Vanessa Carlton continues to expand creatively as an artist as seen in her upcoming seventh studio album Veils produced by Dave Fridmann (MGMT, Flaming Lips) to be released early 2026. Fridmann also produced her last album Love is An Art (2020).
"The album will of course mean different things to different people and that is what excites me. I had to embrace my own contradictions in order to see what the world of the album was going to feel and sound like," says Carlton. "I love the metaphor of wearing a veil. There are so many layers to all of us. When I look back on the four year process, I see that I was gradually becoming fascinated with stoicism."
Through her songs, Vanessa invites listeners to explore the Veils in their own lives. Which Veil are you lifting? Which Veil are you putting on?
"Our veils tell a story, when we choose to take one off or when we put one on...it is such a personal act," says Carlton.
Vanessa recently unveiled the first track "Animal" off the upcoming album that lays the foundation in her pursuit for stoicism. Vanessa shared that the song is about, "The idea of knowing we cannot control external forces; she is being hunted and she accepts the reality of what is happening. The acceptance allows her to truly see the animal. Does she even identify with this creature? Every human has an animal within them. Are you hunting? Are you being hunted? Who is the animal?"
Carlton has constantly challenged both herself and the expectations that surround her throughout her lengthy, accomplished career: she was discovered as a singer-songwriter/pianist when a cassette tape demo was given to legendary music impresario Ahmet Ertegun. With her debut single "A Thousand Miles," Carlton soared to the top of the Billboard charts and garnered multiple Grammy nominations, and continues to captivate audiences across generations as well as genres. VICE's documentary on "A Thousand Miles" earned the media outlet a 2022 News & Documentary Emmy nomination - Watch docuseries here.
Though "A Thousand Miles" is only a small fraction of her body of work and artistic identity, as she continues to evolve as a performer and songwriter. In the summer of 2019, she made her Broadway debut as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Carlton most recently scored her first film with husband John McCauley of Deer Tick for Wish You Were Here directed by Julia Stiles.
