Beginning of Musical Career

McCarley began her musical career in San Diego, where she'd moved after college to pursue a non-musical career. It was during this time that McCarley met producer/writer/keyboardist Jamie Kenney and the two began recording the songs that would become her debut album, Love, Save the Empty.^{[citation needed]}

Love, Save the Empty

In 2008, McCarley performed at the annual SXSW Music Festival where she was discovered by Universal Republic Records.^{[citation needed]} Love, Save the Empty, was released digitally on December 30, 2008 via iTunes, debuting #86 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.^[4] A physical album followed on January 6, 2009. The first single from the album, "Pony (It's OK)" was the iTunes Single of the Week for the first week of 2009.^{[citation needed]}

During 2008, she was part of the "Hotel Café Tour" playing across the United States.^[5][6] She was also part of the "Ten Out of Tenn" tour in Winter 2008/2009. McCarley spent 2009 on the road with various musicians including Brett Dennen,^[7] James Morrison,^[8] Paolo Nutini^[9] and Mat Kearney.^[10] In May 2013, she performed the song "Re-arrange Again" with K.S. Rhoads at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Oslo, Norway.^[11]

My Stadium Electric

On August 28, 2012, McCarley's second album, My Stadium Electric, was released exclusively to iTunes. "Amber Waves" was promoted as the iTunes Single of the Week.^{[citation needed]}

Influences

Near the top of the list of McCarley's favorite artists are names like Fiona Apple, Patty Griffin and Greg Laswell (the latter of whom co-wrote "Bobblehead").^{[citation needed]}

Albums

• Love, Save the Empty – January 6, 2009 (iTunes, December 30, 2008)

• My Stadium Electric – September 4, 2012 (iTunes, August 28, 2012)

• Yu Yī – September 8, 2017

Singles

• "Pony (It's OK)" – 2008
• "Love, Save the Empty" – 2009
• "Pitter-Pat" – 2009
• "In My Veins Feat. Andrew Belle" (Andrew's Album The Ladder) – February 2010
• "Every Subway Car Feat Barenaked Ladies" (Barenaked's Album All in Good Time) – March 2010
• "Amber Waves" – 2012
• "Out Of The Fog" – 2015
• "G O O D" – 2016
• "DieDieDie" – 2017
• "DIGNITY" – 2017
• "Blackout" – 2017
• "I Won't Let You Down" – 2017
• "Everywhere Ghosts Hide" – 2018
• "Fight to Feel Alive" – 2020

Guest appearances

• Trent Dabbs – Off We Go (Transition, Ready. Set. Records! | August 6, 2010)
• Joshua Radin – They Bring Me To You (Simple Times, Mom & Pop Music Co. | September 9, 2008)

Music videos

• "Love, Save the Empty" – Watch the Video Here

Compilations

• Ten Out of Tenn Vol. 2 (2008) – "Pony (It's Ok)"
• Ten Out of Tenn Christmas (2008) – "Little Drummer Boy"
• He's Just Not That Into You (2009) – "Love, Save the Empty"
• Post Grad (2009) – "Pony (It's Ok)"^[12]