(I had the chance to sit down and chat with Brandi Carlile about her new album, "Give Up the Ghost" and working with heroes such as Elton John and Indigo Girls. A version of this story appeared in The Spokesman-Review. Brandi Carlile appears tonight at The Knitting Factory Concert House. -IJ)

On her third album, "Give Up the Ghost," Brandi Carlile can't help but feel inspired.

Working side-by-side with some of her biggest heroes in music has that effect on her.

Released in October on Columbia Records, "Give Up the Ghost" was produced by Rick Rubin and features a collaboration with Elton John, who Carlile described as her "gateway drug" into rock music as a child.

"He really was my introduction into rock, from classic country and western music. When I discovered Elton John it was the heaviest (music) I'd ever heard. I dove into it and found all these other bands like The Beatles and Queen," Carlile said. "Then I started studying heavy into the orchestration and harmonies in rock music."

Elton John appears on "Caroline," a song on "Give Up the Ghost" inspired by Carlile's niece of the same name.

"(Elton John) was amazing. He finished 'Caroline' -- vocals and piano -- in an hour and half," Carlile said. "The biggest lesson I learned from him is to just keep my eyes ahead and always be excited about what I'm doing and what other bands are doing. That's his mantra, to keep his eyes on new bands and new music. That's what keep him fresh."

Blending elements of rock, pop, folk and country styles, "Give Up the Ghost" also contains string arrangements by another of Carlile's heros, Grammy Award-winning arranger-composer and longtime Elton John collaborator Paul Buckmaster.

"Since I first got hip to him I became a fanatic of his string arrangements because they are so dark and weird and unlike anything else anyone was doing," Carlile said. "I always told myself that one day, when I made the record, it would have a Paul Buckmaster string arrangement."

Carlile and her core band -- which includes writing and touring partners, twin brothers Tim and Phil Henseroth -- were joined in the studio by Indigo Girls' Amy Ray on harmony vocals, as well as Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers multi-instrumentalist Benmont Tench.

The Washington-born-and-bred singer-songwriter co-headlines dates in February with the Indigo Girls, which also has been a major influence in Carlile's musical upbringing.

"I grew up so influenced by them, especially my sense of harmony, so singing with them seems natural and fun," Carlile said. "That's the most exciting thing about this trajectory of my carreer, to meet and thank all of these people who've influenced me personally and musically. This is one of those things you dream about when you're 11 years old.

If you go

 "Give Up the Ghost Traveling Show" featuring Brandi Carlile with Katie Herzig

When, where: Tonight at 8 p.m. at The Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 W. Sprague Ave.

Tickets: $22 in advance, $23 day of show, through TicketsWest, www.ticketswest.com