Rachael Yamagata will release her first studio album in nearly a decade, Starlit Alchemy, on October 3 under Jullian Records. Known for her cinematic songwriting and emotionally direct performances, Yamagata describes this new work as her most cohesive and intentional project yet.
The album was conceived as a continuous listening experience, with each song flowing into the next. Yamagata says the music began as an instinctive outpouring before revealing its deeper narrative. “It became a map made after the journey, not before,” she explains.
Its lead single, Birds, is available now. Written for a cousin grieving the loss of his mother, the song blends themes of memory, signs, and hope, inspired by the surreal image of birds crashing into her window. Yamagata calls it a reminder to look for messages from loved ones who have passed.
Starlit Alchemy explores grief, transformation, and the coexistence of pain and beauty. Yamagata describes it as “forensics for trauma and beauty,” focusing on the strength that comes from fully surrendering to life’s experiences.
