Its been a long time since Vanessa Carlton got stuck inside everyones head with her No. 1 single A Thousand Miles. In the years since, Carlton has stepped back from the pop world and started focusing on more-personal material. Her last album, the ethereal Liberman, explored life, love and relationships in the sort of insightful way that only someone burned by all three can. Carltons current tour supporting two new live releases, Liberman Live and Earlier Things Live the latter being recent concert performances of older songs will bring her to Zanzabar this weekend.
LEO: What is it about the songs of Liberman that made you want to reinterpret it for a live album?
Vanessa Carlton: Well, I had never released a live album before. And this was my second album outside of the major label system the first was Rabbit On The Run. But I think, with Liberman, I really got my feet under me. It was a launching point that would project me into the rest of my musical career. Because my voice has changed a lot over the years its lower and sturdier and better.
At the same time, youre releasing a live album of songs from earlier in your career. Why do these live albums side by side?
Im so not a nostalgic person, but A Thousand Miles is a song I wrote when I was 16. Those songs didnt seem to fit next to the songs on Liberman because its such a different album. And yet I still play those songs live, and so it made sense to put something that shows how I play these songs today.
How has your writing changed over the years?
The evolution of a writer is about being able to let go of the past, and exploring ideas that are new to you. Just getting to the essence of your instincts and not worrying about the popularity contest. Being married and having a daughter now, my world is too big to worry about the popularity contest.
Carlton will perform at Zanzabar on Thursday, March 30. $25.
This article appears in March 22, 2017.