“Like the microphone to your heart,” is how Emily Asen’s music can best be described, and so she sings on her first full-length record Proof LP released on her own Violet Maiden label.

23 years old from Fairfield, Connecticut, Emily writes tightly crafted, folk-pop vignettes that listeners from all walks of life can identify with.
Of the album’s eleven songs, ten are Asen originals, including ‘Play With Fire’, ‘Treading Water’ and the title track, three of the album’s standouts. Asen also gives Coldplay the folk treatment, presenting a noteworthy cover of ‘Yellow’, and delivering it with her smooth and pleasing voice revealing Emily’s evolution as both musician and producer.

Charlotte Sometimes’ enchanting debut album, “Wave & the Both of Us“, is kind of hard to define in style–edgy, funky, singer/songwriter meets rockergirl meets pop diva–but it’s easy to define in quality–amazing, topknotch, kickass. Although only 20, Charlotte (not her true first name–she was adopted) has been performing for years and her experience shows. Her lyrics are mature, dark, romantic and edgy but with a strength punchy and spunkiness that suggest she’s no navelgazer but a fighter. Tthe record tells a story of the currents that pass through our lives, some more uplifting or traumatic than others, Charlotte says. “It’s about all the different waves that live inside my head and heart, and how they affect others, myself, and the person I want or pretend to be.”Far from being bitter or cynical, however, the end result is positive and engaging; kind of “life can really suck but, screw it, lets go have some fun.”

Taking all the best parts of Regina Spektor, Joni Mitchell and Nerina Pallot and twisting them into something very special indeed, Kat Flint is a Scottish singer and songwriter with a mesmerising presence reflecting the essential aspects of contemporary folk music. With her little piano-folk melodies, gently played acoustic guitars and well thought out lyrics, Kat brings a poignant beauty in emotion and a distinctive quality to every song she crafts.

Shannon Hurley is our Heartbreak Artist of this Month, I meet her since her full-length debut. “Ready to Wake Up“, released on Nov. 5, 2007 but waiting for a good occasion to talk about her on your favorite Web Magazine.

Recently named one of Rolling Stone’s top 25 artists on MySpace, Shannon Hurley fits into the new line-up of artists who make quietly beautiful music. It borders on the edge of pop, folk, and rock. After even one listen, the melody has already been carved into your soul, rich with imagery and sensation. Her music is reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan, Keane, and Aimee Mann.