The two sides of Rachael Yamagata

If ever there was an example of duality, it’s Rachael Yamagata.

The pianist/singer-songwriter won’t tell us the truth about her age, but she’ll willingly admit that she’s lied about it before. Her music is considerably dark, but her live shows are often light and funny. And when we ask the (30-year-old?) singer, who released her long-awaited sophomore album, “Elephants/Teeth Sinking Into Heart” last fall, about the best and worst thing about being an elephant, she initially lists elephants’ strong memories as the best…and then changes it to the worst, as we discuss how a long memory helps you better remember all the pain in your past.

The contrast is fitting, considering the approach of Yamagata’s new record, which is divided in two parts. The first, “Elephants,” is a tender, ballad-heavy and often heartbreaking meditation on the emotional state of relationships. The second, “Teeth Sinking Into Heart,” attempts to recover from heartbreak and is, as Yamagata says, “more gritty and volatile and [about] reclaiming your backbone and finding your independence again.”

From her current hometown of Philadelphia, the singer told us about the album’s contrasting tones and whether or not she’s trying to pull people over to the dark side.

Someone described hearing your voice as “like listening to silk.” How would you describe it?
Oh, god. Maybe, like, "velvety sandpaper raspiness."

Sounds like a dessert or something.
It might hurt you, but it'll taste good for a while.

Is that a fitting assessment of you in general? Or relationships?
I don't know. I've changed over the years definitely. I feel on a personal, character-based level I'm a really compassionate, sweet and strong person. Probably vulnerable, to my detriment, but honest. As honest as I can be. I think if I've ever hurt somebody—I've certainly gone through stages of not having integrity and hurting someone for obvious reasons—but I think that I can certainly pack a punch with just being deadpan honest about things.

If someone is already happy in their romantic life, should they skip to the album’s second, less anguishing half?
No, I wouldn't say that. I think it's more like if you're feeling really internal and introspective and perhaps isolated and willing to go to the dark side, the first side will probably suit your mood very well. I really envision it as being somebody's headphone experience by themselves or taking a walk or in a storm. I almost feel like it's the kind of thing you listen to once a year. The other side is driving in your car, windows rolled down. It's got a lighter feel to it but just a different mode. It's like an anthemic, powerful, energizing feeling. The other one's like deep water.

I'm sure not many people would say, "That Rachael Yamagata, she's really trying to bring people over to the dark side."
[Laughs] No, it's all about finding the light anyways. Analyzing the darkness just before you find it.

People have some said extremely positive things to you in concert. Any negatives?
I can't think of anything too negative other than, "Take your shirt off!"

How often do you get that?
Oh, that only happened once, and I snapped right back, so it was fine.

Did that person at least take their shirt off?
They didn't. They didn't offer anything of themselves.

That doesn't seem like a fair trade.
No, not at all. Not at all.

You’ve called yourself an indecisive control freak hopeless romantic. Would you say that’s still accurate as of today?
Yeah, yeah I would. [Laughs] You know what, I've gotten better at the decision-making part. I'm learning to trust my instincts more than I ever have. But everything else is probably pretty true.