Suzanne Vega

“I was talking to the producer of my 2007 album, Beauty & Crime, and discussing who had seen the biggest rat,” recalls Suzanne Vega. “Afterwards, I kept hearing various rat stories, all of them true. I took note and set them to music, inspired by The Ramones and Fontaines D.C.” Released on September 17, Rats chronicles New York City's infamous rat population and is accompanied by an animated video by filmmaker Martha Colburn. The song also offers a glimpse of her forthcoming album. Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation, Vega emerged in the early 1980s folk revival, performing in NYC’s Greenwich Village. Since her self-titled 1985 debut, her music has been praised for its emotional depth and storytelling, with NPR Music noting that she “has been making vital, inventive music” throughout her career. Known for her focus on city life and real-world subjects, The New York Times describes her as a “masterful storyteller” with a “clinically poetic eye.” Her distinct sound remains as thoughtful and compelling as when she first captivated listeners over 30 years ago. Her most recent album, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories , is a live album showcasing Vega’s timeless catalogue alongside deep cuts and a heartfelt cover of Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side.” It also includes “New York Is My Destination,” from her one-woman play about Southern gothic novelist Carson McCullers, offering a personal reflection on her lifelong connection to the city.