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
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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.
House of Seven Swords
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know when you know what to do
No simple scheming, you should be sleeping
Sometimes you just can't think it through
And that's the way it is, love
Go whichever way you need to go
Nobody can tell you how to build
That's the way it is, love
Together and yet still we're on our own
Nobody can tell us how to build
Our house of seven swords
Shamen won't tell you
The preacher will try to
You could take your time
Take a trip
Let your eyes see hidden things
Your heart beat like a drum
Your eyes see hidden things
Your heart beat like a drum
'Cause that's the way it is, love
Go whichever way you need to go
Nobody can tell you how to build
Our house of seven swords
That's the way it is, love
Together and yet still we're on our own
Nobody can tell us how to build
Our house of seven swords
Oo, oo, oo, ah
That's the way it is, love
That's the way it is, love
Your house of seven swords
That's the way it is, love
Together and yet still we're on our own
Nobody can tell us how to build
Our house of seven swords
The song House of Seven Swords by Vanessa Carlton is about the concept of strength and devotion, and how these forces often come unexpectedly. The lyrics imply that sometimes life requires impulsive action, and that even if a person has a plan, they may have to break it in order to move forward. The chorus repeats the phrase "that's the way it is, love," suggesting that things don't always go according to plan, and that sometimes the best path forward is the one that is the most uncertain or unpredictable.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that institutions like religion can offer guidance, but they cannot provide absolute answers. The lines "shaman won't tell you, the preacher will try to" suggest that even spiritual leaders may not have all the answers. The song then pivots to focus on the idea of personal experience and exploration: "take a trip, let your eyes see hidden things, your heart beat like a drum." Overall, the song suggests that we all must build our own lives, and while we can take guidance, nobody else can tell us how to do it.
Line by Line Meaning
Strength and devotion come without warning
You can find inner strength and commitment unexpectedly
You know when you know what to do
You will have a clear sense of direction when the time is right
No simple scheming, you should be sleeping
You can't force or manipulate situations, sometimes you just need to let things be
Sometimes you just can't think it through
At times, there are situations that are beyond logical analysis or explanation
And that's the way it is, love
This is the reality, my dear
Go whichever way you need to go
Choose your own path
Nobody can tell you how to build
No one can dictate or advise on how to navigate your personal journey
Your house of seven swords
Your personal stronghold of determination and resilience
Shamen won't tell you
Spiritual guides may not provide you with all the answers
The preacher will try to
Religious leaders may attempt to offer guidance but their advice may not be applicable or relevant to your situation
Let your eyes see hidden things
Be open to discovering things that are not immediately visible
Your heart beat like a drum
Follow your passions and desires with enthusiasm
That's the way it is, love
This is how things are, my dear
Together and yet still we're on our own
We may be in relationships but ultimately, we are responsible for our own lives
Our house of seven swords
Our individual fortresses of determination and resilience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vanessa Carlton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SnazzyBoxx
She really has a gift for original melodies and a beautiful voice, loved her music for so long
Yes_2Fitness
She is simply amazing, pure, and authentic. Classic <3
Thomas Wurster
A treasure as always....<3
morganic989
So happy to see this video! I'm loving the new album and hope you continue to make new music!
Laura Bender
I love this song. The whole record is amazing.
Leraye Atwood
Laura Bender jvnjfjhkjkjhlhg
nicko
She really is an amazing, very talented and mesmerizing singer. GOD Bless her
Namita R
vanessa I love you so so much, so glad ur back making music ❤❤❤
Namita R
@Tehufn she did for a bit
Tehufn
I don't think she ever stopped though...