Joanna Newsom

{{short description|American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1982)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Joanna Newsom

| image = Joanna-4 (23290624640) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Newsom performing in 2015

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|18}}

| birth_place = Grass Valley, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|actress}}

| years_active = 2002–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Andy Samberg|2013}}

| children = 2

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| genre = {{hlist|Progressive folk|chamber folk|baroque pop|indie folk}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|harp|keyboards}}

| label = Drag City

| past_member_of = {{hlist|The Pleased|Golden Shoulders|Nervous Cop}}

}}

Joanna Newsom (born January 18, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and actress.

After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, Newsom signed to the independent label Drag City. Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004 to acclaim and garnered Newsom an underground following. She received wider exposure with Ys (2006), which reached number 134 on the Billboard 200{{Cite web |title=Ys / Joanna Newsom |url=https://billboard.elpee.jp/album/Ys/Joanna%20Newsom/ |access-date=September 4, 2022 |website=billboard.elpee.jp |language=en}} and was nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Music Prize. She continued releasing albums with Have One on Me in 2010 and Divers in 2015.

Newsom has been noted by critics for her unique musical style, sometimes characterized as progressive folk, and for her harp instrumentation. She has also appeared as an actress with roles in the television series Portlandia and in the 2014 film Inherent Vice.

Early life

Newsom was born on January 18, 1982{{cite web|url=https://glidemagazine.com/video/happy-40th-birthday-joanna-newsom/|title=Happy 40th Birthday Joanna Newsom

|work=Glide Magazine|date=January 18, 2022|access-date=February 5, 2022}} in Grass Valley, California.{{cite interview|interviewer=Larry King|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvRs2g81muQ|last=Newsom|first=Joanna|date=December 28, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2019|title=Joanna Newsom Talks 'Divers,' Kendrick Lamar, and Teaches Larry to Play the Harp|time=6:43}} Her parents, both doctors, were "progressive-minded professionals" who previously lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Newsom-t.html|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Jody|last=Rosen|author-link=Jody Rosen|title=Joanna Newsom, the Changeling|date=March 7, 2010|access-date=October 8, 2017}} Newsom was raised in Nevada City{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-joanna-newsom-orpheum-theatre-review-20160326-story.html|date=March 26, 2016|last=Wood|first=Mikael|access-date=October 10, 2017|title=Is Joanna Newsom a serious artist or a pop star? (Get this: She's both)}} along with her older brother, Peter, and younger sister, Emily. She is the second cousin, twice removed, of Gavin Newsom, Governor of California.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UAUQ04BGfpUC|title=SPIN|date=June 1, 2004|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url= https://www.spin.com/2018/11/gavin-newsom-joanna-newsom-related/ |title= Joanna Newsom's Second Cousin, Twice Removed Elected Governor of California |author= Andy Cush |date= November 7, 2018|magazine= Spin|access-date= April 13, 2021 }}

As a child, Newsom was not allowed to watch television or listen to the radio. She describes her parents as "kind of idealists when it came to hoping they could protect us from bad influences, like violent movies, or stupid stuff."{{cite web |last=Heawood |first=Sophie |date=February 20, 2010 |title=The conversation: Joanna Newsom |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7032768.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615123238/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7032768.ece |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |work=The Sunday Times}} She listened to music from a young age. Her father played the guitar, and her mother was a classically trained pianist who played the hammered dulcimer, the autoharp and conga drums.{{cite web|url=http://portable-infinite.blogspot.com/2005/03/joanna-newsom-interview.html|title=First interview, May 2003|date=March 29, 2005|work=The Portable Infinite|access-date=November 7, 2010}} Newsom attended a Waldorf school where she studied theater and learned to memorize and recite long poems.{{cite web|url=http://www.venuszine.com/articles/music/features/2325/Joanna_Newsom|title=Joanna Newsom|work=Venus Zine|date=December 1, 2006|archive-date=October 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002173410/http://www.venuszine.com/articles/music/features/2325/Joanna_Newsom|access-date=November 7, 2010|author=Williamson, Euginia|url-status=dead}}

At five, Newsom asked her parents if she could learn to play the harp. Her parents eventually agreed to sign her up for harp lessons, but the local harp instructor did not want to take on such a young student and suggested she learn to play the piano first. She did, and later moved on to the harp which she "loved from the first lesson onward."{{cite web|url=http://www.chickfactor.com/current/cf16_joannanewsom.shtml|title=Chickfactor interview, circa 2005|work=Chickfactor|access-date=November 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219074829/http://www.chickfactor.com/current/cf16_joannanewsom.shtml|archive-date=December 19, 2007|url-status=dead}} She first played on smaller Celtic harps until her parents bought her a full-size pedal harp in the seventh grade.{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319032133/http://www.jamiebergerwords.com/html/articles/articles/joannanewsom.htm |url=http://www.jamiebergerwords.com/html/articles/articles/joannanewsom.htm |title=Joanna Newsom: Don't Call Her A Prodigy. Or Maybe Do |work=West Coast Performer |date=September 2003|archive-date=March 19, 2008|access-date=October 8, 2017}}

After high school, she studied composition and creative writing at Mills College, where she played keyboards in The Pleased. She dropped out, however, to focus on her music and returned to live with family in Nevada City.

Career

=2002–2005: Career beginnings and ''The Milk-Eyed Mender''=

File:Joanna Newsom tunes harp.jpg, Washington, May 2005]]

In 2002–03, after appearing as a guest musician on Nervous Cop's self-titled collaboration album,{{cite web|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5884-nervous-cop/|title=Nervous Cop: Nervous Cop Album Review|date=November 12, 2003|author=Stousy, Brandon|access-date=October 9, 2017}} Newsom recorded two EPs, Walnut Whales and Yarn and Glue. These homemade recordings were intended to serve as a document of her early work and were not intended for public distribution. At the suggestion of Noah Georgeson, her then-boyfriend and recording engineer of the EP, she burned several copies to sell at her early shows.{{cite web |author=Gillespie, Ryan |date=October 13, 2007 |title=Joanna Newsom interview |url=http://undertheradarmag.com/newsom.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013111802/http://undertheradarmag.com/newsom.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=November 7, 2010 |work=Under the Radar}}Harmanci, Reyhan. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/29/PKGDICQH6I52.DTL&type=music "Playing By The Bookings"]. San Francisco Chronicle via sfgate.com, May 29, 2005. Newsom's friend and bandmate in Golden Shoulders, Adam Kline, gave one of her CDs to Will Oldham at a show in Nevada City.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/368071/joanna-newsom-is-done-reading-blogs/top-stories/|author=Lapatine, Scott|date=May 10, 2010|title=Joanna Newsom Is Done Reading Blogs|access-date=October 10, 2017}} Oldham was impressed with Newsom's music and asked her to tour with him. He also gave a copy of the CD to the owner of Drag City, his record label. Drag City signed Newsom and released her debut album The Milk-Eyed Mender in 2004.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041223172257/http://www.thewire.co.uk/web/unpublished/joanna_newsom.html| url=http://www.thewire.co.uk/web/unpublished/joanna_newsom.html |archive-date=December 23, 2004|work=The Wire| title=Harp of Darkness|date=January 2005|access-date=October 9, 2017}}

Shortly thereafter, Newsom toured with Devendra Banhart and Vetiver to promote the album and made an early UK appearance at the Green Man Festival in Wales.{{cite web|title=Joanna Newsom – Green Man Festival |url=http://www.greenman.net/artist/joanna-newsom |website=greenman.net |access-date=September 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229114150/http://www.greenman.net/artist/joanna-newsom |archive-date=December 29, 2014 }} The tour was the subject of the 2011 documentary, The Family Jams.{{Cite news|last=Webster|first=Andy|date=April 8, 2011|title=A 'Freak Folk' Music Moment|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/movies/the-family-jams-with-devendra-banhart-review.html|access-date=October 17, 2021}} In December 2004, she performed with Smog and Weird War at Drag City's "It's a Wonderful Next Life" Christmas party.{{cite magazine|date=December 23, 2004|title=Distopian Dream World: Drag City's 'It's A Wonderful Next Life' Christmas Party, featuring Weird War, (Smog), and Joanna Newsom|url=https://www.spin.com/2004/12/distopian-dream-world-drag-citys-its-wonderful-next-life-christmas-party-featuring-weird-wa/|access-date=July 1, 2024|magazine=Spin}} She also appeared as a guest musician on Vetiver's 2004 self-titled album,{{AllMusic|title=Vetiver credits|class=album|id=mw0000332045|tab=credits}} and the following year, on Vashti Bunyan's Lookaftering (2005).{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/6175-vashti-bunyan/|work=Pitchfork|title=Vashti Bunyan|date=October 23, 2005|author=Murphy, Matthew|access-date=October 10, 2017}} The track "Sprout and the Bean" was featured in the 2008 horror film The Strangers.{{cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/music/joanna-newsoms-the-sprout-and-the-bean-created-the-perfect-horror-movie-moment-7745761|work=Westword|title=Joanna Newsom's "The Sprout and the Bean" Created the Perfect Horror-Movie Moment|author=Murphy, Tom|date=March 31, 2016|access-date=October 10, 2017}}

The Milk-Eyed Mender had sold 200,000 copies as of 2010 and helped her garner an underground following.{{cite book|title=Punk Aesthetics and New Folk: Way Down the Old Plank Road|page=12|author=Ecarnacao, John|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=978-1-317-07321-5}}{{cite web|work=AnOther Magazine|url=http://www.anothermag.com/design-living/7675/joanna-newsoms-ode-to-the-harp|date=August 11, 2015|title=Joanna Newsom's Ode to the Harp|author=Lack, Hannah|access-date=December 19, 2016|archive-date=September 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902210129/http://www.anothermag.com/design-living/7675/joanna-newsoms-ode-to-the-harp|url-status=dead}} The album was remarked as a "neo-folk benchmark" by music historian John Morrish in 2007{{cite book|title=The Folk Handbook: Working with Songs from the English Tradition|page=53|editor=Morrish, John|year=2007|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn= 978-0-879-30901-5}} and was named the 12th best folk album of all time by NME.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-folk-music-albums-of-all-time-1409184|work=NME|title=20 Best Folk Albums of All Time|author=Cooper, Leonie|date=June 7, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125122143/http://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-folk-music-albums-of-all-time-1409184|archive-date=November 25, 2016|url-status=dead}}

=2006–2011: ''Ys'' and ''Have One on Me''=

File:Joanna Newsom (3629732573).jpg, England, 2008]]

Her second album, Ys ({{IPAc-en|iː|s}}), was released in November 2006, also by Drag City. The album features orchestrations and arrangements by Van Dyke Parks, engineering from Steve Albini and mixing by Drag City label-mate Jim O'Rourke. On a road trip, Bill Callahan recommended she listen to the album Song Cycle by Parks, which led to him being chosen to arrange her work on Ys.{{cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Erik|title="Nearer the Heart of Things": Erik Davis profiles Joanna Newsom|journal=Arthur|date=December 23, 2006|issue=25|url=http://arthurmag.com/2006/12/23/nearer-the-heart-of-things-erik-davis-on-joanna-newsom-from-arthur-no-25winter-02006|access-date=September 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004015218/https://arthurmag.com/2006/12/23/nearer-the-heart-of-things-erik-davis-on-joanna-newsom-from-arthur-no-25winter-02006/|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last1=Pearse|first1=Emma|title=The Mysterious Diva of Folk Music|url=https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/24069/|magazine=New York|date=November 9, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220125510/http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/24069/|archive-date=December 20, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2014}} To support Ys, Newsom performed the album live in 2008 with the Brooklyn Philharmonic in New York City and with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Sydney, Australia.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=The Indie Singer-Harpist Who Met the Orchestra|last=Pareles|first=John|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=January 29, 2008|access-date=October 9, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/arts/music/29newsome.html}} Ys garnered Newsom wider exposure, charting at number 134 on the Billboard 200.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Joanna Newsom Chart History|series=Billboard 200|access-date=October 9, 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joanna-newsom/chart-history/tlp/|archive-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171011043507/http://www.billboard.com/music/joanna-newsom/chart-history/billboard-200|url-status=live}} The album was also nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Music Prize.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052456/shortlist-music-prize-finalists-announced |title=Shortlist Music Prize Finalists Announced |magazine=Billboard |date=April 30, 2007 |access-date=October 9, 2017 |last=Martens |first=Todd}} As of 2010, Ys had sold 250,000 copies.

In 2009, she appeared in the music video for the song "Kids" by the group MGMT.{{cite magazine|author=Daniel Kreps|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mgmt-cast-joanna-newsom-kid-monsters-in-kids-video-20090604|title=MGMT Cast Joanna Newsom, Kid, Monsters in "Kids" Video|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625003051/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mgmt-cast-joanna-newsom-kid-monsters-in-kids-video-20090604|archive-date=June 25, 2011|date=June 4, 2009|url-status=dead}} Also in 2009, Newsom appeared as a guest harpist on the Moore Brothers' album Aptos and played piano on Golden Shoulders' Get Reasonable.{{Cite web|work=AllMusic|title=Joanna Newsom Credits|access-date=October 11, 2017|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joanna-newsom-mn0000784811/credits}} Newsom provided additional vocals for The Lonely Island's song "Ras Trent" during this period as well.{{cite magazine |author=Weiner, Jonah |date=October 15, 2015 |title=Joanna Newsom on Andy Samberg, Stalkers and Latest Harp-Fueled Opus |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/joanna-newsom-on-andy-samberg-stalkers-and-latest-harp-fueled-opus-20151015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229023806/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/joanna-newsom-on-andy-samberg-stalkers-and-latest-harp-fueled-opus-20151015 |archive-date=December 29, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} On March 28, 2009, she performed over two hours of new material at an unannounced concert in Big Sur, California with fellow Nevada City singer-lyricist Mariee Sioux under the pseudonym the Beatles's. Those in attendance reported that about one-third of her new material was played primarily on piano, with a backing arrangement of banjo, violin, guitar and drums.{{Cite news|last=Woolf|first=Devin|title=Joanna Newsom Debuts New Record at Surprise Fernwood Show in Big Sur|newspaper=Naturalismo|date=March 31, 2009|url=http://naturalismo.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/joanna-newsom-played-upcoming-third-album-live-in-full-in-big-sur|access-date=December 5, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127011745/http://naturalismo.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/joanna-newsom-played-upcoming-third-album-live-in-full-in-big-sur/|archive-date=November 27, 2010}} On February 11, 2010, Pitchfork Media reported that Newsom would be the subject of a tribute book titled Visions of Joanna Newsom which was published by Roan Press and features a contribution from author and publisher Dave Eggers.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/37875-joanna-newsom-gets-her-own-scholarly-tribute-book|title=Joanna Newsom Gets Her Own Scholarly Tribute Book|work=Pitchfork|date=February 11, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2010}}

Newsom's third studio album, Have One on Me, was released on February 23, 2010, in North America.{{cite news |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/02/album-review-joanna-newsom-have-one-on-me.html |title=Album review: Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2017}} A triple album recorded in Tokyo in 2009, it consists of over two hours of songs. Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Ann Powers praised the album's variety, adding: "Newsom uses the songwriter's default mode to explore how traditional love, for women, can be both the beginning and the end of possibility: a way to escape home and be exiled from it; to welcome children or be burdened by fertility; to be entrusted with secrets, or betrayed." Throughout 2010, she toured Europe and North America to promote the record, supported by a five-piece band, and also appeared as a guest composer on the album How I Got Over by the Roots, released in June of that year.{{cite magazine|last=Vozick|first=Simon|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/22/roots-joanna-newsom-john-legend-jim-james|title=The Roots enlist Joanna Newsom, John Legend, Jim James for new album|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 22, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221210559/http://ew.com/article/2010/04/22/roots-joanna-newsom-john-legend-jim-james/|archive-date=February 21, 2017|url-status=dead}} She was also selected by Matt Groening to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/mattgroening|title=ATP curated by Matt Groening|website=All Tomorrow's Parties|access-date=May 26, 2017}} In December 2010, a tribute album of Newsom covers was released as a digital download. Artists involved include M. Ward, Billy Bragg, Francesco Santocono, Guy Buttery and Owen Pallett, with all proceeds going to Oxfam America's Pakistan Flood Relief Efforts.{{cite web|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/40742-m-ward-owen-pallett-on-joanna-newsom-tribute/|title=M. Ward, Owen Pallett on Joanna Newsom Tribute|author=Dombal, Ryan|date=November 17, 2010|access-date=October 9, 2017}}

On July 19, 2011, Newsom's second single, "What We Have Known," was released on 12" vinyl. The single was originally the b-side to her first single, "Sprout and the Bean".{{cite web|url=http://www.dragcity.com/products/what-we-have-known|title=Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702014753/http://www.dragcity.com/products/what-we-have-known|archive-date=July 2, 2017|work=Drag City|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} In June 2011, she filmed her second music video (for the song "Good Intentions Paving Company") with directors Karni & Saul.{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/733541/photos-from-joanna-newsoms-good-intentions-paving-company-video-shoot/top-stories/lead-story|title=Photos From Joanna Newsom's "Good Intentions Paving Company" Video Shoot|work=Stereogum|date=June 19, 2011 }} Newsom was selected by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he curated in March 2012 in Minehead, England.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/jeffmangum.php |title=ATP curated by Jeff Mangum|work=All Tomorrow's Parties|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208083940/http://www.atpfestival.com/events/jeffmangum.php|archive-date=December 8, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2016}} In late 2011, Newsom contributed vocals to "The Muppet Show Theme" for The Muppets{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/870051/hear-joanna-newsom-feists-muppets-soundtrack-songs/mp3s/comment-page-1/#comment-7499811|title=Hear Joanna Newsom & Feist's Muppets Soundtrack Songs|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113080253/http://www.stereogum.com/870051/hear-joanna-newsom-feists-muppets-soundtrack-songs/mp3s/#comment-7499811|author=Lapatine, Scott|work=Stereogum|url-status=dead}} and appeared on the cover of the 10th anniversary issue of Under the Radar with Robin Pecknold.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/issues/10134/|title=Issues – Under the Radar – Music Magazine|work=undertheradarmag.com|access-date=December 5, 2016}}

=2012–present: ''Divers'' and acting=

File:Joanna Newsom performs at the Orpheum Theatre.jpg, Boston, Massachusetts, 2015]]

Newsom began 2012 with television appearances on Austin City Limits (on January 21) and Portlandia (on February 7).{{cite web|work=Boise Weekly|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/Cobweb/archives/2012/01/21/joanna-newsom-and-fleet-foxes-on-austin-city-limits-tonight |author=Morgan, Tara|date=January 21, 2012|title=Joanna Newsom and Fleet Foxes on Austin City Limits Tonight|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014527/http://www.boiseweekly.com/Cobweb/archives/2012/01/21/joanna-newsom-and-fleet-foxes-on-austin-city-limits-tonight|archive-date=December 13, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/shows/portlandia/blog/2012/02/joanna-newsom-comes-to-portlandia|author=Locker, Melissa|date=February 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217033911/http://www.ifc.com/shows/portlandia/blog/2012/02/joanna-newsom-comes-to-portlandia|archive-date=February 17, 2012|title=Joanna Newsom comes to Portlandia|work=IFC|access-date=October 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}

On June 25, 2012, she performed at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco with Philip Glass and Tim Fain as part of a benefit for the Henry Miller Memorial Library.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46508-joanna-newsom-and-philip-glass-to-collaborate|title=Joanna Newsom and Philip Glass to Collaborate|work=Pitchfork|access-date=December 5, 2016|date=May 14, 2012|author=Pelly, Jenn}} She performed a new song at the concert tentatively titled The Diver's Wife, a love story concerning pearl hunting,{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/1077411/joanna-newsom-the-divers-wife-live-in-san-francisco/mp3s|title=Joanna Newsom – "The Diver's Wife" (Live in San Francisco)|work=Stereogum|author=Goble, Corban|date=June 27, 2012|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504125312/https://www.stereogum.com/1077411/joanna-newsom-the-divers-wife-live-in-san-francisco/mp3s/|archive-date=May 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} which would eventually become the title track from her next album, Divers. On October 14, she performed another new song tentatively called "Look and Despair" at the Treasure Island Festival, which was renamed "Sapokanikan" and released as the lead single from Divers.{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/18/joanna-newsom-it-was-tonic-to-know-not-insane-interview|date=October 18, 2015|author=Lewis, Tim|title=Joanna Newsom: 'It was a tonic to know I'm not insane'|access-date=October 11, 2017}}

Newsom appeared on a track titled "Kindness be Conceived" on Thao and the Get Down Stay Down's album We the Common, released in February 2013.{{cite web|work=Pitchfork|date=January 24, 2013|author=Minsker, Evan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49274-listen-thao-the-get-down-stay-down-with-joanna-newsom-kindness-be-conceived/|title=Listen: Thao & the Get Down Stay Down With Joanna Newsom: "Kindness Be Conceived"|access-date=October 10, 2017}} In March 2013, Newsom contributed to the song "The Man Who Ran the Town" from the album Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear by British skinhead band Hard Skin.{{cite news|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/why-do-birds-suddenly-appear/593776278|title=Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear|publisher=iTunes|date=March 2013|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2013/03/listen-to-joanna-newsoms-cover-of-sandy-dennys-the-north-star-grassman-and-the-ravens|title=Listen to Joanna Newsom's cover of Sandy Denny's "The North Star Grassman and the Ravens"|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=December 5, 2016}}

She appeared in and narrated the 2014 film Inherent Vice, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.{{cite web|title=Joanna Newsom to Appear in Paul Thomas Anderson Film Inherent Vice|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51834-joanna-newsom-to-appear-in-paul-thomas-anderson-film-inherent-vice/| author=Pelly, Jenn|website=Pitchfork |date=August 8, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128060258/http://pitchfork.com/news/51834-joanna-newsom-to-appear-in-paul-thomas-anderson-film-inherent-vice/|archive-date=January 28, 2016}} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called Newsom's narration in the film "gorgeously rendered."{{cite magazine|author=Travers, Peter|author-link=Peter Travers|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/inherent-vice-20141211|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 11, 2014|title=Inherent Vice|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011130829/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/inherent-vice-20141211|url-status=dead}} Newsom's fourth record, Divers, was released on October 23, 2015.{{cite web|title=Joanna Newsom Announces New Album Divers, Shares "Sapokanikan" Video|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/59135-joanna-newsom-announces-new-album-divers-shares-sapokanikan-video|access-date=October 9, 2017|date=August 10, 2015|author=Gordon, Jeremy|work=Pitchfork}} The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Albums chart and topped her previous best sales week (Ys's debut).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6753045/joanna-newsom-divers-alternative-folk-albums-chart|magazine=Billboard|title=Joanna Newsom Makes a Splash Atop Alternative & Folk Albums Charts|author=Rutherford, Kevin|date=November 4, 2015|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325151359/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6753045/joanna-newsom-divers-alternative-folk-albums-chart|archive-date=March 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}

On December 8, 2015, she performed "Leaving the City" from the album on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.{{cite web|date=December 8, 2015|url=http://www.colbertnewshub.com/2015/12/09/december-8-2015-marion-cotillard-george-saunders-joanna-newsom|website=Colbert News Hub|access-date=December 9, 2015|title=Marion Cotillard, George Saunders, Joanna Newsom on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213103716/http://www.colbertnewshub.com/2015/12/09/december-8-2015-marion-cotillard-george-saunders-joanna-newsom/|archive-date=December 13, 2015|url-status=dead}} In mid-July 2018, Newsom had two songs included in the NPR's "200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women" list, "Sapokanikan" (at number 129), and "Peach Plum Pear" (at number 80).{{Cite web|title=The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/30/627396076/turning-the-tables-the-200-greatest-songs-by-21st-century-women-part-3|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=Npr.org|language=en}}

On March 22, 2023, she performed a surprise set as Fleet Foxes' opener during their Spring Recital show in Los Angeles, performing five new songs tentatively titled "Bombs Are Whistling", "Marie at the Mill", "Little Hand", "The Air Again", and "No Wonder".{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Emma |date=2023-03-24 |title=Witnessing Joanna Newsom's Surprise New Era |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/joanna-newsom-live-review-surprise-show/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} These songs remained in rotation on the setlists of a concert residency Newsom gave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in May 2024. On May 18, 2024, during concert performances of mainly children's song covers, Newsom debuted two further original songs: "Home Economics" and "Rovenshere".{{Cite web |last=Fu |first=Eddie |date=2024-05-20 |title=Joanna Newsom Performs Children's Songs and Debuts New Music During LA Residency: Watch |url=https://consequence.net/2024/05/joanna-newsom-rovenshere-debut-watch/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}}

Musical style and influences

Newsom's musical style has been labelled as progressive folk,{{cite journal|last1=Evans|first1=Ollie|last2=Lerm Hayes|first2=Christa-Maria|last3=Pyle|first3=Derek|date=2014|title=Review of Joyce Smithy: A Curated Review of Joyce in Visual Art, Music, and Performance, by Joyce Smithy|url= http://www.jstor.org/stable/44162659|journal=James Joyce Quarterly|volume=52|issue=1|pages=181–91|doi=10.1353/jjq.2014.0043 |jstor=44162659 |s2cid=164537100 |access-date=November 16, 2022}} chamber folk,{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2016/03/joanna-newsom-fleet-foxes-robin-pecknold-and-the-dirty-projectors-amber-coffman-perform-good-intentions-paving-company-video.html|title=Watch Joanna Newsom Perform With Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold and Dirty Projectors' Amber Coffman|last=Alexander|first=Darian|date=March 29, 2016|website=Slate|access-date=November 16, 2022}} indie folk{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Bradley (literary critic)|date=March 28, 2017|title=The Poetry of Pop|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L808DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA209|publisher=Yale University Press|page=209|isbn=9780300165722}} and baroque pop.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/music/joanna-newsom-explains-why-spotify-sucks-overconfidence-rules-and-her-new-lp|title=Joanna Newsom explains why Spotify sucks, overconfidence rules and her new LP|last=Raymer|first=Miles|date=December 2, 2015|website=Time Out|access-date=April 15, 2022}} Newsom's early work was strongly influenced by polyrhythms. After Ys, Newsom said she had lost interest in polyrhythms. They "stopped being fascinating to me and started feeling wanky."{{cite web|author=Randall Roberts|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2007-11-15/music/mending-the-gap|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108174101/http://www.laweekly.com/music/mending-the-gap-2150909|archive-date=January 8, 2016|title=Mending the Gap|work=LA Weekly|date=November 7, 2007|access-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=dead}} The press has sometimes labeled her as one of the most prominent members of the freak folk movement. Newsom, however, claims no ties to any particular music scene.{{cite magazine|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/pop/10651|title=Q&A with Joanna Newsom |last=Milzoff|first=Rebecca|magazine=New York|date=May 2005}} Her song-writing and vocal performance style has incorporated elements of Appalachian music and its shaped-note notation.{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|title=Ethereal Songs Made More Expansive with an Orchestra's Multitude of Colors|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171508/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/arts/music/02joan.html|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/arts/music/02joan.html?_r=0|access-date=September 29, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 2, 2008}} In 2006, she said her major influence was the avant-garde prog rock band Henry Cow.{{Cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=2006-11-03 |title=Joanna Newsom, Ys |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/nov/03/popandrock1 |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Newsom is a soprano,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/12/04/string-theory-4 |title=String Theory |magazine=The New Yorker |date=December 4, 2016 |author=Frere-Jones, Sasha |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011103125/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/12/04/string-theory-4 |access-date=December 6, 2016 |url-status=dead}} and has expressed disappointment at comments that her singing is "childlike", preferring to call her performance style "untrainable". Critics noticed a change in Newsom's voice on her album Have One on Me,{{cite web|url=http://altmusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/joanna-newsom-have-one-on-me.htm|title=Review of Joanna Newsom's Triple Album Have One on Me|work=About.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701141434/http://altmusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/joanna-newsom-have-one-on-me.htm|archive-date=July 1, 2012|date=February 23, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3fd3|archive-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404014925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3fd3|title=Music – Review of Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me|author=Pattison, Louis|date=2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=dead}} which was the result of her developing vocal cord nodules in 2009, leading to her being unable to speak or sing for two months. The recovery from the nodules and further "vocal modifications" changed her voice.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7032768.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615123238/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7032768.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2011|work=The Times|location=London|title=The conversation: Joanna Newsom|first=Sophie|last=Heawood|date=February 20, 2010|access-date=May 6, 2010}} {{subscription required}}{{cite web|url=http://looklistenplay.com/haveoneonme|title=Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me (Review)|publisher=Look Listen Play|access-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228165008/http://looklistenplay.com/haveoneonme|archive-date=February 28, 2010}}{{cite web|last=Boilen|first=Bob|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123981491|title=First Listen: Joanna Newsom|publisher=NPR|date=February 23, 2010|access-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503224118/http://www.npr.org/2010/02/23/123981491/first-listen-joanna-newsom|archive-date=May 3, 2017|url-status=dead}}

She has cited Vladimir Nabokov and Ernest Hemingway as influences on her lyrics.{{YouTube|title=Joanna Newsom interview – The Harp, Literature & Happiness|id=CD0iZioD7po}} {{Retrieved|access-date=April 30, 2021}}

Personal life

From 2004 to 2007, Newsom dated fellow musician Bill Callahan.{{cite web|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10607463/Bill-Callahan-interview-I-knew-nothing-about-recording.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10607463/Bill-Callahan-interview-I-knew-nothing-about-recording.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Bill Callahan interview: 'I knew nothing about recording'|date=January 31, 2014|author=Perry, Andrew|access-date=October 9, 2017}}{{cbignore}} He provided guest vocals on her song "Only Skin" from her second studio album Ys.

She met comedian Andy Samberg in 2006 at one of her concerts. They married on September 21, 2013, in Big Sur, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/former-saturday-night-live-star-andy-samberg-marries-singer-joanna-newsom----get-the-details-2013219|title=Saturday Night Live Star Andy Samberg Marries Singer Joanna Newsom – All the Details!|work=Us Weekly|date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2013|first=Stephanie|last=Webber|archive-date=December 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222165830/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/former-saturday-night-live-star-andy-samberg-marries-singer-joanna-newsom----get-the-details-2013219|url-status=dead}}

In March 2014, Newsom and Samberg purchased the estate Moorcrest in Beachwood Canyon, Los Angeles, which had been owned in the 1920s by the parents of actress Mary Astor, and prior to that was rented by Charlie Chaplin.{{cite web|last=Barragan|first=Bianca|title=Andy Samberg and Joanna Newsom Buy the Famous Moorcrest|work=Curbed LA|date=July 16, 2014|url=http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/andy_samberg_and_joanna_newsom_buy_the_famous_moorcrest.php|access-date=July 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616172654/http://la.curbed.com/2014/7/16/10072344/andy-samberg-and-joanna-newsom-buy-the-famous-moorcrest|archive-date=June 16, 2016|url-status=dead}} They also own a home in the West Village of Manhattan, New York.Salacuse, Matthew (May 14, 2016). "Goofballer", Time Out New York, p. 15.

On August 8, 2017, Samberg's representative confirmed that Newsom and Samberg had become parents to their first child, a daughter.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/andy-samberg-and-wife-joanna-newsom-secretly-welcomed-baby-girl-w496604| title= Exclusive: Andy Samberg and Wife Joanna Newsom Secretly Welcomed Baby Girl| first= Megan|last= French|magazine=Us Weekly|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2017}} In February 2023, The Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone reported that the couple had a second child.{{YouTube|id=iQWyR_u0aW8|title=Jorma Taccone Dishes on Directing Two Massive Super Bowl Ads}}, The Tonight Show

Discography

;Studio albums

The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004)
Ys (2006)
Have One on Me (2010)
Divers (2015)

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! class=unsortable\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
2008 \| The Sky Crawlers \| \| Voice (English version) \| align=center\|{{cite web\|work=Contact Music\|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/joanna-newsom/news/joanna-newsom-interview-inherent-vice_4554986\|title=Joanna Newsom Admits Worries Over 'Dragging Down' Co-Star In 'Inherent Vice'\|author=Williams, Holly\|date=January 27, 2015\|access-date=October 9, 2017\|archive-date=April 30, 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430024232/http://www.contactmusic.com/joanna-newsom/news/joanna-newsom-interview-inherent-vice_4554986\|url-status=dead}}
2009 \| MGMT – Kids \| Mom \| Music video \| align=center\|
2012 \| Portlandia \| Harpist \| 1 episode \| align=center\|
2014 \| Inherent Vice \| Sortilège \| \| align=center\|
2016 \| Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping \| Steam Punk Doctor \| \| align=center\| {{cite web\|work=Pitchfork\|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/64068-the-lonely-islands-popstar-trailer-is-here-ft-joanna-newsom-dj-khaled-snoop-dogg-usher-more/\|date=March 10, 2016\|title=The Lonely Island's Popstar Trailer Is Here, Ft. Joanna Newsom, DJ Khaled, Snoop Dogg, Usher, More\|access-date=October 10, 2017\|author=Camp, Zoe}}
2021 \| Brooklyn Nine-Nine \| Caroline Saint-Jacques Renard \| Episode: “The Last Day – Part 2” \| align=center\|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

! class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2008

| The Sky Crawlers

| Voice (English version)

| align=center|{{cite web|work=Contact Music|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/joanna-newsom/news/joanna-newsom-interview-inherent-vice_4554986|title=Joanna Newsom Admits Worries Over 'Dragging Down' Co-Star In 'Inherent Vice'|author=Williams, Holly|date=January 27, 2015|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430024232/http://www.contactmusic.com/joanna-newsom/news/joanna-newsom-interview-inherent-vice_4554986|url-status=dead}}

2009

| MGMT – Kids

| Mom

| Music video

| align=center|

2012

| Portlandia

| Harpist

| 1 episode

| align=center|

2014

| Inherent Vice

| Sortilège

| align=center|

2016

| Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

| Steam Punk Doctor

| align=center| {{cite web|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/64068-the-lonely-islands-popstar-trailer-is-here-ft-joanna-newsom-dj-khaled-snoop-dogg-usher-more/|date=March 10, 2016|title=The Lonely Island's Popstar Trailer Is Here, Ft. Joanna Newsom, DJ Khaled, Snoop Dogg, Usher, More|access-date=October 10, 2017|author=Camp, Zoe}}

2021

| Brooklyn Nine-Nine

| Caroline Saint-Jacques Renard

| Episode: “The Last Day – Part 2”

| align=center|