Ingrid Michaelson is one of those musicians who always seems to be on the sidelines. An indie pop musician, she has released a steady stream of singles and studio albums from 2006 until now. But although the singer has a loyal fanbase—and an extensive repertoire of star collaborations—she hasn’t always received the mainstream recognition she deserves.
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A few notable exceptions exist, especially as Michaelson has transitioned from acoustic indie music to more pop-influenced songs. In 2011, Michaelson recorded “Winter Song” with pop rock singer Sara Bareilles; it became a minor hit in the UK. In 2020, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her contributions to the soundtrack of Little Fires Everywhere.
The lack of mainstream fame has never deterred Michaelson, whose music career has always had an element of independence. Her 2014 album, Lights Out, featured more pop elements simply because she felt she had explored acoustic indie music as much as possible.
Michaelson’s sweet voice and poignant lyrics have cemented her as a queen of indie and folk-pop. In the 2010s, she began collaborating with other pop and folk artists more frequently and even scored a Top 10 hit in the UK with her song “Parachute,” which she wrote for Cheryl Cole. She has also increasingly contributed her talents to film and television music and has written for and starred in professional musicals.
Undoubtedly, Michaelson’s talents shine through even when she takes a backseat in the production process. These three songs showcase her songwriting talent — despite being performed by other musicians.
1. “Landline” — Greg Laswell ft. Ingrid Michaelson
Michaelson was married to indie rock singer Greg Laswell from 2011 to 2015. During this time, they regularly collaborated on songs, both as songwriters and performers. Michaelson helped write the title track of Laswell’s 2012 album, Landline, a folk rock song about a catastrophic storm. The music was praised for its simplicity, relying on pure two-part harmonies and the contrast of Michaelson’s sweet vocals with Laswell’s rougher, more powerful ones.
Landline had some serious star power behind it; Sara Bareilles and Sia joined Laswell on other tracks. It was far from the only collaboration between Michaelson and Laswell. He was a featured artist on her songs “Everybody Loves” and “Wonderful Unknown.” Michaelson also lent her voice to various tracks on Laswell’s 2010 album, Take a Bow.
I think the storm may take the screen door
If the wind gets its way
I hear you singing on the floor just below
Unaware of what’s at stake
All I ever needed was a landline
Just in case the power lines go down
2. “The Fall” — Bo Bruce
Indie pop singer Bo Bruce gained attention when she auditioned for The Voice UK in 2012, not just for her excellent performance but also because of her identity. Bruce’s full name is Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce, and she happens to be the daughter of the Earl of Cardigan. However, Bruce’s family status has never factored into her public persona or music career, even after signing on with a record label.
It isn’t known how Michaelson ended up collaborating with Bruce. Her first album, Before I Sleep, was a hugely collaborative process, and the singer worked alongside many songwriters to achieve the final product. Michaelson is credited as a songwriter on the track “The Fall,” a melancholy indie pop song. Before I Sleep peaked at No. 6 on the UK charts.
You warned me of the coming of the fall,
You warned me of the ending of it all.
I will come home to, to broken backs,
If you call, if you call
3. “Parachute” — Cheryl Cole
“Parachute” might be Michaelson’s best-known songwriting credit. It was written for British singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole as a track on her debut album. “Parachute” was a massive success, climbing to No. 5 on the UK charts and receiving a nomination for a Brit Award. Michaelson released her own version of the song the following year.
“It’s very poppy and different from what I’ve done in the past, which is pretty much straight-down-the-middle, singer/songwriter stuff,” Michaelson told Billboard. “I just felt like I wanted to put something out. I’m not ready to put a full album out, so we thought we’d put this out and see how people take it or don’t take it.”
Won’t tell anybody that you turn the world around
I won’t tell anybody that your voice is my favorite sound
I won’t tell anybody, won’t tell anybody
They wanna see us fall; they wanna see us fall down
I don’t need a parachute, baby, if I’ve got you
Baby, if I’ve got you, I don’t need a parachute
Photo by Lorne Thomson/Redferns
