Brandi Marie Carlile (born June 1, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Her music spans different genres, including folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock.[1][2]
Born in Ravensdale, Washington, a rural town southeast of Seattle, Carlile dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music. As of 2021[update], Carlile has released seven studio albums. Her debut major label album, Brandi Carlile (2005), was released to critical acclaim. Carlile garnered wider recognition with her 2007 single, "The Story", from her album of the same name. Carlile later released Give Up the Ghost (2009), Bear Creek (2012), The Firewatcher's Daughter (2015), By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), and In These Silent Days (2021).
Carlile has been involved in activism and fundraising on various issues, including humanitarian aid, COVID-19 relief, racial justice, and LGBT rights.
Early life
Brandi Marie Carlile[9] was born on June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington, a small town 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Seattle.[10] Growing up in the only house for miles, Carlile played in the woods, built forts, and played music with her brother, Jay, and sister, Tiffany. When she was four, Carlile contracted bacterial meningitis, which almost took her life.[11] Her heart stopped several times and she was in a coma.[12] Carlile spent her early life living in King County's southern cities of Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Auburn, in Sumner, Washington, and briefly lived in West Seattle.[13]
Carlile taught herself to sing when she was a child, and she began singing country songs on stage when she was eight years old. At age eight, Carlile performed Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Flat Top Box" with her mother, Teresa Carlile,[14] and began writing songs at age 15.[15] At 16, Carlile became a backup singer for an Elvis impersonator.[16] According to Carlile, she was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder as a teen. She attended Tahoma High School, but later dropped out to pursue her music career.[17] After being introduced to the music of Elton John, Carlile taught herself to play piano, and at 17, she learned to play the guitar.[10]
Carlile began her career performing in Seattle music clubs with twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth.[18] In the beginning, Columbia Records signed Carlile in 2004 on the strength of songs she had been recording periodically at home. Released in 2005, Carlile showcased those early songs along with newly recorded tracks in the self-titled album Brandi Carlile. The 2006 re-release by Columbia Records included re-recordings of "Throw It All Away" and "What Can I Say".[citation needed]
The album earned enthusiastic reviews; she was featured on Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch in 2005" list, and other "artist to watch" lists by Interview and Paste. In his review of the album, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "The accolades, combined with cover artwork that captures her at her cutest – as if she were a cousin of Rachael Leigh Cook – might make some listeners suspicious of Carlile, since the cumulative effect makes her seem like a pretty, prepackaged creation." He further wrote, "her music is... rich, warm, and seductive, familiar in its form and sound, yet sounding fresh, even original, particularly in how her folky singer/songwriter foundation blends with her art-pop inclinations."[19] The album peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 1 on the US Folk Albums chart.[citation needed]
Shortly after the release of the album, she left her home in Seattle and set out with the Hanseroth brothers, as she had worked with them on her earliest recordings and independent regional tours. The tightly knit trio, which forms the core of her band today, spent the better part of two years on the road honing the songs that would later become part of her album The Story.[20]
Carlile's second album, The Story, was produced by T Bone Burnett.[22] It includes a collaboration with the Indigo Girls on "Cannonball". The album was recorded in an 11-day session with Carlile, the Hanseroths, and drummer Matt Chamberlain to capture the raw intensity of Carlile's live performances. The crack in Carlile's vocals during the title track, "The Story", came out by accident and was a direct result of the way the album was recorded.[citation needed] "The Story" was featured heavily in General Motors commercials during the 2008 Summer Olympics.[23] Following the release of the commercials, album sales increased 368 percent from 1,323 to 6,198. Sales for the lead single, "The Story", increased in downloads of 28,091 copies.[citation needed] "The Story" peaked at No. 5 on the iTunes Music Store's most-purchased list.[citation needed] The song was also used in the 2008 commercial for Super Bock[citation needed] and helped the song reach No. 1 and the album reach No. 4 on the Portuguese charts.[24] "The Story" was featured on the end credits of the romantic drama film The Lucky One. The album has sold more than 257,776 copies in the US and peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the US Rock Albums chart.[citation needed]
Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised Carlile for The Story, saying, "The roiling collection fulfills the promise of her remarkable debut, offering resounding confirmation that Carlile is a singular talent."[25]
"It wasn't until 2007's The Story – her T-Bone Burnett-produced sophomore release – that we realized even half of what we'd been dealt. Nearly a minute into the second song, something about her shifted from promise to absolute certainty as Carlile let loose a hurricane of lung power" wrote Rachael Maddux for Paste magazine.[citation needed]
Three songs from Carlile's previous album, "Tragedy", "What Can I Say", and "Throw It All Away", were featured in the TV drama Grey's Anatomy. A special two-hour episode of Grey's Anatomy also featured Carlile's song "Turpentine" during footage of the spin-off, Private Practice. Grey's Anatomy also released a version of the music video for "The Story" with interspersed footage of the show. Actor Sara Ramirez performed their version of Carlile's single "The Story" in the musical episode of the show.[citation needed]
In one of the reviews of the album for Paste, Rachael Maddux wrote, "Writhing and burning and staring at life straight down the barrel, Give Up the Ghost is exactly the album Carlile needed to make at this moment. The production is thick but elegant, applied with full knowledge that the songs could exist beautifully in a sparse acoustic-strummed daze, but that they deserve more than that." She added, "The best part about Give Up the Ghost? She will probably make an even better album one day."[31]
In 2011, Carlile's album Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony reached number 14 on the Top Rock Albums chart. The live album finds Carlile performing a mix of original songs and cover material. Recorded during two sold-out shows in November 2010 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington, the album features Washington-native Carlile and her long-time band (including brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth) performing alongside the Seattle Symphony. Andrew Leahey from AllMusic called it Carlile's best and wrote, "'Live at Benaroya Hall' is more concerned with dressing up Carlile's music in elegant, orchestral clothing, and the results are pretty stunning, from the grandeur of 'The Story' – now featuring horns, woodwinds, and strings. This isn't Brandi Carlile's first concert album, but it's certainly the best."[citation needed]
Carlile's next album, Bear Creek, released June 5, 2012, was produced by Trina Shoemaker.[35] The album is a collaboration between her and the Hanseroth twins. In an interview with American Songwriter she says, "We decided a decade ago to split everything in our band evenly amongst the three of us. So nobody has any vested interest in getting involved with someone else's song or their story. But nobody has a vested interest in keeping someone out of the story either. It always comes down to what's best for the song."[36] "Heart's Content" from this album was further featured in 2013's romantic movie Safe Haven, when Katie (played by Julianne Hough) and Alex (played by Josh Duhamel) heard it on radio in an empty diner and danced to it.[37]
Carlile was also a judge for the 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[38]
On January 11, 2014, Carlile sang the national anthem for the Saints vs. Seahawks NFL playoff game.[39] She recorded a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" for the compilation album Sweetheart 2014.[40]
2015–2016: The Firewatcher's Daughter and Grammy nomination
Carlile's fifth album The Firewatcher's Daughter released on March 3, 2015, on ATO Records.[41] In a preview of her new album before release, the Boston Globe wrote, "Whether The Firewatcher's Daughter continues the country-folk flirtation of 2012's Bear Creek, returns to the warm adult songcraft of The Story and Give Up the Ghost, or explores some other direction entirely, she's sure to bring emotional intelligence, thoughtful clarity, and, most importantly, the most arresting female voice in pop this side of Adele. I'm betting on her."[42]
"We didn't make any demos. To me rock and roll isn't really a genre but more of recklessness or a risk," Carlile told NPR.[43] "The more something gets ironed out and sure of itself, the less it begins to rock somehow. That is what I think rock and roll is ... and it's scary."[41]
The preview track, "The Eye", for which a video was released prior to the album, is front-porch acoustic.[44] The review from NPR Music said, ""The Eye" is exactly what it proclaims itself to be: a quiet breath in the midst of the album's glorious storm. Rooted in Carlile's love of both classic country and California pop, the song is the kind many other artists are going to want to cover. It will be hard to top the original, though; it so eloquently highlights the telepathic connection Carlile shares with her longtime bandmates. A favorite on recent tours, "The Eye" is destined to become a centerpiece in Carlile's catalog."[41]
The album was No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Album Chart,[45] and a first for her. This was Carlile's second consecutive album to break the Top-10 after Bear Creek topped out at No. 3. The album topped the charts in both US Folk and US Rock categories.[citation needed]
I thought she leaned too adult-contemporary for my tastes. Boy, was I wrong! This might be her most rockin' album to date. The album starts like a house afire: Carlile totally nails the vocal on the gospel influenced "Wherever Is Your Heart", and this one makes you realize just how good she is. When she sings, you're a believer. She'll have you singing along on the infectious "The Thing I Regret". Maybe the biggest surprise on the album is "Mainstream Kid", which shows some grit! It's as badass as Carlile has ever sounded. If you had Brandi Carlile pegged as an adult-contemporary softie, you might try again. Brandi Carlile and the Hanseroth twins show that they aren't afraid to rock out. The Firewatcher's Daughter is a bold and welcome addition to her catalogue.[46]
USA Today wrote, "The Firewatcher's Daughter is an album with a big heart, one that responds with love, not fear."[47]
Carlile was the featured musical guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers on April 7, 2016. She sang the song "Mainstream Kid" (from The Firewatcher's Daughter), and dedicated the performance to Senator Bernie Sanders, who also appeared on the program that night.[50]
2017–2020: Grammy success with By the Way, I Forgive You
Carlile's sixth studio album, produced by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, By the Way, I Forgive You, was released on February 16, 2018, and was preceded by three tracks: "The Joke", "The Mother", and "Sugartooth". Carlile performed songs from the album on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She also made a guest appearance on John Prine's album The Tree of Forgiveness.[51]By the Way, I Forgive You went on to become the highest-charting album of Carlile's career, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200.[52] It also reached the number 1 position on the Billboard Top Rock Albums during the same week.[53] The first single from the album, "The Joke", was listed on Former President Barack Obama's year-end playlist.[54] The album received critical acclaim from critics, leading Carlile to receive six nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, the most nominations for a female in 2019, including the all-genre Album and Song of the Year categories. She won in three categories: Americana album and both best American roots song and best American roots performance (for "The Joke").[55]
In February 2020, Carlile was named Record Store Day 2020 Ambassador.[63] On June 2, 2020, Carlile teamed up with remaining Soundgarden members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd.[64][65] At Seattle's London Bridge Studio, they re-recorded new versions of two Soundgarden's songs, "Black Hole Sun" and "Searching with My Good Eye Closed", which was released on a 12-inch single vinyl dubbed "A Rooster Says", during the second of three Record Store Day events on September 26, 2020.[66][67] In October 2021 Rolling Stone reported that Carlile has expressed interest in continuing her collaboration with the surviving members of Soundgarden.[68]
2021-present: Broken Horses and In These Silent Days
In late September 2021, City of Hope confirmed that Carlile would join the 16th annual Songs of Hope celebration program and would be honored with the She is the Music Award, presented by Universal Music Publishing Group chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, on September 20, 2021.[71]
In 2022, Joni Mitchell performed with Carlile and her associates as the closing act of the Newport Folk Festival. Mitchell's presence was an unannounced surprise, the performance was billed as "Brandi Carlile and Friends." This was the 78 year old Mitchell's first full-length performance since the early 2000s and her first appearance at the festival since 1969.[76][77]
In 2023, Carlile once again teamed up with Tanya Tucker to produce, write and sing with Tucker on the critically acclaimed album Sweet Western Sound. Tucker and Carlile recorded a duet that appears on Sweet Western Sound called "Breakfast in Birmingham".
Touring and performances
In July 2018, Carlile announced the creation of her own music festival, "Girls Just Wanna Weekend". The festival took place at Puerto Aventuras on the Riviera Maya in Mexico January 30 – February 3, 2019, and was fronted by all-female musicians such as Indigo Girls, Maren Morris, Margo Price, Patty Griffin, and others.[81] Carlile was inspired to create her own festival after participating in the Cayamo Cruise festival for numerous years.[82]
Personal life
Carlile on stage in 2010
In a November 2002 interview, Carlile identified herself as a lesbian.[83] She later told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't have to have a lot of formality around it ... there were people before me who paved the way."[84]
In June 2012, she announced she was engaged to Catherine Shepherd, whom she met in 2009. They married in Wareham, Massachusetts, on September 15, 2012.[85] They have two daughters.[86] Since 2012, Shepherd has been the executive director of the Looking Out Foundation, Carlile's nonprofit.[87] She had previously worked as Paul McCartney's charity coordinator for ten years.[88]
Two of Carlile's longtime collaborators are Tim and Phil Hanseroth,[89] with whom she has performed since she was 17 years old. Phil is now Carlile's brother-in-law, having married Carlile's younger sister Tiffany. The three of them have matching tattoos of the Auryn amulet, the double ouroboros that are the central magical item in the book and movie The Neverending Story.[90]
In 2008, Carlile and Tim and Phil Hanseroth established the Looking Out Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization to give financial support to and raise awareness of causes in which they believe. The foundation has awarded grants to multiple organizations including Reverb, Honor the Earth, the Bridge School, Children in Conflict, Black Visions Collective, Campaign Zero, the Women's Funding Alliance, Doctors Without Borders, and the Human Rights Campaign.[94] The Looking Out Foundation has launched numerous grassroots campaigns including Looking Out for the Hungry, Fund Racial Justice, COVID-19 Relief Fund, the IF Project, Fight the Fear, and the Story Campaign. Carlile donates $2 from every concert ticket sale to the foundation.[95][96]
Carlile's wife, Catherine, has been the Looking Out Foundation's Executive Director since 2012.[97] Since its inception, the Looking Out Foundation has donated almost $6 million to grassroots causes.[98]
In May 2017, Carlile released Cover Stories, a benefit album featuring songs from her 2007 album, The Story. Troubled by the world's refugee crisis, and the impact it has on children, Carlile and Looking Out Foundation chose War Child UK as the beneficiary of the album and have raised $1 million to help the children.[99] Former US President Barack Obama wrote the foreword.[100]
In October 2018, Carlile teamed up with Sam Smith to re-imagine the single "Party of One" as a duet. Proceeds from the sale of the single went to the ongoing Story Campaign.[101]
In October 2020, Carlile and Alicia Keys urged people to vote with their song "A Beautiful Noise", which the pair performed on 'Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy' and aired on CBS on October 29.[102][103]
Carlile has received 11 Grammy Awards from 26 nominations. She is the first female songwriter to receive two Grammy nominations for Song of the Year in the same year; her nominations in 2022 being the first since 1994 that any songwriter or songwriting team was nominated for Song of the Year twice in the same year.[105]
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Scott Mclennan. "Interviews: Brandi Carlile". Rip It Up. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2019. Aligned to her storybook interest, Brandi's tattoos reference a cult 1980s kids' film. The serpentine symbol of The NeverEnding Story have been recreated on the singer's shoulders. 'The NeverEnding Story's my favourite,' Brandi exclaimed with vigour. 'I have the Orin tattooed on each shoulder, since I really love symmetry. I had it tattooed very lightly so that they always looked vintage and identical. I love The Goonies and I love Labyrinth too!'
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