• December 8, 1979
• A native of Staten Island, New York, indie-pop singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson broke through when her quirky love song "The Way I Am" was used in a national campaign for Old Navy sweaters. She quickly became a favorite for TV soundtracks, especially on Grey's Anatomy, where "Keep Breathing" and more than a dozen other tunes were featured throughout the years.
• From the time she was a child, Michaelson was involved in musical theater but she didn't think she had the right voice to pursue it as a career. She turned to songwriting instead but never forgot about her first love. Her dream of writing a musical came true when she was hired to write the music and lyrics for the Broadway adaptation of The Notebook, including the song "If This Is Love."
• Michaelson is a big fan of the Netflix series Stranger Things and wrote the 2019 album Stranger Songs with the show in mind. For example, the song "Pretty" was inspired by the telekinetic character Eleven.
• Michaelson garnered her first Emmy nomination when "Build It Up," a song she wrote for the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere, was nominated for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in 2020.
• Michaelson self-released her debut album, Slow The Rain, in 2005 but - as she told Songfacts in a 2024 interview - she tried to "erase it from the history books" and claims the follow-up, Girls And Boys, as her first proper album. A transformative summer listening to Regina Spektor and Death Cab For Cutie changed her approach to songwriting and pushed her from musical theater into the realm of indie-pop.
• She made her film debut in the 2017 romantic comedy Humor Me, playing a musician named Allison. A recovering alcoholic and drug addict, she lives with her mom in a retirement community, where she meets a struggling playwright, played by Jermaine Clement. The role posed a big challenge for the singer: who'd never even been on a bicycle - had to learn how to ride a Vespa.
• She named her border terrier Shep Proudfoot after Steve Reevis' ex-con character in the 1996 movie Fargo.
• During her four-year marriage to rock singer Greg Laswell (2011-2015), the pair often collaborated on music, with Michaelson co-writing and singing on the title track to his 2012 Landline album. Following their split, Michaelson became romantically involved with singer/actor Will Chase.
• She co-wrote the UK hit "Parachute" for British singer Cheryl Cole's debut solo album, 3 Words (2009).
• Aside from performing her original songs, Michaelson likes to cover the classics. She included a live rendition of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love" - which was used on the TV show One Tree Hill - on her 2008 compilation Be OK and recorded Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young" and Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" for her 2024 album, For The Dreamers.
• While she doesn't always don them, Michaelson is known for her trademark thick-rimmed glasses. The nearsighted singer was initially hesitant to wear them because she didn't want to be confused with fellow spectacle-wearing songstress Lisa Loeb. But since she wasn't comfortable with contacts or eye surgery, she relented. Lots of young girls followed suit and showed up to her concerts in glasses.
• Michaelson releases music through her own record label, Cabin 24 Records. By the time major labels started showing interest, her songs were already making the rounds on TV and she didn't see the need to align with a company that would hold her to a multi-album deal and take a bulk of her earnings. Instead, she does temporary joint ventures for distribution and support purposes where companies earn a percentage only for the duration of the licensing period.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Coming HomeDiddy - Dirty Money

"Coming Home" by Diddy - Dirty Money was originally iwritten for for T.I., who was getting out of prison at the time.

Summer BreezeSeals & Crofts

On the surface, "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts is just a song about a guy coming home from work, but the duo claimed it had a deeper meaning about finding direction in one's personal life.

ChandelierSia

Sia planned to quit her solo career after her 2014 album 1000 Forms of Fear, but the "Chandelier" video proved so popular it drew her back in.

Hit Me With Your Best ShotPat Benatar

Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was written by a guy named Eddie after going through a weird therapy session where he punched pillows to get out his aggressions.

Do You Realize??The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" was named in March 2009 the official Rock Song of Oklahoma. Four years later, Oklahoma's governor Mary Fallin pulled the tune as the state's official rock song in a move her office said had more to do with priorities than musical taste.

Follow Your ArrowKacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves offered "Follow Your Arrow" to her friend Katy Perry, but Perry thought Musgraves should record the song herself, telling Kacey it seemed "like something that you would totally say."

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.