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Sarah McLachlan was lounging in her air-conditioned trailer, exhausted but exhilarated after a day spent fielding media questions and a night spent singing, strumming and strutting on stage. Mountain View, Calif., an hour's drive south of San Francisco, was the third stop on the Lilith Fair tour, the all-women's rock festival she conceived that features top female musicians and a travelling New Age caravan of booths and boutiques (see below). McLachlan was settling into the rhythm of a schedule that has her both headlining the 35-stop tour and acting as its chief spokeswoman. Kicking off her sandals and curling up on a couch, the 29-year-old Canadian performer reflected on the high profile t...

Jewel made her stunning debut with Pieces of You, a collection of starkly honest folk songs. A lot of has transpired for the Alaskan native in the 20 years since, including pop stardom, a marriage, a son, a divorce and brief forays into country and children’s music. Now the 41-year-old multiple Grammy nominee has returned to her folk roots with an album that neatly bookends her best-selling debut. The recording, which features brand new songs and previously unrecorded live favourites, lays bare the emotions of the woman who once sang “Who Will Save Your Soul.” Some of it is shockingly candid, especially the anguished “Love Used to Be,” the frightening “His Pleasure is My Pain” and the howlin...

With her first CD, 1995’s Pieces of You, Jewel made an instant impact with a collection of moving, confessional songs. The album went on to sell more than 12 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling debuts of all time. Since then the Alaskan beauty, who is married to bull-riding star Ty Murray with whom she has a son, has successfully transitioned from folk and pop to country and children’s music, while becoming a popular author and actress. All of Jewel’s musical styles are on display here, from the folky “Hands” and the club-ready “Intuition” to the twanging “Satisfied” and the lullaby-like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The big hits from Pieces of You, including “Who Wil...