Natalie Merchant

Merchant's first big break in the music industry came as lead singer and primary lyricist for 10,000 Maniacs, joining in the beginning days in 1981 while she was a student at Jamestown Community College. The group recorded their album 'Human' and Merchant contributed lead vocals and played piano for seven studio albums. After parting ways with the band, Natalie took two years to compose her first solo release 'Tigerlily' which was released through the Elektra label. It charted at #13 on the US Billboard Charts and is now certified as five times platinum selling.

The follow up 'Ophelia' was a far grander affair than the debut, enlisting the help of British composer Gavin Bryars who composed and conducted a symphonic arrangement for the LP. It is her highest charting album at #8 in the US and also performed well around the world, entering charts in countries including the UK and New Zealand. In 2000, Merchant embarked on a folk tour in the United States with many shows being supported by alt-country band Wilco. She became her most experimental on the next release, 'Motherland' which won praise by critics for a developing sound and a boldness in vision.

She continued to release new material continuously and tour the produce across the States and worldwide. Her 2014 self titled album topped the US folk charts and sold over 200,000 copies worldwide, it was her first album made up of exclusive solo material since 2001 LP 'Motherland'.