Editing Suzanne Vega

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1959)}}
{{for|the album|Suzanne Vega (album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image               = Suzanne Vega 13. Inselleuchten 03 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Vega performing in 2016
| alt                 = Vega singing into a microphone onstage
| birth_name          = Suzanne Nadine Peck
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1959|7|11}}
| birth_place         = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
| origin              = New York City, U.S.
| genre               = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[folk rock]]}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| instrument          = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed or removed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| years_active        = 1982–present
| label               = {{hlist|[[Cooking Vinyl]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]|[[Amanuensis Productions]]}}
| associated_acts     = {{hlist|[[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]]|[[Danger Mouse (musician)|Danger Mouse]]|[[Sparklehorse]]|[[Jonathan Coulton]]|[[Duncan Sheik]]|[[Shawn Colvin]]}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| website             = {{URL|suzannevega.com}}
| module           = [[File:Suzanne Vega signature.svg|150px]]
}}

'''Suzanne Nadine Vega''' ({{née}} '''Peck'''; born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter of [[Folk music|folk]]-inspired music.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/suzanne-vega-mn0000754251/biography |title=Suzanne Vega &#124; Biography & History |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tzpbs |title=BBC Four - Songwriters' Circle, Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Vega's music career spans 40 years. In the mid-1980s and 1990s she released four singles that entered the Top 40 charts in the UK, "[[Marlene on the Wall]]", "[[Left of Center (Suzanne Vega song)|Left of Center]]", "[[Luka (song)|Luka]]" and "[[No Cheap Thrill]]".

"[[Tom's Diner]]", which was originally released as an ''[[a cappella]]'' recording on Vega's second studio album, ''[[Solitude Standing]]'' (1987), was remixed in 1990 as a dance track by English [[electronic music|electronic]] duo [[DNA (duo)|DNA]] with Vega as featured artist, and it became a Top 10 hit in five countries. The original ''a cappella'' recording of the song was used as a test during the creation of the [[MP3]] format.<ref>Sveriges Television, ''Hitlåtens historia: Tom's Diner – Suzanne Vega''. Aired February 6, 2010. {{cite web |url=http://svt.se/2.122596/hitlatens_historia?lid=puff_1877273&lpos=lasMer |title=Hitlåtens historia &#124; SVT.se |access-date=February 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226142344/http://svt.se/2.122596/hitlatens_historia?lid=puff_1877273&lpos=lasMer |archive-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> {{anchor|MP3}}The role of her song in the development of the MP3 compression prompted Vega to be given the title of "[[Honorific_nicknames_in_popular_music#mp3-mother|The Mother of the MP3]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vega |first1=Suzanne |title=Tom's Essay |url=https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com//2008/09/23/toms-essay/ |website=New York Times |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622023647/https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com//2008/09/23/toms-essay/ |archive-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref>

Vega has released ten studio albums; her most recent release is the studio album [[Flying with Angels|''Flying With Angels'']], released in 2025.

== Early life ==
Suzanne Nadine Vega was born on July 11, 1959, in Santa Monica, California.<ref>{{Citation |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=Suzanne Vega Biography |newspaper=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p5751/biography |pure_url=yes}} |access-date=April 30, 2010}}</ref> Her parents divorced soon after her birth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=Kim |title=Softer, earthier Vega releases new album |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |publisher=Reading Eagle Company |date=September 28, 2001 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2fghAAAAIBAJ&pg=2114,7530185 |access-date=April 30, 2010}}</ref> Her mother, Pat Vega (née Schumacher), is a computer [[systems analyst]] of German-Swedish heritage. Her father, Richard Peck, is of English, Irish and Scottish origin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Suzanne |date=2008-09-24 |title=Tom's Essay |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/toms-essay/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Opinionator |language=en}}</ref> Her stepfather, [[Edgardo Vega Yunqué]], also known as Ed Vega, was a writer and teacher from Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/about/1987/creem.htm |title=Suzanne And The (Un)Common Folk |first=Mark |last=Jenkins |date=August 1987 |magazine=[[Creem]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506195730/http://www.suzannevega.com/about/1987/creem.htm |archive-date=May 6, 2006}}</ref> When Vega was two and a half, her family moved to New York City.  She grew up in [[Spanish Harlem]] and the [[Upper West Side]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/detailed.aspx |title=Suzanne Vega: A Life in Music |publisher=Official Community of Suzanne Vega |access-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080419032844/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/detailed.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=April 19, 2008}}</ref> She was not aware that Peck was her biological father until she was nine years old. Vega and Peck met for the first time in her late 20s, and they remain in contact.<ref name="theguardian"/>

She attended the [[High School of Performing Arts]]<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |editor=Colin Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |date=1997 |edition=Concise |isbn=1-85227-745-9 |page=1215}}</ref> (since renamed [[Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School]]) where she studied [[modern dance]] and graduated in 1977.

== Career ==
=== 1980s ===
While majoring in [[English literature]] at [[Barnard College]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/brief.aspx |title=Biography |work=Official Community of Suzanne Vega |access-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080430145005/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/biography/brief.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> she performed in small venues in [[Greenwich Village]], where she was a regular contributor to [[Jack Hardy (singer-songwriter)|Jack Hardy]]'s Monday night songwriters' group at the [[Cornelia Street Cafe]] and had some of her first songs published on ''[[Fast Folk]]'' anthology albums.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/suzannevega/albums/album/109285] {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 1984, she received a major label [[recording contract]], making her one of the first 'Fast Folk' artists to break out on a major label.

Vega's [[Suzanne Vega (album)|self-titled debut studio album]] was released in 1985 and was well received by critics in the U.S.;<ref name=bio/> it reached [[music recording sales certification|platinum]] status in the United Kingdom. Produced by [[Lenny Kaye]] and [[Steve Addabbo]], the songs feature Vega's acoustic guitar in straightforward arrangements. A [[music video|video]] was released for the album's song "Marlene on the Wall", which went into [[MTV]] and [[VH1]]'s rotations. During this period Vega also wrote lyrics for two songs ("Lightning" and "Freezing") on ''[[Songs from Liquid Days]]'' (1986) by composer [[Philip Glass]].<ref name="Holden">{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Holden |date=April 20, 1986 |title=Philip Glass Turns to the Song |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/20/arts/philip-glass-turns-to-the-song.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

Vega's song "[[Left of Center (Suzanne Vega song)|Left of Center]]" co-written with [[Steve Addabbo]] for the 1986 [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]] film ''[[Pretty in Pink]]'' reached No. 32 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1986.<ref>Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 584. {{ISBN|1-904994-10-5}}.</ref>

Her next studio album, ''[[Solitude Standing]]'' (1987), garnered critical and commercial success, selling over one million copies in the U.S.<ref name="riaa.com">{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – June 23, 2015 |work=Riaa.com |publisher=[[RIAA]]}}</ref>  It includes the international hit single "[[Luka (song)|Luka]]", which is written about, and from the point of view of, an abused child.<ref name="Larkin"/> (Not until many years later did Vega reveal the song dealt with the abuse she herself had suffered from her stepfather.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.njarts.net/suzanne-vega-takes-her-new-york-songs-and-stories-on-the-road/|title=Suzanne Vega takes her 'New York Songs and Stories' on the road|first=Cindy|last=Stagoff|website=Njarts.net|date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>) While continuing a focus on Vega's acoustic guitar, the music of her second album is more strongly pop-oriented and features fuller arrangements. Following the success of the album, in 1989 Vega became the first female artist to headline the [[Glastonbury Festival]].<ref name="glasto">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/6b208267-d9dd-4bf8-b9b4-9f8573c00455 |title=A brief history of female headliners at Glastonbury - BBC Music |date=March 23, 2016 |website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Vega performed her set whilst wearing a [[bulletproof vest]], her band having received death threats from an obsessed fan ahead of the festival.<ref name="glasto" />

The a cappella "[[Tom's Diner]]" from ''Solitude Standing'' became a hit in 1990, having been [[remix]]ed by two British dance producers under the name [[DNA (duo)|DNA]].<ref name="Larkin"/> The track was originally a [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]], until Vega allowed DNA to release it through her record company, and it became her biggest hit.

=== 1990s ===
Vega's third studio album, ''[[Days of Open Hand]]'' (1990), continued in the style of her first two studio albums.

In 1992, she released her fourth studio album {{proper name|''[[99.9F°]]''}}, which mixed [[folk music|folk]] and [[pop music]] with electronic elements.<ref name="Chiu 2017 i377">{{cite web | last=Chiu | first=David | title=Suzanne Vega Talks About '99.9F°' Turning 25 and Her New Carson McCullers Play | website=HuffPost | date=September 8, 2017 | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/suzanne-vega-talks-about-999f-turning-25-and-her_b_59b26530e4b0c50640cd6673 | access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref> This record was awarded Gold status by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in recognition of selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.<ref name="riaa.com"/> The single "[[Blood Makes Noise]]" from this album peaked at number-one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s [[Alternative Airplay|Modern Rock Tracks]]. Vega later married the album's producer, [[Mitchell Froom]].<ref name="Chiu 2017 i377"/>

Her fifth studio album, ''[[Nine Objects of Desire]]'', was released in 1996.<ref name="Larkin"/> The music varies between a frugal, simple style and the industrial production of {{proper name|''99.9F°''}}. This album contains "[[Caramel (Suzanne Vega song)|Caramel]]", featured in the movie ''[[The Truth About Cats & Dogs]]'' (1996), and later the [[Trailer (promotion)|trailer]] for the movie ''[[Closer (2004 film)|Closer]]'' (2004). A song not included on that album, "Woman on the Tier", was featured on the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Dead Man Walking (soundtrack)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1996).

In 1997 she took a singing part on the concept album ''[[Heaven & Hell (Joe Jackson album)|Heaven & Hell]]'', a musical interpretation of the [[seven deadly sins]] by her colleague [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]], with whom she had already collaborated in 1986 on "Left of Center" from the ''[[Pretty in Pink (soundtrack)|Pretty in Pink]]'' soundtrack (with Vega singing and Jackson playing piano).<ref name="Morse">{{Cite news |last=Morse |first=Steve |date=September 5, 1997 |title=Stepping Out: Pop star turned classical composer, Joe Jackson takes on the Seven Deadly Sins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5870313/santa_cruz_sentinel/ |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |location=Santa Cruz, CA |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=July 12, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>

In 1999, [[Avon (publisher)|Avon Books]] published Vega's book ''The Passionate Eye: The Collected Writings of Suzanne Vega'', a volume of poems, lyrics, essays and journalistic pieces.<ref name="Gewertz">{{Cite news |last=Gewertz |first=Daniel |date=February 24, 1999 |title=Vega has 'Eye' for passionate poetry |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57107504.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025256/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57107504.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |newspaper=The Boston Herald |location=Boston, MA |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>

=== 2000s ===
[[File:Suzanne Vega Barcelona 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Vega onstage, 2008]]In September 2001, Vega released a new studio album entitled ''[[Songs in Red and Gray]]''. Three songs deal with Vega's divorce from her first husband, [[Mitchell Froom]].

At the memorial concert for her brother [[Tim Vega]] in December 2002, Vega began her role as the subject of the direct-cinema documentary, ''Some Journey'', directed by [[Christopher Seufert]] of [[Mooncusser Films]]. The documentary has not been completed.

Underground [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] duo [[Felt (hip hop group)|Felt]] named a track "Suzanne Vega" on their studio album ''[[Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci]]'', released in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/16417072 |title=A Tribute To Christina Ricci |website=Listen.tidal.com}}</ref>

In 2003, the 21-song [[greatest hits album|greatest hits]] compilation album ''[[Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega]]'' was released. (The UK version of ''Retrospective'' included an eight-song bonus CD as well as a DVD containing 12 songs). In the same year she was invited by [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]-winning [[jazz]] guitarist [[Bill Frisell]] to play at the ''Century of Song'' concerts at the famed [[Ruhrtriennale]] in Germany.

In 2003, she hosted the [[American Public Media]] radio series ''American Mavericks'', about 20th century American composers, which received the [[Peabody Awards|Peabody Award]] for Excellence in Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2004 |title=Nuclear weapons, affirmative action works awarded |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5870588/the_gettysburg_times/ |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times |location=Gettysburg, PA |agency=AP |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=July 12, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/ |title=American Mavericks |date=2016 |publisher=American Public Media |website=Publicradio.org |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

On August 3, 2006, Vega became the first major recording artist to perform live in the Internet-based virtual world, ''[[Second Life]]''.  The event was hosted by [[John Hockenberry]] of public radio's ''[[The Infinite Mind]]''.

On September 17, 2006, she performed in [[Central Park]], as part of a benefit concert for the [[Save Darfur Coalition]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajws.org/who_we_are/news/archives/features/thousands_rally_for_darfur_.html |title=American Jewish World Service |publisher=Ajws.org |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005173149/http://ajws.org/who_we_are/news/archives/features/thousands_rally_for_darfur_.html |archive-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref> During the concert she highlighted her support for [[Amnesty International]], of which she has been a member since 1988.<ref>[https://archive.today/20061111154549/http://www.suzannevega.com/bySuzanne/childhoodStolen.htm The Official Suzanne Vega Website .::. By Suzanne: Articles, Poetry and Essays]. Web.archive.org (November 11, 2006). Retrieved on May 7, 2011.</ref>

In early October 2006, Vega participated in the Academia Film Olomouc (AFO) in [[Olomouc]], the Czech Republic, the oldest festival of documentary films in Europe, in which she appeared as a main guest. She was invited there as the subject of the documentary film by director [[Christopher Seufert]], that had a test screening at the festival. At the end of the festival she performed her classic songs and added one brand new piece called "New York Is a Woman".

Vega is also interviewed in the book ''Everything Is Just a Bet'' which was published in Czech in October 2006. The book contains 12 interview transcriptions from the talk show called ''Stage Talks'' that regularly runs in the Švandovo divadlo (Švandovo Theatre) in [[Prague]]. Vega introduced the book to the audience of the Švandovo divadlo (Švandovo Theatre), and together with some other Czech celebrities gave a signing session.

She signed a new recording contract with [[Blue Note Records]] in the spring of 2006, and released ''[[Beauty & Crime]]'' on July 17, 2007. The album, produced by [[Jimmy Hogarth]], won a [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]. Her contract was not renewed and she was released in June 2008.<ref>[http://www.suzannevega.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4160/5619]  {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2007, Vega followed the lead of numerous other mainstream artists and released her track "Pornographer's Dream" as [[podsafe]]. The song spent two weeks at number-one during 2007 and finished as the No. 11<ref name=pmc1>{{cite web |last=Doelle |first=Chris |url=http://www.podmusiccountdown.com/archives/2008/01/pmc_top10_01040.html |title=PMC Top10–010408 – Top Hits of 2007!!! |publisher=PMC Top10 |date=January 5, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325200052/http://www.podmusiccountdown.com/archives/2008/01/pmc_top10_01040.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=March 25, 2008}}</ref> hit of the year on the PMC Top10's annual countdown. In 2015, Vega joined The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/judges |title=Independent Music Awards |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=October 18, 2011 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530072703/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/judges |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hotelscombined.com/TrafficInspection/e88896b0-e382-11e9-8769-6b68405947ab?requestUrl=%2F%3Fa_aid%3D219239&PxVid=&PxAction=c&PxMobile=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509003804/http://miccontrolblog.com/2009/05/27/the-independent-music-awards-announces-judges-for-9th-annual-imas/ |url-status=dead |title=Compare & Save on Cheap Hotel Deals |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |website=HotelsCombined.com}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news/Charts-Awards/She-&-Him-The-Black-Keys-Mark-Hoppus-Aimee-Mann-And-Bettye-LaVette-Join-Judging-Panel-For-The-9th-Annual-Independent-Music-Awards/48785.html |title=Top40-Charts.com |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |access-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> She was also a judge for the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Independent Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |title=Independent Music Awards – Past Judges |publisher=Independentmusicawards.com |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |archive-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

In 2008, fire at a [[Universal Music Group]] vault in Los Angeles County resulted in the loss or damage of some Vega recordings.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=UMG Acknowledges Elton John, Nirvana, Beck Recordings Were Lost or Damaged in Vault Fire |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-nirvana-beck-recordings-universal-vault-fire-lost-952850/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 14, 2020 |date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2010s ===
[[File:Suzanne Vega at Union Chapel, London 2015.jpg|thumb|Vega at [[Union Chapel, Islington|Union Chapel]], London, 2015, improvising by using the pulpit]]A partial cover version of her song "Tom's Diner" was used to introduce the 2010 British movie ''[[4.3.2.1.]]'', with its lyrics largely rewritten to echo the plot. This musical hybrid was released as "[[Keep Moving (Adam Deacon and Bashy song)|Keep Moving]]". Vega participated in the [[Danger Mouse (musician)|Danger Mouse]] and [[Sparklehorse]] studio album ''[[Dark Night of the Soul (album)|Dark Night of the Soul]]'' (2010). She wrote both melody and lyrics for her song, which is titled "Man Who Played God", inspired by a biography of Spanish artist [[Pablo Picasso]]. Vega sang lead vocals on the song "Now I Am an Arsonist" with singer-songwriter [[Jonathan Coulton]] on his studio album, ''[[Artificial Heart (album)|Artificial Heart]]'' (2011).

Vega has re-recorded her back-catalogue,<ref>[http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/brief-bio-2007/ Suzanne Vega | Brief Bio 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108135728/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/brief-bio-2007/ |date=January 8, 2011 }}. Suzannevega.com. Retrieved on May 7, 2011.</ref> both for artistic and commercial (and control) reasons,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mbbarton.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/suzanne-vegas-close-up-series-more-than-meets-the-eye/ |title=Suzanne Vega's Close-Up series more than meets the eye |date=March 17, 2010 |publisher=Mbbarton.wordpress.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720075436/http://mbbarton.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/suzanne-vegas-close-up-series-more-than-meets-the-eye/ |archive-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/04/suzanne-vega-close-up-vol-3/ |title=Suzanne Vega Proudly Embraces Her Role as 'The Mother of the MP3' |author=Theo Spielberg |date=November 4, 2011 |publisher=spinner.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104182701/http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/04/suzanne-vega-close-up-vol-3/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> in the ''Close-up'' series. Vol. 1 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs|Love Songs]]'') and Vol. 2 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 2, People & Places|People & Places]]'') appeared in 2010 while Vol. 3 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 3, States of Being|States of Being]]'') was released in July 2011<ref>[https://twitter.com/suzyv/status/69980135352315904 Twitter / Suzanne Vega: Vol 3 of Close-Up coming out in July of this year – States of Being]. Twitter.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2011.</ref> followed by Vol. 4 (''[[Close-Up Vol. 4, Songs of Family|Songs of Family]]'') in September 2012.  Volumes 2, 3 and 4 of the ''Close-Up'' albums included previously unrecorded material; Volumes 2 and 3 each included one new collaboratively written song, while Volume 4 included three songs that Vega had written years earlier, but had not previously gotten around to recording. In all, Vega's ''Close-Up'' series features 60 re-recorded songs and five new compositions, representing about three-quarters of her lifetime songwriting output.

While performing live, Vega and long-term collaborator [[Gerry Leonard]] began to introduce a number of new songs into the setlist, including the live favorite "I Never Wear White". Over the course of a year, the songs were completed and recorded in a live-studio setting with the help of a number of guests. Produced by Leonard, ''[[Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles]]'' was released in February 2014.<ref>[http://www.ishtarmusic.com/detail.aspx?id=960 "Ishtar Press-release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306174838/http://www.ishtarmusic.com/detail.aspx?id=960 |date=March 6, 2014 }} Announcement headliner for the Festival Antigel in Geneva, February 15, 2014</ref> It was her first album of new material in seven years and became Vega's first studio album to reach the UK Top 40 since 1992, peaking at No. 37.

Vega's ninth studio album, ''[[Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers]]'', was released on October 14, 2016.<ref name="wsj-mccullers">{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/07/06/suzanne-vegas-we-of-me-carson-mccullers/ |title=Hear Suzanne Vega's New Song 'We of Me' From Her Upcoming Album Inspired by Writer Carson McCullers (Exclusive) |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 30, 2016 |author=Ayers, Mike}}</ref><ref name="nimbit">{{cite web |url=http://www.nimbitmusic.com/suzannevega.1/#loverbeloved |title=Suzanne Vega Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers |publisher=Nimbit |access-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001003835/http://www.nimbitmusic.com/suzannevega.1#loverbeloved |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
In February and March 2023, Vega was to tour the UK.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/suzanne-vega-announces-2023-winter-uk-tour-get-tickets-here-3252715 | title=Suzanne Vega announces 2023 winter UK tour | website=[[NME]] | date=June 21, 2022 }}</ref>

On May 2nd 2025, Vega released the album "Flying With Angels". <ref>{{cite web  | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/33891507-Suzanne-Vega-Flying-With-Angels |title=Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels }}</ref>

== Songwriting ==
At the age of nine she began to write poetry. She was encouraged to do so by her stepfather.<ref name="sodajerker"/> It took her three years to write her first song, "Brother Mine", which was finished at the age of 14.<ref name="americansongwriter">{{cite interview |url=http://americansongwriter.com/2012/10/suzanne-vega/ |title=Suzanne Vega |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2016 |last=Vega |first=Suzanne |interviewer=Schlansky, Evan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019074932/http://americansongwriter.com/2012/10/suzanne-vega/ |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was first published on ''[[Close-Up Vol. 4, Songs of Family]]'' (2012), along with her other early song, "The Silver Lady".<ref name="sodajerker">{{cite web |url=http://www.sodajerker.com/episode-49-suzanne-vega/ |title=Episode 49 – Suzanne Vega |publisher=Sodajerker |date=November 27, 2013 |access-date=October 18, 2016 |last1=Barber |first1=Simon |last2=O'Connor |first2=Brian}}</ref>

Vega has not learned to read musical notation; she sees the melody as a shape and chords as colors. She focuses on lyrics and melodic ideas; for advanced features – like intros or [[Bridge (music)|bridges]] – she relies on other artists with whom she works.<ref name="sodajerker"/> Most of her albums, except the first one, were made in such cooperation.<ref name="slugmag">{{cite web |url=http://www.slugmag.com/music-features/a-melody-a-chord-a-lyric-a-conversation-with-suzanne-vega/ |title=A Melody – A Chord – A Lyric: A Conversation with Suzanne Vega |publisher=SLUG Magazine |date=March 17, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2016 |author=O Hillis, Dean}}</ref>

Vega finishes 80% of the songs she starts writing.<ref name="americansongwriter"/> She got the melody of "Tom's Diner" while walking down Broadway in New York. She was thinking of [[French New Wave]] films.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99PhzEIWuA | title=Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner &#124; Het verhaal achter het nummer | website=[[YouTube]] | date=July 23, 2020 }}</ref>

The most important artistic influences on her work come from [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Leonard Cohen]]. Some other important artists for her are [[Paul Simon]] and [[Laura Nyro]].<ref name="americansongwriter"/>

== Guitars ==
Suzanne Vega currently plays Furch guitars, a brand made in the Czech Republic<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dickson |first1=James |title=Suzanne Vega: "I love the acoustic guitar – I always have. I love the sound of it. I love playing it. I love the look of it. I love everything about it" |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/suzanne-vega-an-evening-of-new-york-songs-and-stories |website=Guitarist / GuitarWorld |date=November 18, 2022 |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> and was the focus of a win-a-guitar competition run by Furch in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Get to jamming on Suzanne Vega! |url=https://furchguitars.com/en/jamwithsuzanne/ |website=Furch Guitars |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> In the mid-1980s she played Guild guitars,<ref>Liner notes, Solitude Standing, 1987</ref> and in the 1990s she played Yamaha and Taylor guitars at different times.

== Theater ==
Vega and [[Duncan Sheik]] wrote a play ''Carson McCullers Talks About Love'', about the life of the writer [[Carson McCullers]]. In the play directed by Kay Matschullat, which premiered in 2011, Vega alternates between monologue and songs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/theater/suzanne-vegas-carson-mccullers-talks-about-love.html?_r=2 |title=Suzanne Vega's 'Carson McCullers Talks About Love' |author=Alan Light |date=April 27, 2011 |newspaper=NYTimes.com |access-date=May 26, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/theater/reviews/suzanne-vegas-carson-mccullers-talks-about-love-review.html |title=The Alienated Souls Whisperer |author=Charles Isherwood |date=May 5, 2011 |newspaper=NYTimes.com |access-date=May 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/05-2011/carson-mccullers-talks-about-love_36840.html |title=Carson McCullers Talks About Love |author=Dan Bacalzo |date=May 6, 2011 |publisher=TheaterMania.com |access-date=May 27, 2011}}</ref> Vega and Sheik were nominated for Outstanding Music in a Play for the 57th annual Drama Desk awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dramadeskawards.com/2012-nominees.html |title=2012 Nominees – 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards |publisher=Dramadeskawards.com |access-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816020115/http://www.dramadeskawards.com/2012-nominees.html |archive-date=August 16, 2012}}</ref>

The album ''[[Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers]]'', based on this play, was released in 2016.<ref name="wsj-mccullers"/><ref name="nimbit"/> Vega considers it to be a third version, because it's rewritten, and she made the first version in college.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/09/suzanne-vega-interview-carson-mccullers-lover-beloved |title=Suzanne Vega: 'It's taken me a while to say, You are what you are, it's fine' |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=October 18, 2016 |author=Anthony, Andrew}}</ref>

In early 2020, Vega played the role of "Band Leader" in an [[off-Broadway]] musical based on the 1969 movie ''[[Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice]]'', directed by Scott Elliott and produced at [[The New Group]] in New York City.  She replaced Sheik, who wrote the show's music and co-wrote the lyrics with [[Amanda Green]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/suzanne-vega-off-broadway-bob-carol-ted-alice-duncan-sheik-1202825026/ |title=Suzanne Vega Adds Name To Off Broadway's 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice' Cast |author=Greg Evans |date=January 8, 2020 |newspaper=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref>  In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', critic [[Ben Brantley]] called the "brandy-voiced" Vega "a delightful, smoothly sardonic presence."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/theater/bob-carol-ted-alice-review.html |title='Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice' Review: Four on a Mattress, With Songs |author=Ben Brantley |date=February 4, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

== Amanuensis Productions ==
Vega established her own recording label after the [[2008 financial crisis]]. From that point, she stopped working for [[Blue Note Records]] and started thinking about re-recording her back catalog with new arrangements and gaining control over her works (which she eventually did with the 2014 ''[[Close-Up Series]]'').<ref name="sodajerker"/>

The name "Amanuensis Productions" was meant as a private joke about "servant" ([[amanuensis]]) owning the "masters" ([[Mastering (audio)|recording masters]]), also a pun at [[A&M Records|A&M]] still legally owning her previous master tapes.<ref name="slugmag"/>

Running the label proved to be harder than she expected. In 2015, it barely "broke even", but new licenses were coming for "[[Tom's Diner]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/interview-suzanne-vega/23717 |title=Interview: Suzanne Vega |publisher=Songwriting |date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2016 |author=Deeks, Russell}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
On March 17, 1995, Vega married [[Mitchell Froom]], a musician and a record producer (who played on and produced {{proper name|''[[99.9F°]]''}} and ''[[Nine Objects of Desire]]''). They have a daughter, Ruby Froom (born July 8, 1994). The alternative rock band [[Soul Coughing]]'s debut studio album ''[[Ruby Vroom]]'' (1994) was named for her, with Vega's approval.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/funfacts/music.aspx |title=Fun Facts Music |publisher=Official Community of Suzanne Vega |access-date=August 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080515164214/http://www.suzannevega.com/suzanne/funfacts/music.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=May 15, 2008}}</ref> Vega and Froom separated and divorced in 1998.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

On February 11, 2006, Vega married Paul Mills, a [[lawyer]] and [[poet]], "22 years after he first proposed to her."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Official Suzanne Vega website |publisher=Suzanne Vega |date=May 6, 2006 |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/ |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20120130173000/http://www.suzannevega.com/ |archive-date=January 30, 2012}}</ref>

Beginning in 2010, Ruby has occasionally performed with her mother on tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdaRH_fyYA0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zdaRH_fyYA0 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Suzanne Vega and Ruby Froom at the City Winery 06-May-2010 |date=May 30, 2010 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU3Kd57XnF4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rU3Kd57XnF4 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Mother & Daughter Vega |date=May 7, 2010 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/suzyv/statuses/23906685160521728 |title=Ruby singing with me tonight |website=Twitter |date=January 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suzannevega.com/latest-suzanne-vega-newsletter-november-17-2014 |title=Suzanne Vega and Ruby Froom at Joe's Pub in NYC on November 14, 2014 |website=Suzannevega.com |access-date=November 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227093337/http://www.suzannevega.com/latest-suzanne-vega-newsletter-november-17-2014/ |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Vega practices [[Nichiren Buddhism]] and is a member of the American branch of the worldwide Buddhist association [[Soka Gakkai International]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SGI-USA Members in New York Celebrate Spring |publisher=Soka Gakkai International |date=February 2008 |url=http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2008/events080405.html |access-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020141406/http://www.sgi.org/news/events/events2008/events080405.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result
|-
| 1985
| rowspan=8| [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]]
| rowspan=5| Herself
| rowspan=2| Top ''Billboard'' 200 Artist - Female<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT101 |title=Billboard|date=December 28, 1985 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |access-date=April 27, 2020 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA21 |title=Billboard |date=December 26, 1987 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |access-date=April 27, 2020 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=8| 1987
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Artist|Top ''Billboard'' 200 Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Artist|Top Hot 100 Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Hot 100 Artist - Female
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| ''[[Solitude Standing]]''
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album|Top ''Billboard'' 200 Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Pop Compact Disk
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Luka (song)|Luka]]"
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song|Top Hot 100 Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[NME Awards|''NME'' Awards]]
| rowspan="2" | Herself
| Best Female Singer
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="8" | 1988
| [[Pollstar]] Concert Industry Awards
| Small Hall Tour of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[ASCAP Pop Music Awards]]
| rowspan="7" | "[[Luka (song)|Luka]]"
| Most Performed Song<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-06-04.pdf#page=5 |format=PDF |title=Billboard |date=June 4, 1988 |website=Worldradiohistory.com |access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[1988 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]]
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award - Breakthrough Video|Breakthrough Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Days of Open Hand]]''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album|Best Contemporary Folk Recording]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Album Package]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=1|1992
| [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Video Awards]]
| "[[Blood Makes Noise]]"
| Best Pop/Rock Female Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1993
| New York Music Awards
| {{proper name|''[[99.9F°]]''}}
| Best Rock Album
| {{won}}
|-
| [[List of radio stations in Hong Kong|Hit Awards]] <small>(Hong Kong)</small>
| rowspan=4|Herself
| Top Female Artist<ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230321042512/https://www.scmp.com/article/42080/pop-war-hotting | url=https://www.scmp.com/article/42080/pop-war-hotting | archive-date=2023-03-21 | title=Pop 'war' hotting up | access-date=2024-08-16 | website=www.scmp.com| date=August 28, 1993 }}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1996
| Žebřík Music Awards
| Best International Female<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anketazebrik.cz/historie/1996-1992/ |title=1996-1992 – Anketa Žebřík |website=Anketazebrik.cz}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2003
| [[Glamour Awards]]
| Woman of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| 2004
| [[Peabody Awards]]
| Entertainment
| {{won}}
|-
| 2008
| [[2008 Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
| ''[[Beauty & Crime]]''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical|Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| 2010
| New York Music Awards
| ''[[Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs]]''
| Best Pop/Rock Compilation
| {{won}}
|-
| 2012
| [[Drama Desk Awards]]
| ''Carson McCullers Talks About Love''
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play|Outstanding Music in a Play]]
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

== Discography ==
{{Main|Suzanne Vega discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[Suzanne Vega (album)|Suzanne Vega]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Solitude Standing]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Days of Open Hand]]'' (1990)
* {{proper name|''[[99.9F°]]''}} (1992)
* ''[[Nine Objects of Desire]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Songs in Red and Gray]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Beauty & Crime]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Flying with Angels]]'' (2025)

'''Live albums'''
* ''[[Live in London 1986]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Sessions at West 54th]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Solitude Standing: Live at the Barbican]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Live at the Speakeasy]]'' (2014)
* ''[[An Evening of New York Songs and Stories]]'' (2020)

== Books ==
* ''The Passionate Eye: The Collected Writing of Suzanne Vega'' (1999) {{ISBN|9780380973538}}.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|www.suzannevega.com}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000754251}}
* [https://suzannevega.bandcamp.com/ Suzanne Vega] at [[Bandcamp]]
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0891916}}
* [https://themoth.org/storytellers/suzanne-vega Stories told by Suzanne Vega] at [[The Moth]]
* [http://pioneersforacure.org/artist/suzanne-vega/ Suzanne Vega recording of 'Streets of Laredo'] for [[Pioneers for a Cure]]

{{Suzanne Vega}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vega, Suzanne}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:A&M Records artists]]
[[Category:American women rock singers]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American folk rock musicians]]
[[Category:American folk singers]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Swedish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Barnard College alumni]]
[[Category:Blue Note Records artists]]
[[Category:Fast Folk artists]]
[[Category:American feminist musicians]]
[[Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni]]
[[Category:Folk musicians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of Sōka Gakkai]]
[[Category:American Nichiren Buddhists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Santa Monica, California]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Singers from New York City]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American women guitarists]]
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[[Category:21st-century American women guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from California]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New York City]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from the Upper West Side]]
[[Category:People from East Harlem]]
[[Category:Cooking Vinyl artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:21st-century American Buddhists]]