NYC- a place where all your dreams (or nightmares) come true. In normal times, The Big Apple draws actors, artists, musicians, models, and more in hopes of becoming the next big thing.
For NYC-based alt-pop singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rachael Sage, the entertainment industry was never simply an option—it was her destiny. She studied drama and ballet before making the switch to music.
Sage became a self-taught pianist and created demos after receiving a four-track recording system as a Bat Mitzvah gift. She attended the School of American Ballet and earned a degree in drama from prestigious Stanford University.
She went on to open her own record label, MPress Records, which has been in operation now for two decades. Releasing over a dozen albums, Sage was on her way up…and then came the cancer diagnosis in 2018.
After receiving the news that she had endometrial (uterine) cancer, Sage refused to back down. Instead, she found in her personal journey stories to tell through music. With her positive attitude, strong mindset, and high spirits, she has now won the battle and is in complete remission.
Sage has recently released a Top 40 charting single, “Blue Sky Days,” off her album Character. The track was inspired by her turmoil throughout her cancer diagnosis and is a “meditative ode to healing inside and out.”
The music video accompanying the song features 10-year old figure skater Morgan Sage (no relation), as Sage has always had a passion for the sport. She personally conceived and art-directed the video, while award-winning cinematographer Michael Flanagan directed, and Nick Clark produced.
In a press release, Sage shared, “For me as a survivor, it was important to pair this song with imagery that exemplified the freedom that comes from regaining control not only of one’s physical body, but over one’s spirit as well. When I saw Morgan skate, her sheer joy and pure expressiveness immediately reminded me of what I was feeling when I played my first show after my recovery. Inspiration came in the form of the ‘blue sky’ imagery in my Headspace meditation app — and the revelation that of course, eventually the clouds do clear. The song is essentially about hope, as well as a particular kind of gratitude that is much stronger because it is grounded in mindfulness.”
Sage has since received support from Billboard and BBC Radio 2. The charismatic artist has accompanied numerous names on tour including Judy Collins, Sarah McLachlan, Beth Hart, Howard Jones, and Ani DiFranco.
It’s Sage’s mission to advocate for mental health and raise support for the illness she endured. She knows how isolating these current times can be, and she wants to do her part in helping people ride the storm.
Trust us when we tell you to listen to her 12-track album ‘Character’. Sage’s poetic lyrics touch on gratitude, compassion, authenticity, and optimism.
We can’t wait to see what Sage does next. Describing music as a healing tool, she shares, “It has quite literally saved my life, and I intend for the rest of my career to be a long, slow dance of gratitude.”
