Returning To Myself by Brandi Carlile

Returning To Myself

by Brandi Carlile

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    • Genre: Americana / Folk-Rock / Singer-Songwriter / American Roots.
    • Influenced by: Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Minnie Pearl, Elton John, The Beatles, U2, Led Zeppelin, Queen.
    • Similar artists: Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Lori McKenna.
    • About this album: Written largely in the aftermath of an intense period of professional output, collaboration, and public visibility, the album represents a conscious turn inward, After years of being the "curator of legends" (Elton, Joni, Tanya Tucker), Brandi purposefully "untethered" herself to find her own voice again. Thematically centered on identity, self-reclamation, emotional burnout, forgiveness, and spiritual grounding. Produced by an indie-rock "dream team" of Aaron Dessner, Justin Vernon, and Andrew Watt at Dessner's Long Pond studio.
    • Metacritic Score: 81 (universal acclaim).
    • Awards / Nominations: Two 2026 Grammy nominations: Best Americana Album; Best American Roots Performance (for “Back Where I Started”); Americana Music Association Awards Album of the Year nominee.
    • Song To Sample: “Back Where I Started” — a quietly powerful centerpiece that captures the album’s themes of return, reckoning, and emotional grounding.

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