talks Upcoming Shows at City Winery NYC

To put it simply, Rachael Sage is an industry powerhouse.

In addition to running her own record label, she is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and performer who has toured the globe.

As she gears up for the release of her new album this spring, the award-winning New York City-born artist will open two shows at City Winery this week for Howard Jones, who she is currently on tour with. "I've only played at City Winery twice before actually, so it's still pretty new for me - but off the bat there's a a candle-lit, beautiful intimacy to the space that just makes it feel like a living room. The sound is wonderful, and I also love red wine so I'm definitely target audience as well as eager performer!" she told Musical Notes Global. "The first gig I played there was with Al Stewart and it was right after Hurricane Sandy so there was no electricity in Downtown NYC. The venue decided to open anyway though so people in the neighborhood could come and have a place to hear music, which I thought was incredible. Basically there were no lights, only candles, and a small generator powering the sound system. It was also Halloween so we were all dressed up, and between that and the concert-by-candles I'll always think of City Winery as the most committed listening room in NYC!"

During the March 2 and March 3 shows, Sage will preview some of her new material from her upcoming 13th studio album, Myopia, due for release in May. The album, which was produced by Sage and her longtime engineer John Shyloski, was recorded between Carriage House Studios in Stamford, CT and her home studio in NYC's East Village.

Featuring the contribution of Hoboken-based guitarist James Mastro, the collection promises to be more guitar-driven than her usual piano-laced fare and finds Sage exploring a bigger picture, commenting on today's state of affairs and the world around her rather than delving deep into the personal. "The songs from my new album come from a very different place for me emotionally in that they were sparked by the tumult of our current sociopolitical landscape, vs. anything overly personal or romantic, subject-wise. They're a lot about wanting to break through blockades, connect, see past bias and opinion into the heart of what makes all of us human, and the same. That has become increasingly difficult for many people to do in recent times, but that only makes me more determined than ever to continue to be that kind of conduit."

Show-goers can expect to experience a full range of emotions with Sage's set at the warm city venue, and may even be reminded of not only how to connect with others, but how to reconnect with themselves. "I hope people feel uplifted, entertained and also contemplative," she said. "I want my music to make people from all walks of life feel more united and communal, but also to spark individuals to commit or recommit to their respective passion(s), whether that be work-related or romantic. I try to use my songwriting as a tool to really hone in on the experiences that we all can relate to in one way or another, as well as a way to remind every person that he/she has something unique and vital to contribute, whatever the obstacles may be. I've been told my keyword is 'empowered', which always makes me happy! :)"

"It's always especially exciting to perform for your hometown crowd, because these are the folks who've been with you for years, who've followed your story and who have a certain preconception about what you may do or say onstage, as a result," she added. "I like to both play into that familiarity, and also to have fun breaking those preconceptions by surprising the audience with something brand new."

Watch Rachael Sage perform March 2 and March 3 at City Winery in NYC (additional dates below) and be sure to check out her new Law & Order: SVU-inspired single "Olivia".

Rachael On Tour

3/1 - Shalin Liu Performance Center - Rockport, MA *
3/2 - City Winery NYC - New York, NY *
3/3 - City Winery NYC - New York, NY *
3/4 - Hangar Theater - Ithaca, NY *
3/7 - Music Box Supper Club - Cleveland, OH *
3/8 - City Winery Chicago - Chicago, IL *
3/9 - The Tarkington - Carmel, IN *
3/10 - Live! At The Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH *
3/11 - St. Andrew's Hall - Detroit, MI *
3/12 – 3/17 – SXSW - Austin, TX
4/7 – Phoenix Pride - Phoenix, AZ
4/19 – Genghis Cohen - Los Angeles, CA
4/21 – Refugee House Concert - Visalia, CA
4/22 – The Monkey House – Berkeley, CA
4/28 – Concerts @ Indie Air Radio – Spokane, WA
4/30 – Rolling Hills Radio @ Shawbucks – Jamestown, NY
5/2 – Joe’s Pub – New York, NY
5/4 – Burlap & Bean – Newtown Square, PA
5/5 – Atomic Tom’s – Binghamton, NY