Vanessa's sixth studio album, Love Is An Art, releases on March 27th, 2020 through Dine Alone Records.
Vanessa's fifth studio album, Liberman, was released on October 23 2015, through Dine Alone Records. It marks her first release since signing with Dine Alone Records. The title of the album comes from an oil painting made by Carlton's late maternal grandfather, whose given surname was "Liberman".
Official website: http://www.vanessacarlton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vanessacarlton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/vanessacarlton
Vanessa Carlton first began playing the piano as a toddler, continuing on an artistic road with her attendance at the School of American Ballet in New York, a path she would eventually abandon in favor of songwriting. She re-embraced the piano and began performing in bars and clubs across Manhattan. While studying at Columbia University, Carlton was signed to Interscope Records, but made her formal debut on A&M under veteran producer Ron Fair.
Her debut album in April 2002, Be Not Nobody, resonated with audiences of all ages world-wide, especially the hit piano single “A Thousand Miles,” which reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart, #1 in Australia, and Top 10 in the UK. Carlton went on to earn 2003 Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist (“A Thousand Miles”). The album witnessed global success, reaching Gold status in over 10 countries, and Platinum status in Asian territories, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Her second album Harmonium (2004), which yielded the single “White Houses,” continued to inspire an increasingly loyal global fan base and garnered some the best reviews of her career.
Her record release in 2007, Heroes & Thieves “might be my first thematic record,” Carlton says, adding that the songs reveal themselves like chapters in a book, one that fans can crack open (Vanessa has often explained during her live shows that the second single from "Heroes & Thieves" entitled "Hands On Me" is the second chapter to the album). Paying homage to the area of Manhattan where most of its songs were written, the first single off of the 2007 record, appropriately dubbed “Nolita Fairytale,” is a syncopated, upbeat piece that paints a dramatic musical landscape. “ That song is really about finding joy in unexpected environments. How sometimes losing things makes you realize what you have, which is like a quasi fairytale,” says Carlton. Heroes & Thieves was recorded in the San Francisco studio of Third Eye Blind founder Stephan Jenkins and the Los Angeles studio of producer/songwriter Linda Perry.
Vanessa's fourth studio album, "Rabbits On The Run" was released on July 26th, 2011. Material for this album was produced by Steve Osborne (U2, B-52’s, KT Tunstall), and was recorded in the UK at Peter Gabriel's well-renowned Real World Studios.
Speaking with Songfacts about the lead single Carousel in a 2011 interview, Carlton explained that she wrote the song in a dream where the "da na na na na" tune was floating around.
Other facts:
Vanessa's uncle is jazz musician Larry Carlton.
In 2003, Vanessa portrayed Dusty Springfield on the television show "American Dreams" on Heartache (episode #1.14) and performed a cover of the song "Wishin' And Hopin'".
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Ari Ingber, (other than being credited as a group vocalist on "More Than This) is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band The Upwelling. Ari also co-wrote the song "About to Break" from Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major".
One of Vanessa's touring bassists, Jon Evans, (other than being credited as bassist on Heroes & Thieves and bass guitarist on Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major") is part of the band Redfish, Bluefish and has also performed with Tori Amos.
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Mark Beauchemin, (other than performing with Vanessa on the song "More Than This (Campfire Take)" for the album "Songs For Tibet - The Art of Peace") used to be part of the band SR-71 and currently has his own band.
Besides having Stevie Nicks do backing vocals on her song "The One" and Stephan Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind) do backing vocals on select songs on Heroes & Thieves, Vanessa has made several contributions to works of other artists and bands including: Vocals on the song Big Yellow Taxi with Counting Crows; backing vocals on the song Moving On by Kimya Dawson; piano on the song Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime by Zucchero; vocals on the song M A K E L O V E T O M E with 7 Aurelius; co-writing 3 songs with The Matrix; Providing vocals on the various artist compilation song "Put A Little Love", created for a Gap clothing company campaign which also featured Al Green, Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Rowland, Stephan Jenkins, Ginuwine, Musiq, Heather Headley and Gavin DeGraw; Providing vocals and piano on the various artist compilation song "Love Revolution", a cover of Lenny Kravitz's song, created for a Kohl's clothing company campaign which also featured Avril Lavigne, Lenny Kravitz, Plain White T's and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; Performing live with artists/bands including a cover of Elton John's song "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" with Elton John's band, duets with Shlomo, Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra, Stevie Nicks, Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows and backing vocals on select songs with Counting Crows.
Vanessa is credited with providing piano on the track "Company" and backing vocals on "Faster" from Third Eye Blind's album "Out of the Vein".
Vanessa is also credited as being a performer on The Upwelling's debut album "An American Stranger" which Stephan Jenkins also produced.
Hear the Bells
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a brick wall's wooden door
Change are keeping quite secrets
Two hundred year old folklore
And the graveyard on Elizabeth, no one ever goes
Kneeling praying to a gravestone
But the gravestone never tells
Hear the bells
December crossing on to Chinatown
As the wind starts to cut through
Always, always on the lookout
But the poisons running through you
Stomachaches, try to concentrate
Want the stairs on the third floor
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
But the witch doctor won't tell
[Repeat: x4]
Hear the bells
Floating on the sea stars are watching me
Current takes me out what will be will be
Floating on the sea stars are watching me
Current takes me out what will be will be
[Repeat: x4]
Hear the bells
In Vanessa Carlton's song "Hear the Bells," the singer-songwriter describes a location with secrets to keep. The opening lyrics suggest a visual emphasis on a door with a brick wall, wooden door and a keyhole, which adds to the sense of secrecy. The following lyrics, "Changes are keeping quite secrets," could reference the building's history, reflecting its old folklore, and adding to the intrigue and mystery surrounding the location. The setting is clarified with the mention of Elizabeth's graveyard, which no one ever goes to, suggesting it may be haunted or have a dark history, where the silence is deafening. Kneeling, praying at a grave site could reference a character who is seeking comfort or answers from a loved one but feels as though they are never answered, and the bells they hear could refer to chimes that rattle due to the wind or the movement of tree branches.
Standing in December, crossing to Chinatown, the wind cutting through could reference the singer's character being exposed to harsh elements, which could include danger, mental or physical. A sense of paranoia creeps in as the singer refers to being always on the lookout, and the poisons running through them may indicate uncertainty or fear. The character's health takes a dip, reflected as having stomach aches and the desire to concentrate, holding on to hope of survival to reach the third-floor stairs, a symbol of safety. The character seeks help from a witch doctor, but they don't provide the necessary answers or advice. As the song progresses, the mood shifts as the character feels buoyant and free, floating on the sea with stars watching over them, accepted fate's course.
Line by Line Meaning
Stealing glances through the key hole
Looking secretly through the door's keyhole
In a brick wall's wooden door
The door seems paradoxical and can't be easily understood
Change are keeping quite secrets
The changes happening in the surroundings are hiding the truth
Two hundred year old folklore
An old tale from two centuries ago
And the graveyard on Elizabeth, no one ever goes
Nobody visits the cemetery located on Elizabeth street
Kneeling praying to a gravestone
Kneeling and praying to the dead's memorial
But the gravestone never tells
The gravestone can't answer or communicate, it's just a lifeless object
Hear the bells
Listen to the church bells ringing, suggests paying attention to something important
December crossing on to Chinatown
Travelling to Chinatown in December
As the wind starts to cut through
The chilling wind begins to pass through the streets
Always, always on the lookout
Always being careful and vigilant
But the poisons running through you
Being affected or influenced negatively by something harmful
Stomachaches, try to concentrate
Trying hard to focus despite experiencing physical discomfort
Want the stairs on the third floor
Wishing to reach the third floor using the stairs
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
Seeking help from a spiritual guide
But the witch doctor won't tell
The spiritual guide is unwilling to share knowledge or advice
Floating on the sea stars are watching me
Feeling lost or drifting aimlessly on the ocean while the stars observe from above
Current takes me out what will be will be
Resigning to fate or accepting that the future is uncertain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VANESSA CARLTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gary Messer
One of my all time favorite songs!
Beautiful, haunting, dreamy, it does what all songs aspires to do,
It takes you somewhere.Bravo Vanessa!
hbjhkbjbjbj
I honestly really really like this song it's modern but feels old and really peacefull and the sound of the guitar and the piano is really catchy and the imagery really suits its.
Bound Music
This is a really beautiful song, I feel like it deserves a hell of a lot more views.
Eric Yaremko
One of the few TRUE artists today. This is why I still believe in contemporary music. Vanessa is the reason I started playing piano, after I heard a thousand miles. Now it is my biggest passion and I am a classical pianist.
Sydney Bernard
I absolutely adore her new sound. Rabbits on the Run pushed me into doing some much needed soul searching, and I'm a better person because of it. I can't wait for her new album. It makes me want to cry when people can't see the beauty and artistry of her new music.
Davin Williams
yea i totally agree with you... something about her new direction is just refreshing. i know she's a great songwriter and can make super catchy, popular songs if she wanted to but these new songs sound like she was able to be as free as she wanted to be
its good to hear her not trying to put on a show for anyone
i love this album
COUGARESSA
one of her very best, an exceptional song that i never ever tire of hearing. her work is so deep and ethereal
Alcibiades
Oh my God, how can I explain what I feel about this song? It makes me feel sad, happy, excited, afraid, melancholic, euphoric,...In my opinion, this could be her best song. It's so deep, so personal, so real. It's just about her, forget about anything else. It's just about VANESSA CARLTON. And the video follows the same vibe, pure art! Excellent! - A phantom friend desde Perú :)
MartyNekola
Díky za Tvou hudbu! Je magická, vážná, veselá, smutná, procítěná a úžasná.
Lerrique Aragão Paixão
This song is my favorite one from Rabbits On The Run, I'm so happy to see a music video in the same kind of passion. It's so dark and sweet, love how Vanessa can touch my heart with such a sweet voice and good music, but the most special thing is that her songs has meaning, it's not just a trash mixed with electronic beats to hit the number one. This is a sad time for music when true artist are not reconigzed and fake ones are in the Bilboard top 10