Joanna Newsom is an American singer, songwriter, musician and actress from Nevada City, United States. Born in 1982, she is classically trained on the harp and is associated with chamber folk, contemporary folk, folk, freak folk, free folk and indie folk.

Career

Newsom begins her musical career as a keyboardist in the San Francisco indie band The Pleased. She also performs with Nervous Cop and Golden Shoulders. After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, she signs to Drag City.

Albums and recognition

Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, appears in 2004 and brings critical praise and an underground following. Ys follows in 2006 and reaches number 134 on the Billboard 200. She then releases Have One on Me in 2010 and Divers in 2015, with Divers outselling her earlier albums.

Style and screen work

Newsom is known for a distinctive style built around harp instrumentation. She also appears as an actress, with roles in the television series Portlandia and the 2014 film Inherent Vice.