Journal
- Tuesday,August 4,2026
Natalie Merchant—whose collaboration with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Children’s Theatre, Cabinet of Wonder, is due later this month—stopped by for the Nonesuch Selects video series, in which artists visit the Nonesuch office, pick some of their favorite albums from the music library, and share a few words on their choices. She chose recordings by the Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic, Sam Amidon, David Byrne, Sam Phillips, Bob Telson, Rokia Traoré, and Flea. You can watch it here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Nonesuch Selects, Video - Wednesday,July 29,2026
Natalie Merchant has shared two new tracks from the upcoming album Cabinet of Wonder: "The Queen of Hearts" and "Humpty Dumpty." You can watch the videos here. Cabinet of Wonder is a digital collection of seventeen songs and accompanying videos from the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT) due August 21 on Nonesuch. The songs reimagine Mother Goose and her rhymes for a new generation of young children through modern interpretations of the classic children’s canon and three originals by Merchant—performed by Merchant, musicians from the CSO and special guests—in orchestral arrangements by Megan Gould.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist News, Video - Wednesday,July 8,2026
Natalie Merchant’s Cabinet of Wonder—a digital collection of 17 songs and accompanying videos from her collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT)—is due August 21 on Nonesuch Records. Cabinet of Wonder reimagines Mother Goose and her rhymes for a new generation of young children through modern interpretations of the classic children’s canon and three originals by Merchant—performed by her, musicians from the CSO and special guests—in orchestral arrangements by Megan Gould. Two songs from the album, “Little Miss Muffet” and “Peter Pumpkin Eater,” along with their videos, are available today. Cabinet of Wonder represents three years of behind-the-scenes work among the project’s collaborators and the culmination of Merchant's four decades of involvement in children’s arts and education.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist News, Video - Tuesday,June 3,2025
Natalie Merchant has announced a special acoustic three-week tour of sixteen shows in November. She is joined by her guitarist of twenty-five years, Erik Della Penna to share intimate evenings at venues throughout the US Northeast. The tour begins in Great Barrington on November 4, with stops in Tarrytown, Provincetown, Stowe, Portsmouth, Hudson, Philadelphia, and more, culminating in New York City on November 24.
Journal Topics: Artist News, On Tour - Friday,September 27,2024
Natalie Merchant spoke with Sheroes host Carmel Holt, a longtime friend, on the latest episode of the show and its special ten-part series The Road to Joni, honoring Joni Mitchell. This week, on episode four, "The Bridge to Joni," Merchant discusses her own relationship with Mitchell's music and shares a previously unreleased recording of her performing "All I Want" from her personal archives. You can hear the episode, which also features Madison Cunningham, here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Podcast, Radio - Wednesday,April 3,2024
"Comfort can come in the form of drawing attention to something that other people feel alone in seeing," Natalie Merchant tells Guy Raz on the latest episode of his podcast The Great Creators. "'Am I the only person who's noticing this?' Well, that's pretty isolating. But the comfort can come in someone saying, 'I see it too, and I'm frightened about it too.'" You can hear their conversation, about her life and career, including her new album, Keep Your Courage, here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Podcast - Friday,November 17,2023
Natalie Merchant was on Radio Popolare in Milan to discuss her new album, Keep Your Courage, and more and perform the title track to her 2001 album, Motherland, live in the studio. The session comes ahead of the close of Merchant's European tour and her first shows in Italy in over 20 years, in Milan and Chiara this weekend. You can hear the conversation and performance here. Merchant will return to Italy to host a new workshop at Fondazione Prada’s Accademia dei bambini in Milan on January 28.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Radio - Monday,October 30,2023
Natalie Merchant was on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week to talk with presenter Kirsty Wark and fellow guests Jeffrey Boakye and Michel Faber about her new album, Keep Your Courage, and more. You can hear their conversation here. Merchant embarks on a European headlining tour beginning in Berlin tomorrow, followed by two nights at The London Palladium on Thursday and Friday, and including her first shows in Italy since 2002.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Podcast, Radio - Wednesday,October 25,2023
Natalie Merchant has released the video for "Sister Tilly," from her new album, Keep Your Courage. The track is dedicated to Joan Didion and pays homage to the generation of women who influenced Merchant in the 1960s and ’70s when she was growing up. You can watch the video, directed by Matthew Shattuck and featuring archival footage from the era, here. Merchant begins a European tour next week. She hosts a new workshop at Fondazione Prada’s Accademia dei bambini in Milan in January and resumes her US West Coast tour in May.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Video - Wednesday,October 18,2023
Natalie Merchant is the guest on the latest episode of Songcraft, the podcast “about the creators of lyrics and music that stand the test of time.” She joins hosts Scott B. Bomar and Paul Duncan for an extensive conversation about her new album, Keep Your Courage, and music from throughout her career. You can hear their conversation here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Podcast - Thursday,September 14,2023
Natalie Merchant was on The Sound of Success to talk with host Nic Harcourt about her life and musical career, including her new album, Keep Your Courage, and the tour for it she resumes next week on the US West Coast. She shares what Brian Eno and Roxy Music meant to her in her youth (on 8-track!), the impact of David Byrne’s early music videos, her musical guilty pleasure, and much more.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Podcast - Monday,August 14,2023
Natalie Merchant recently gave an intimate performance at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in NYC for WFUV’s FUV Live. She spoke with host Alisa Ali and was joined by her longtime guitarist Erik Della Penna to perform several songs from throughout her career. You can now watch her perform "Sister Tilly," from her new album, Keep Your Courage, as well as “Carnival” and “Break Your Heart” from the set here and listen to the complete session at wfuv.org. Merchant resumes her Keep Your Courage tour on the US West Coast, Europe, and the UK in the autumn.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Radio, Video
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