Without a record deal, Cole decided to take time off and focus on raising her young daughter Sky.

I thought I was done with the music career after having Sky.”[1] Several years later, Cole was lured back to record-making by a friend, Blood, Sweat & Tears’ drummer Bobby Colomby, who produced her intimate, jazz-influenced collection Courage, which she released in 2007 while going through a difficult divorce.

After the split was finalised in 2008, Cole moved back to her hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts to write what became Ithaca.

[1] Allmusic praised Ithaca's emotionally raw, '90s sound, stating that it allowed Cole to work out her troubles while becoming reacquainted with the listener, taking them on a journey of pain and her ultimate rebirth.

In support of Ithaca, Cole embarked on a small promotion tour which took her across the United States throughout October, November and December 2010.