Whether Rachael Yamagata is crafting a dark, beautiful piece or pumping out a rocking anthem, her music has one sole focus: Heartache.

“It’s probably one of my big lessons in life. I’m always kind of searching for that great counterpart,” Yamagata says of her fascination with the subject. “It’s the only thing that I can’t articulate in any other way. I can’t say it in just words. I need a melody. I need instrumentation.”

The heartache transformed into “Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart,” Yamagata’s two-disc album that was released less than a month ago. The first disc, “Elephant,” features nine intimate, but dark, piano and acoustic guided pieces. Meanwhile, “Teeth Sinking Into Heart” underlines more of a rasping rock feel with a touch of blues. Yamagata hadn’t intended for the album to become two entities, but she felt that people would be less likely to be turned off by the album if the division was made.

“The ballads just became these lush cinematic experiences and the counterpart were these guitar-driven rock songs in which I wanted things to be gritty and raw,” Yamagata explains. “I decided that I wanted people to have a separate experience with each.”

Many of the songs featured on the album were created in the nine months following touring in 2007. During that time, Yamagata sought seclusion in Woodstock, N.Y., where she essentially erased her social life and created more than 160 songs.

“It was really freeing,” she recalls. “It let me create weird songs like ‘Don’t.’ I felt really prolific at the time.”

These songs were then narrowed and refined by producers Mike Mogis (known for his work with Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley) and John Alagia (known for his work with John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band). The result might be best summed up by Yamagata herself.

“It’s like some sort of vulnerable, gutsy heartbreak sociologist set to music,” she describes.

Rachael Yamagata headlines the Hotel Cafe Tour, which stops at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday night. It is an all-ages show that starts at 7 p.m. Other acts include Meiko, Thao Nguyen, Kate Havnevik, Alice Russell and Jaymay. Tickets are $18 each and can be purchased at www.hotelcafetour.com.