Rachael Sage & The Sequins have room for everyone in their warm and welcoming new Americana-pop single and video Canopy — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The resolute title track from the alt-folk-pop singer-songwriter’s forthcoming debut album with her band, Canopy is equal parts emotional exhale and invitation to a more compassionate future. The inspirational anthem explores radical inclusivity, non-violence, and environmental consciousness, offering a much-needed musical reprieve from our current cultural upheaval.
Wrapped in lush instrumentation, Canopy combines shimmering folk-pop melodies, cinematic strings, and a chorus that soars with a message of empathy. The self-produced track summons a brighter tomorrow where shelter is a given for everyone, rather than a luxury for some. “The absence of women’s voices and their active presence on the world stage is a lot of what has contributed to the violence we currently see, militarily and environmentally,” Sage says.
“Creating safety and inclusivity in times of divisiveness can be a radical and powerful act; it takes courage to stand up for justice and for our fellow human beings, and through the message of this song I am trying to inspire each of us — including myself — to boldly do that for one another even when it may be uncomfortable or go against the cultural grain to do so.”
Accompanied by The Sequins — violinist Kelly Halloran (Goo Goo Dolls) and drummer Andy Mac (Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls) — along with contributing musicians organist Rob Curto (Klezmatics) and cellist Dave Eggar (Paul Simon), this all-too-timely musical mission statement is bolstered by one of the most memorable lyrics of her prolific career:
“I believe with every beating of my heart
If the world were run by women there would be an end to war
There would be an end to suffering at the hands of hatred’s shards
There would be no more buttressing of the vengeance violence starts.”
Guest percussionist Doug Yowell (Howard Jones), guitarist James Mastro (Bongos), and Grammy-nominated bassist/engineer Mikhail Pivovarov also contribute their talents, along with Americana vocal duo Annalyse & Ryan.
Since founding her own label MPress Records two decades ago, N.Y.C.-based Sage has steadily released a slew of vibrant, dynamic albums. She has toured with an eclectic list of artists including Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart and Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Judy Collins — with whom she also recorded a critically acclaimed duet of Neil Young’s Helpless. In addition to being a six-time Independent Music Award-winning musician and producer, Sage is also a John Lennon Contest Grand Prize winner who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, SXSW and toured globally from Japan to Berlin.
Her 2020 album Character yielded the Billboard-charting single Blue Sky Days. Poetica, an adventurous fusion of poetry with jazz, classical and Americana musical elements in the vein of Leonard Cohen and Laurie Anderson, debuted in 2021. Her album The Other Side arrived in 2023, follwed by the companion acoustic album Another Side in 2024.
Watch the video for Canopy above, find the single on your preferred streamer HERE, check out more music from Rachael Sage and see her tour dates below, and join her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Bluesky.
Rachael Sage Tour Dates
May 13 | The Troubadour | London, UK
May 15 | Alternative Escape @ Casablanca | Brighton, UK
May 16 | Alternative Escape @ Secret Comedy Club | Brighton, UK
May 18 | Holmfirth Tavern | Holmfirth, UK
May 22 | Speakeasy @ Harbour View | Sunderland, UK
May 23 | Upstairs @ The Labour Rooms | Otley, UK
May 24 | Mojo’s Music Cafe | Scarborough, UK
May 25 | The Crescent Lounge | Scarborough, UK
May 29 | Prohibition Studios | Liverpool, UK
May 30 | Forty-Five Vinyl Cafe | York, UK
May 31 | Wrecking Ball Arts | Hull, UK
June 1 | Percy’s Cafe Bar | Whitchurch, UK
June 21 | 503 Social Club | Hoboken, NJ *
June 22 | Electric Haze | Worcester, MA *
June 27 | Towne Crier Cafe | Beacon, NY
July 9 | Natalie’s Grandview | Columbus, OH *
July 10 | Uncommon Ground | Chicago, IL *
July 11 | First Unitarian Church | Pittsburgh, PA *
July 12 | Atomic Tom’s | Binghamton, NY *
July 18 | The Burren | Somerville, MA +
July 19 | Cantean | Hamden, CT *
Aug. 7 | The 5 Spot | Nashville, TN *
Aug. 13 | Awendaw Green | Charleston, SC ++
Oct. 5 | Hotel Cafe | Los Angeles, CA **
* w/ Kristen Ford
+ w/ Kristen Ford & Jocelyn McKenzie
++ w/ Kristen Ford & Danielle Howle
** w/ Kristen Ford & Tom Goss
