Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch Landau (born July 2, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Rising to fame in the early 2000s, she is known for her blend of pop rock, alternative pop, and country influences, characterized by her distinctive vocals and guitar-driven melodies.
Early Life
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Branch began singing at an early age. She received her first guitar as a gift for her 14th birthday and quickly taught herself to play, finding inspiration in artists like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. She soon began writing her own songs and performing at local venues in Arizona. Her burgeoning talent caught the attention of independent labels, leading to the release of her self-produced debut album,
Broken Bracelet, in 2000.
Breakthrough and The Spirit Room
Branch's independent efforts led to her signing with Maverick Records, a label co-founded by Madonna. In 2001, she released her major-label debut album,
The Spirit Room. The album was a commercial success, propelled by the hit singles "Everywhere" and "All You Wanted." "Everywhere" became a top 20 hit in the U.S. and earned her an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.
The Spirit Room ultimately achieved double-platinum status.
Hotel Paper and Continued Solo Success
In 2003, Branch released her second major-label album,
Hotel Paper. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and featured the single "Are You Happy Now?", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. She also collaborated with Santana on the Grammy-winning song "The Game of Love" from his album
Shaman, which became a major international hit.
The Wreckers
In 2005, Branch formed the country music duo
The Wreckers with fellow singer-songwriter Jessica Harp. Their debut album,
Stand Still, Look Pretty, was released in 2006. The album's lead single, "Leave the Pieces," became a number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart and earned The Wreckers a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The duo embarked on a successful tour before going on hiatus in 2007 to pursue individual projects.
Post-Wreckers Solo Work
Following The Wreckers' hiatus, Branch returned to her solo career, exploring a more country-oriented sound for a period. She released the EP
Everything Comes and Goes in 2010. After several years of working on various projects, including an unreleased album titled
West Coast Time, she released her third solo studio album,
Hopeless Romantic, in 2017, marking a return to her pop-rock roots. Her most recent album,
The Trouble with Fever, was released in 2022.
Musical Style and Influences
Michelle Branch's music is primarily categorized as pop rock and alternative pop, often incorporating elements of country pop and folk. Her songs are characterized by introspective lyrics, strong melodies, and her distinctive vocal delivery, frequently accompanied by her acoustic or electric guitar. She has cited artists such as Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and The Pretenders as major influences.
Personal Life
Michelle Branch has been married twice. She married bassist Teddy Landau in 2004, with whom she has a daughter. The couple divorced in 2015. In 2019, she married musician Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, with whom she has two children.