Singer-Songwriter Laura Marie

San Antonio born and raised, singer-songwriter Laura Marie very nearly became a marine biologist in college. Luckily for fans of her heartfelt, personal lyrics and smoky-smooth vocals, Laura Marie’s love of music and songwriting eventually carried her through to a degree in music education, past band breakups and the challenges of new motherhood to arrive at her second solo album, Last of the Ones.

Both a snapshot of a time of challenging change for the better in her life, and a prophecy of the bigger picture she couldn’t see at the time, Last of the Ones is both deeply personal and yet serves as a healing salve to all the hearts out there that inevitably get bruised by some life event or another.

Check out this gorgeous and heartwarming video of her song Love You Like Me:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.

Check out Laura Marie’s website to get her albums, keep up-to-date with her shows and also her blog with great tips for indie musicians!

Tune in Tuesday 11/8/11 to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM in Fairfield or kruufm.com online anywhere from 9-10am Central time US for your weekly concentrated dose of music by female singer-songwriters! Interview with Laura Marie at 9:30.

Singer-Songwriter Bess Rogers

Brooklyn-based artist Bess Rogers just came out with her fourth independent release, Out of the Ocean. Featuring all the upbeat handclaps, sweet harmonies, indie punk and pop progressions and catchy melodies we’ve come to love from Bess, the album is also tied together with her fascination with science.  Themes of evolution and love are woven together masterfully in an album that is the perfect balance of smart and fun.

If the success of her Kickstarter campaign is any indication (the final result was reaching 267% of the goal, with over 500 backers, after meeting the original goal in just 2 days!), Bess’ near constant touring in the past several years has really gained her a devoted following.  That, her awesome songs and the fantastic company she keeps.  I have this feeling that when we look back in music history sometime down the road, there will be a group of musicians with the same sort of notoriety as The Group of Seven or perhaps the Impressionists.  Yes, I know that’s painting and this is music, but the same principle of a bunch of people living around the same time and influencing each other’s art applies!  Just check out the cast of characters involved in making Out of the Ocean:

Produced by Chris Kuffner (Ingrid Michaelson’s Girls and Boys) and recorded partly in a Maine farmhouse studio owned by Sam Kassirer (producer of Josh Ritter and Erin McEown) and partly in Rogers’ home studio in Brooklyn, Out Of The Ocean features a host of talented friends including Ingrid Michaelson, Allie Moss, Ian Axel, Saul Simon-MacWilliams, Elliot Jacobson and Dave Eggar (Train, Beyonce).

And now check out a few of them performing the single Anchor:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.

Check out Bess’ newly updated website to get the new album, see videos, get other merch, and stay up-to-date with her busy touring schedule.  For those of you in Fairfield, IA, Bess will be performing at Cafe Paradiso on Oct. 24th with Allison Weiss.  It’s sure to be an energetic and entertaining show!

Tune in Tuesday to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM in Fairfield or kruufm.com online anywhere from 9-10am Central time US for your weekly concentrated dose of music by female singer-songwriters!  Interview with Bess at 9:30.

Singer-Songwriter Jane Godfrey

Growing up in a large and highly musical family, St. Louis singer-songwriter Jane Godfrey spent a lifetime of listening to and making music with her brothers and sisters before a serious of sleepless nights led to her picking up a pen to write herself.  Quickly validated to continue by winning a song-writing contest, when Jane was ready to record, she had a built-in backup band of siblings ready to add their harmonies and instrumental talents to her delightful story songs.

When I met Jane around the campfire at Storyhill Fest Midwest in 2010, a few things really struck me about her music.  There was the clever wordplay, the poignant insights into the human condition, and the way her songs really served and honored the people she wrote them for, yet they were universal in that anyone could relate to them.

Check out Jane performing her song Donuts & Daydreams at a songwriting contest last August:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.

If you’d like to hear more of Jane’s music, stay up to date on new releases or purchase her album Choose Beauty, check out her website.

Of course you can also tune in to KRUU at 100.1 FM in Fairfield or kruufm.com online anywhere from 9-10am Central on Tuesday, October 11th. Get to know Jane at 9:30.

Singer-Songwriter Kristin Cifelli

Boston based singer-songwriter Kristin Cifelli has been playing piano since 2nd grade and writing songs since the 5th.  Two and a half years in the making and well worth the wait, her newest album, Middle of Nowhere, is grown-up pop with songwriter smarts and a voice you could listen to all day long.

The polish shines on each carefully crafted song of Middle of Nowhere, backed with lush instrumentation that never distracts, allowing the vocals and stories to take center stage.  Not that the Berklee grad needs a full band to make her songs soar, just check out this version of her doing her song Not Supposed To solo on The Steve Katsos Show:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.
Then you can go check out and download the album version on Kristin’s Bandcamp to hold you until the full album is released.  Check out Kristin’s website and sign up to her mailing list so you’ll know as soon as Middle of Nowhere is available!

Of course you can also tune in to KRUU at 100.1 FM in Fairfield or kruufm.com online anywhere from 9-10am Central on Tuesday, October 4th. Get to know Kristin at 9:30.

Singer-Songwriter Erin Hill

The multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Erin Hill is currently focusing her formidable skills on an ambitious new project – a sci-fi video album.  Much like a collection of short stories, Erin describes the ten songs on her upcoming album Girl Inventor to be little 4 minute episodes in a Twilight Zone flavored series.  The psychedelic harp-driven tunes run the gamut from dreamy to rocking, all topped with Erin’s etherial vocals and are also waiting to be realized in video form.  The first video for the track Giant Mushrooms is already making a splash online, check it out here:

If you are reading this elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.

Check out Erin’s website to find out more about the Girl Inventor project (set to drop October 10th) as well as her other projects.  While you are there, sign up for her mailing list and connect to her on Facebook and Twitter so you’ll be the first to know when the new videos are released!

Tune in to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM in Fairfield, IA or kruufm.com online anywhere from 9-10am Central US on Tuesday, August 30th to get to know Erin and also get your weekly concentrated dose of music by women.  Interview with Erin starts at 9am Central.

Steve and Lobelia Lawson

Born in West Virginia, a long-time resident of Canada and currently living in the UK, singer-songwriter Lobelia is no stranger to making her way in new lands.  She and her husband Steve apply that adventurous spirit as a musical pioneers, forging a new path for independent artists everywhere by their own life example.

Lobelia’s latest project, a covers album titled “Beautifully Undone”, is sparse and lovely, her rich voice wrapping like warm honey around each song and claiming them for her own.  Tracks as you’ve very likely never heard them before include Junk by Paul McCartney, Moon River by Henri Mancini, Consider Me Gone by Sting and You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive.

Here’s an example of Steve & Lobelia performing a cover at a house concert during their US tour last summer:

Here’s another video of them performing their song Happy:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the videos.

You can learn more about Lobelia, connect with her social networks and listen to and buy songs from her website at http://www.lobelia.net/

Of course you can also join us for an inspiring interview on Lyrical Venus Radio as Lobelia talks about touring sustainably, booking gigs and being genuinely interesting on Twitter, motherhood as a musician and the importance of using all your talents to live a happy life, rather than trying to fit into a traditional idea of what being a musician looks like.

The next Lyrical Venus Radio airs on Tuesday, August 9th from 9-10am  Central Time US.  Tune in to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM in Fairfield or kruufm.com from anywhere in the world at the top of the hour and get to know Lobelia.  Stick around after that for more great music by women artists for the rest of the hour!

Singer-Songwriter Amy Zamarripa

Generous, hard-working and talented to boot, Amy Zamarripa is a major player in the Austin Open Mic scene, hosting her own on Fridays at Fair Bean Coffee every week.   You can find her playing out at others around town almost any other night of the week!  Besides being a musician, Amy is a massage therapist, painter, poet and shutterbug, taking pictures of all the performers at the open mics and posting them in the Austin Acoustic Open Mic Network group on Facebook.

Informed by her other artistic passions, Amy’s music is lush with poetic lyrics and imagery of colors, nature, spirituality and the human condition.  Mix that with a rich, bluesy voice and you get the soulfulness of Janis Joplin, the spark of Bonnie Raitt and the mystery of Tori Amos.

Have a listen to Amy singing Turtle Blues by Janis Joplin:

If you are reading elsewhere, you may need to come to the blog to see the video.

Check out Amy’s website to hear more of her music and connect with her elsewhere online! With one album under her belt and another one in the works, she shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Tune in to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM in Fairfield IA or kruufm.com from anywhere in the world on Tuesday from 9-10am Central to get to know Amy, hear a few songs celebrating the 4th and more! Amy will be on the air at 9am.

Singer-Songwriter Sarah Sample

Like an angelfood cake soaked in whiskey, the music of Sarah Sample is a delicate dessert that packs a pleasant punch. Her voice will stop you in your tracks and her megawatt grin will light up a smile across your own face. Radiating grace, yet brave enough to share raw honesty, her easy and genuine connection with audiences appears effortless. Combine that with her polished collection of song gems and it’s easy to see why Sarah is a fast favorite wherever she goes.

As Sarah is already a Lyrical Venus favorite, let me direct you to my previous posts about her most recent album, Someday, Someday, as well as her 2007 release Never Close Enough, to read more about my thoughts on her music, either as a refresher or an introduction.

When you come back, check out this video of Sarah’s sing-along-inspiring title track of her previous EP Born to Fly:

Feed and email readers may need to come to the blog to see the video

Come fall in love for the first time, or all over again at Cafe Paradiso on March 26th at 8pm. Tickets are $8 advance, $10 door.

Get to know Sarah a little before her concert by tuning in to the Lyrical Venus Radio Hour from 9-10am Central this Tuesday, March 22nd.  Interview with Sarah at 9:00, followed by more great music by female singer-songwriters.

Singer-Songwriter Jill Goldberg

Originally drawn to creating instrumental film scores as a teen, Boston-based singer-songwriter Jill Goldberg joined an acapella group in college and got a taste for performing in front of crowds.  After graduation, Jill fit her two musical passions together into writing and performing her own songs.  With her polished mahogany voice, empowered lyrics, and fresh yet catchy melodies, Jill’s new EP Girl, Polite, is set to make a splash when it drops April 1st.

Check out this fun music video for Jill’s song Not Worth It:

If you want to find out more about Jill, check out her website, or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.  Of course you can join us on Lyrical Venus to get to know Jill and have a sneak peak at the new songs before the official release!

Tune in to Lyrical Venus on KRUU-LP 100.1 FM here in town, or kruufm.com online anywhere on Tuesday morning for your weekly dose of great music by female singer-songwriters.  Show starts at 9am Central, Jill will be calling at 9:30.

Singer-Songwriter Josie Overmeyer

Fairfield songbird Josie Overmyer has been quietly working her way into local hearts for the past few years with her piercingly honest lyrics, honey-dusted vocals, and vintage acoustic aesthetic.  Josie’s understated, commanding songs bring to mind the likes of Iron & Wine or Bon Iver crossed with Emmylou Harris or a little Gillian Welch.

Proving that one needn’t be flashy to catch attention, watching Josie perform live is an amazing experience, especially as she often splits shows with more raucous or upbeat acts.  It’s not uncommon to watch the room transform from foot-stomping uproar to word-hanging, pin-drop quiet when Josie takes the stage.  For evidence, check out this video of Josie singing her song  I Cried:

Which is not to say that Josie isn’t capable of ratcheting up the energy, her collaborations have included electronica backbeats, like this version of her song, Told Me:

You can more songs on her MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/josieovermyer

Josie is nearly finished with her debut album, Little Bird, and is raising the remainder of funds needed on Kickstarter.  Swing by and drop a donation, every dollar helps and any extra funds will go towards making the release more successful!

Josie will be coming into the studio on Tuesday to share about her process and a few songs!  Tune in to KRUU-LP 100.1 FM or kruufm.com from 9-10am Central for the full Lyrical Venus hour, the first half featuring music, Josie will be coming in at 9:30.