b. 1982, Nevada City, California, USA. One of the more original performers to emerge from the independent music scene in the early years of the twenty-first century, Newsom launched a solo career while concurrently working with the bands Nervous Cop and the Pleased.
Raised in Nevada City, California, Newsom's training began at an early age with piano lessons before she graduated to studying the Celtic harp - a very difficult musical instrument to master. She began writing her own material while at high school, mixing conventional indie rock with melodies drawn from her growing interest in Appalachian folk and country blues. At the end of the 90s she moved to San Francisco to study at Mills College, and it was here that she formed the indie rock band the Pleased with guitarist Noah Georgeson. The quintet, with Newsom on keyboards, built up a strong reputation on the Bay Area indie scene and beyond, prompting the recording of 2002's self-released double EP, One Piece From The Middle. During this period Newsom also began working with experimental rock unit Nervous Cop, playing the harp on their self-titled debut album.
In 2002 Newsom struck out as a solo recording artist, issuing a limited run of Walnut Whales on her own label. The mini-album introduced Newsom's childlike singing voice, which, coupled with her fluid harp playing, created an odd but strangely beguiling sound. Newsom's reputation continued to blossom with support appearances for artists including left-field singer-songwriters Will Oldham and Cat Power. A second self-released collection, the Yarn And Glue EP, preceded a move to the leading independent label Drag City. Newsom was now being trumpeted alongside Oldham and Power, and newer artists such as Devendra Banhart and Six Organs Of Admittance, as part of the rather crudely titled "new weird America" scene. The Milk-Eyed Mender followed in spring 2004. The album divided critics and public alike, with some magical harp playing and beautiful folk pop melodies offset by Newsom's strained vocals and overly winsome lyrics.
The 2006 follow-up Ys was even more puzzling. Recorded on analogue equipment and featuring only five (lengthy) tracks, the combination of Newsom's soaring vocals (a huge improvement from her debut) and the fluid song arrangements helped create a wondrous sense of charm and mystery, with repeat playings revealing even greater depths. Four of the five tracks featured a full orchestra, arranged by Van Dyke Parks. The album was heaped with praise by critics around the world.
