If you’re the kind of person who buys records because the story behind the music matters, Brandi Carlile is the artist you talk about at the counter. She’s an Oscar-nominated, eleven-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer and producer — and also a two-time EMMY Award-winning composer, lyricist and writer. She’s a #1 New York Times bestselling author, an activist, a collaborator respected by peers, and a musician who wears all of it in her songs.
Brandi’s newest solo record, Returning To Myself, is out now on Interscope Records / Lost Highway. It’s her eighth solo studio album and it feels like coming home. Produced by Carlile alongside Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon, the record is reflective and intimate — a project made after pouring herself into high-profile collaborations and then looking inward. If you’ve followed her work, you’ll recognize the through-line: Brandi’s music is grounded in craft, truth, and a songwriter’s refusal to settle for easy answers.
That inward turn follows the recent collaborative milestone Who Believes in Angels?, her album with Elton John, which debuted at No. 1 in the U.K. and reached the U.S. Top 10. That project, and Brandi’s continuing role as a producer, underline how deeply embedded she is in contemporary music: she produced GRAMMY-winning projects for artists like Joni Mitchell and Brandy Clark, and lent her voice to high-profile moments, from a rendition of Indigo Girls’ “Closer to Fine” for Barbie The Album to “Home” appearing in the final season of Ted Lasso. In January 2025 she received her first Oscar nomination for “Never Too Late,” written with Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt for the Disney+ documentary about Elton’s life — another example of the reach and emotional intelligence in her songwriting.
At Curious Collections we carry both Returning To Myself and Who Believes in Angels? on vinyl and CD. These are records that reward repeated listens: the production is rich, the arrangements thoughtful, and the lyrics hold up when you want to sit with them. If you collect physical music — be it vinyl, CDs or special editions — Brandi’s recent work is an essential addition.
Brandi’s influence goes beyond her own albums. She’s produced, mentored, and lifted other artists; she’s worked with high-profile names across genres — from The Highwomen and Soundgarden to Sam Smith, Alicia Keys, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Jacob Collier, P!nk and Dolly Parton — and her peers respect her as an artist’s artist. Awards and honors have followed: OUT Magazine’s 2023 “Icon of the Year,” Billboard’s Women in Music “Trailblazer Award,” CMT’s Next Women of Country “Impact Award,” and the NMPA’s 2023 Songwriter Icon Award are just a few. These accolades matter because they reflect a career built on craft, persistence, and genuine community impact.
She’s also a committed philanthropist. Brandi is a founder of the Looking Out Foundation, which has raised more than $8 million to support grassroots causes — a reminder that for her, music and activism are often two sides of the same life.
Touring remains one of the best ways to experience Brandi’s art. Her live shows are honest, emotionally charged events where songwriting and performance meet in a way recordings can only hint at. Brandi is on the road with "The Human Tour", in support of Returning To Myself and featuring The Head and The Heart, with dates announced across multiple U.S. states and internationally — not in Texas at this time — so if you’re planning to see her, check the official tour page for exact cities and dates and consider making a night of it. Seeing Brandi live is an experience: the room breathes with the songs, and you’ll leave feeling you witnessed something quietly monumental.
If you’re in Bryan/College Station or studying at Texas A&M and you love vinyl, CDs, or discovering new music in a community setting, stop by Curious Collections. We’ve got Brandi’s latest albums in stock on both formats, and we’re always happy to help you find the right pressing, answer questions about editions, or talk through which album pressing is best for your setup. Whether you’re a longtime Brandi fan or newly curious, these records deserve a place on your shelf — and the stories behind them are a big part of why we keep the lights on here at the shop.
Come by, pick up Returning To Myself or Who Believes in Angels?, and let’s talk about the songs. If you catch Brandi on tour in another state, consider this your record-store staff vote: go see her — you won’t regret it.
