Kings of Convenience might as well have started a sonic revolution by coining the term “quiet is the new loud”. In a few words, this might be a good way to describe the music of rising indie pop star Yael Meyer.
Yael Meyer crafts unpretentious songs of incredible complexity. Compared to artists such as Jose Gonzalez, Jack Johnson, Feist and Death Cab For Cutie, her new album “Everything Will Be Alright” will be out November 15, 2011 on her own label Kli Records.
Born in Santiago de Chile, Meyer was drawn to performance and creative arts at an early age. Her parents, strongly believing that musical education was important, enrolled her in a classical music conservatory at the age of 5 where she studied piano for three years. She continued her lessons with private tutors until age 13 when she picked up the guitar. She then realized that her true calling as a musician, singer and songwriter could be better fulfilled with an instrument she could take along with her to pajama parties, camping trips…anywhere her close circle of friends could gather and she could play.
At age 18, Meyer set her sights on Berklee College of Music in Boston, and won a scholarship to attend, completing her studies in just 3 ½ years. It was there that she wrote, produced and recorded her debut album Common Ground, a blend of indie folk and lounge electronica which became a smash hit in her home country. It was hailed as one of the top 50 albums of the year by Rolling Stone Chile, and jump-started a career that would include tours of the U.S, Europe and South America.
An EP in late 2009 entitled Heartbeat followed, bringing with it wider global recognition. Tracks from the EP were licensed in the U.S. for the TV shows Life Unexpected, Drop Dead Diva, MTV’s Awkward and Private Practice. Prominent KCRW DJ and tastemaker Nic Harcourt handpicked Meyer’s song “Shed Their Fear” for airplay. MTV selected Meyer as a “Needle in the Haystack” artist, and her music has been used in Ralph Lauren runway shows. Chilean film director Nicolas Lopez selected three of her songs for his 2010 comedy feature Que Pena Tu Vida (F*** My Life).
“Everything Will Be Alright” is the natural evolution of “Heartbeat EP”, the full-fledged version of a collection of songs from an artist who is now in a very different phase of her life. As Meyer puts it:
“Heartbeat was a collection of songs that I wrote during a time when I was taking a break from the industry. I was writing these songs for myself, unhindered and uninhibited, not to please anyone in particular, but because these were the songs I really wanted to write. The title track speaks about living life at the pace of my own heart and not wasting any time doing that which I don’t feel to be my true purpose. Life is too short and goes by too fast, and I want to make sure that I make the most I can with the time that I have. “Everything Will Be Alright” is to me a completion of what began with that EP, which to me was always meant to become a full-length album. The songs in the record speak about love, life, family, fear, nature, my relationship with the Greater Power watching over all of us, and the simple little details of everyday life that give us joy and peace. In times of trouble, it is these simple things that remind me of how blessed I am and reassure me that everything is going to be OK.”
Yael Meyer currently resides in Los Angeles, where she continues to perform, write, produce and record. She will soon be returning to South America in support of Nicolas Lopez’s sequel film Que Pena Tu Boda (F*** My Wedding) which features three songs from “Everything Will Be Alright”. The visit will include a full press tour and live dates in Santiago, Chile. Yael will later head back to the US where she will be touring the west coast in support of her upcoming release. The tour will include live dates in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Seattle and Portland.
Yael’s current Ovation of choice is her Custom Elite 2078AX
