Joanna Newsom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanna Newsom
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![]() Newsom performing in 2015
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Born | Grass Valley, California, U.S.
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January 18, 1982
Occupation |
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Years active | 2002–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Musical career | |
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Instruments |
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Labels | Drag City |
Joanna Newsom (born January 18, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her unique musical style and for playing the harp.
Joanna started by recording two short music collections called EPs in 2002. Later, she signed with an independent music company called Drag City. Her first album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, came out in 2004. It was very popular and helped her gain many fans.
She became even more well-known with her album Ys in 2006. This album even appeared on the Billboard 200 music chart. She has continued to release albums, including Have One on Me in 2010 and Divers in 2015. Besides music, Joanna has also acted in TV shows like Portlandia and the 2014 movie Inherent Vice.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Joanna Newsom was born on January 18, 1982, in Grass Valley, California. Her parents were both doctors. She grew up in Nevada City with her older brother, Peter, and younger sister, Emily.
When Joanna was a child, her parents encouraged her to explore music. Her father played guitar, and her mother played piano and other instruments. Joanna went to a special school called a Waldorf school. There, she learned about theater and how to remember and say long poems.
At age five, Joanna wanted to learn the harp. Her parents agreed, but she first learned piano. She loved the harp from her very first lesson. She started with smaller harps and later got a full-size pedal harp when she was in seventh grade.
After high school, she studied music and writing at Mills College. She played keyboards in a band called The Pleased. However, she decided to leave college to focus on her own music.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Out and First Album (2002–2005)

In 2002 and 2003, Joanna recorded two EPs called Walnut Whales and Yarn and Glue. These were recordings she made at home. A friend shared her music with the owner of Drag City, a record company. Drag City signed Joanna, and her first album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004.
After her album came out, Joanna went on tour to share her music. She performed at the Green Man Festival in Wales. Her song "Sprout and the Bean" was even used in a movie. By 2010, The Milk-Eyed Mender had sold 200,000 copies. It was called an important folk album by music experts.
Ys and Have One on Me (2006–2011)
Joanna's second album, Ys, was released in 2006. It featured beautiful music arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. To support Ys, Joanna performed the album live with orchestras in New York City and Sydney, Australia. Ys became very popular, reaching number 134 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was also nominated for a music award in 2007.
In 2009, Joanna appeared in the music video for the song "Kids" by the band MGMT. She also played harp on other artists' albums.
Her third album, Have One on Me, came out in 2010. It was a very long album, with over two hours of songs. Joanna toured Europe and North America to promote this record. She also performed at a music festival chosen by cartoonist Matt Groening. In 2011, she released a music video for her song "Good Intentions Paving Company."
Divers and Acting Roles (2012–Present)

In 2012, Joanna appeared on the TV show Austin City Limits and in an episode of Portlandia. She also performed new songs at concerts, which later appeared on her next album.
She was featured on a song called "Kindness be Conceived" in 2013. Joanna also acted in and narrated the 2014 film Inherent Vice, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Critics praised her narration in the movie.
Joanna's fourth album, Divers, was released on October 23, 2015. This album was very successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Alternative Albums chart. In 2018, two of her songs, "Sapokanikan" and "Peach Plum Pear," were listed among NPR's "200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women."
More recently, in March 2023, Joanna performed new songs at a surprise concert in Los Angeles. She continued to perform these new songs in May 2024 during a series of concerts. She also debuted two more original songs during these shows.
Musical Style
Joanna Newsom's music is often described as progressive folk, chamber folk, and baroque pop. Her early songs used complex rhythms. She is known for playing the harp in her music.
Joanna is a soprano, which means she has a high singing voice. In 2009, she developed vocal cord nodules, which affected her voice. After recovering, her voice changed, and she continued to sing. She has said that writers like Vladimir Nabokov and Ernest Hemingway have influenced her song lyrics.
Personal Life
Joanna Newsom met comedian Andy Samberg in 2006. They got married on September 21, 2013, in Big Sur, California.
In August 2017, Joanna and Andy became parents to their first child, a daughter. In February 2023, it was shared that the couple had welcomed a second child.
Discography
- Studio albums
- The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004)
- Ys (2006)
- Have One on Me (2010)
- Divers (2015)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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2008 | The Sky Crawlers | Voice (English version) | ||
2009 | MGMT – Kids | Mom | Music video | |
2012 | Portlandia | Harpist | 1 episode | |
2014 | Inherent Vice | Sortilège | ||
2016 | Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | Steam Punk Doctor | ||
2021 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Caroline Saint-Jacques Renard | Episode: “The Last Day – Part 2” |
See also
In Spanish: Joanna Newsom para niños