Natalie Merchant

Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant was an influential figure in the alternative folk-rock scene of the late 1980s and early '90s, both as vocalist for the band 10,000 Maniacs and as a successful solo artist. Merchant's warm, lilting vocals and exuberant stage presence endeared her to college-age listeners and veteran adult contemporary fans alike, as did her politically-charged songwriting on tracks like "What's the Matter Here?" "Gun Shy," "Campfire Song" and "These Are Days." Merchant left 10,000 Maniacs at the height of their popularity to begin a career as a solo performer, which launched in spectacular fashion with two platinum records, Tigerlily (1995) and the ambitious song cycle Ophelia (1998). But she retreated from the spotlight for much of the new millennium, releasing just three albums over the course of a decade while devoting more time to marriage and motherhood. Her passion for traditional American folk remained at the forefront of her new material, as evidenced by the pensive Motherland (2001) and The House Carpenter's Song (2003), which compiled covers of classic Americana songs. After nearly a decade of research, she released the Top 20 album Leave Your Sleep (2009), which featured nursery rhymes and poems set to a diverse array of musical styles. The album preserved much of what made Natalie Merchant an enduring popular figure on the alt-rock and folk scene: a childlike innocence combined with great lyrical compassion and a fierce commitment to her independent vision as an artist.