Yamagata digitally released a new album in the fall of 2011 through Pledgemusic. Her third studio album "Chesapeake" was released through Frankenfish Records in October 2011. In 2012 Yamagata released her next EP called "Heavyweight". Yamagata has appeared numerous times as a guest vocalist for other artists including: Jason Mraz's "Did You Get My Message?", "Fireflies" and "The Believer" by Rhett Miller, on Toots & the Maytals's album "True Love", the song "Barfly" by Ray Lamontagne, and several songs on Ryan Adams' "Cold Roses" album. She contributed vocals to six songs on the Bright Eyes album "Cassadaga". Yamagata contributed writing, keyboards and vocals to the song "Kaleidoscope" by Jill Cunniff a former member of Luscious Jackson. Yamagata also performs with an ensemble cast on the "30 Rock" episode "Kidney Now!" The soundtrack for the film "Dear John" features the song "You Take My Troubles Away", Yamagata's duet with Dan Wilson. She also performs the Muppets song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" on a cover album, "".