MIDDLETOWN - Rachael Yamagata was born in Arlington, Va. She began her musical career in the 90’s with the Chicago band Bumpus before leaving in 2001 to begin a solo career. She will bring her incredible talent to Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Nov. 13.

       We chatted by phone from her hotel in Seattle before her evening’s performance at The Crocodile.

      

       Your sound has a resonance to Sade, Nora Jones and Sarah McLachlan. Were they influences on your music?

       I’m definitely a fan of their music. The music industry has changed a lot over the years and there’s a wide spectrum of artists that I draw influence from like Tom Waites, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, P.J. Harvey and Bonnie Raitt. I spent some of my childhood in Woodstock, N.Y. so there’s some sixties influence in there, as well.

      

       You began your musical career with the Chicago band Bumpus. Are you still in touch with any of the members?

       Yes, I met them in college and I just saw the lead singer James Johnston in Chicago and I met his new baby. They’re still together and playing shows. They were a big reason why I ever even started doing music. That was my first experience in a band. James in particular really encouraged me to write my own songs. They’ll always be a huge part of my forte into music.

      

       You’ve collaborated with Jason Mraz and Ryan Adams, to name a few. Who was the most memorable collaboration?

       It’s so vast and so fun. I was just talking with someone about the Reggae group Toots and the Maytals about 12 years ago. Frontman Frederick â€�"Toots” Hibbert was such a sweetheart. I was so green and didn’t know what was going on and the experience in the studio was so energized and lots of weed smoking going on, I couldn’t breathe. It was a new entry into the world of music making for me. It was magical and Toots was such a brilliant artist. He really believed in me at a time when no one knew who I was. We’d duet with the mic between us.

      

       Your first full length LP, Happenstance, was recorded at Rutabaga Studios in Arlington, Va. It was produced predominately by three-time Grammy nominee John Alagia, who’s known for his work with Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Paul Simon and Herbie Hancock, to name a few. Run that process by me.

       We started the recording in the Bahamas for a few weeks, then we went to a place in Chesapeake Bay in East Maryland.

      

       What was the first album your ever bought with your own money?

       I bought a single cassette tape--remember those? And that was Aerosmith’s Love in a Elevator.

      

       What was the first song you ever learned?

       â€�"Desperado” by the Eagles on piano. 70’s classic rock was always being played by my parents in the house. Listening to those classic singer-songwriters is where it all started for me.

      

       What is the greatest opening lyric of all time?

       Wow, that’s a good one. Aww, that’s gonna be a hard. Rufus Wainwright, â€�"Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk.” â€�"…cigarettes and chocolate milk, these are just a couple of my cravings…” I pulled over and I was like, what is this and why does he understand that I smoke cigarettes and drink chocolate milk?

      

       What was the first song you ever performed in public?

       That would have been from the musical Annie. I played a homeless person and a dog. So maybe it was just me howling.

      

       Who would you collaborate with if you had the chance?

       Kanye West. He’s my fave; someone I would love to work with.

      

       What has been your most signifiant accomplishment to date?

       Succeeding as an independent artist. I’ve spent a lot of years navigating the business and career side of how to stay on the road and keep making records. How to exist without management. It’s been a rollercoaster career of big pushes from major record labels, to not being on a table at all, to starting my own label. To still be doing it within the climate of today’s music industry is a big success for me.

      

       In today’s world, how important is image?

       To me, my image has just been being the best me that I can be. I think a lot of our artists get really creative with changing up their image, which I think is really fascinating and fun to watch. Where I’m creating from has always been my present state of life and staying authentic to that truth. I’ve never really tried to cast a different image of myself.

       Although, I do wish I could dance.

      

       What advice would you give your younger self about getting into the business?

       Learn everything! Learn as much as you can about every piece of the business. Trust your instincts. When you don’t know what’s going on or how things are being guarded your instincts are what you’ve got. That gut feeling is tremendously important to listen to.

      

       What is your â€�"go-to” karaoke song?

       Oh God. Ya know, karaoke scares the s**t out of me, actually. I’m never one to get up there and do karaoke. Funny that you mentioned that because I think they’re having a karaoke hosting after hours. Everyone on the road wants to do karaoke. I’m a karaoke chicken and we’ll see if that changes tonight.

      

       What is something about you that would surprise your fans?

       I love yard work. I’m a total do it yourself girl--cut firewood, mow the lawn and clear brush. I recently bought a house and everything broke right away so I like to talk shop and tools with the neighbors.

      

       You’re dead! What is the one song that you want to be played at your memorial?

       Ha, God this is good.Ahh…”Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin.

      

       What’s down the road for you?

       Once this tour wraps up in February, 2015, I’ll have a new record going out by March. I’ll be touring with (singer, songwriter, actor) Josh Raiden and I’ll fill in the down time with Germany dates.

      

       Follow Rachel Yamagata on Twitter @rachaelyamagata or visit www.rachaelyamagata.com .

       Joby Rogers can be reached at jrchronicle@gmail.com .