Suzanne Vega was the first major figure in the bumper crop of female singer/songwriters who rose to prominence during the late '80s and '90s. Her hushed, restrained folk-pop and highly literate lyrics (inspired chiefly by Leonard Cohen, as well as Lou Reed and Bob Dylan) laid the initial musical groundwork for what later became the trademark... [+] Read More

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One knows what the music industry has been missing at the first sight and sound of Amber Shalene.
Singing, writing and playing the piano since her early teens, Amber's decade long backup performance has given her invaluable experience which she now brings center stage.
Amber has worked on several compilation albums, collaborated on... [+] Read More

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10,000 Maniacs (named after the low-budget horror movie 2,000 Maniacs) was formed in Jamestown, NY, in 1981 by singer Natalie Merchant and guitarist John Lombardo. Other members of the sextet were Robert Buck (guitar), Steven Gustafson (bass), Dennis Drew (keyboards), and Jerry Augustyniak (drums). The group gigged extensively and recorded... [+] Read More

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A folkie in punk's clothing, Ani DiFranco battled successfully against the Goliath of corporate rock to emerge as one of the most influential and inspirational cult heroines of the 1990s. A resolute follower of D.I.Y. ethos, DiFranco released her records through her own indie label, Righteous Babe, slowly but steadily building a devout... [+] Read More

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Raised in Orlando, graduated from FSU as a Creative Writing major, and come back to her hometown to start her career as a musician. With a background in classical instrumental music and theory, Audrey approaches her folk singing and songwriting with an awareness of the overlapping genres of music, and an eagernes to learn everything about the... [+] Read More

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Setting uplifting songs of love and modern-city life to a mid-tempo, hook-laden blend of reggae, calypso, rap, and British pop, Des'ree has risen to the upper echelon of British R&B. Although she failed to reach an American audience with her 1992 duet with Terence Trent D'Arby, "Delicate," despite it being a Top Ten hit in the U.K., she made up... [+] Read More

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While they came into prominence as part of the late-'80s folky singer/songwriter revival, the Indigo Girls had staying power where other artists from the same era quickly faded. Their two-women-with-guitars formula may not seem very revolutionary on paper, but the combination of two distinct personalities and songwriting styles provided tension... [+] Read More

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Born on the island of St. Kitts, British singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading was her country's first Black woman to make commercial inroads into her chosen genre, spicing her take on folk with bits of soul and reggae, and has had a remarkably long, consistent career. Emigrating to England in 1958, Armatrading met lyricist Pam Nestor in a touring... [+] Read More

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Guitarist John Lombardo, a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs, and Mary Ramsey, a classically trained violinist from the age of five, formed as a duo in Buffalo. Lombardo's rock inspiration and Ramsey's folk and classical influences made them a popular local act. With production help from Mitch Easter, John & Mary recorded Victory Gardens in... [+] Read More

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First rising to fame at the helm of the popular folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant subsequently enjoyed even greater success as a solo performer as her plaintive vocals and literate, socially conscious songs established her among the preeminent female performers in contemporary pop. Born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, NY, Merchant... [+] Read More

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Since her debut in 1988, Sarah McLachlan's atmospheric folk-pop has gained a devoted following of fans not only in Canada, where she has established star status, but also in the U.S. and U.K. Each album has shown her growing both as a musician and songwriter, continually redefining herself and emerging as a major voice in the growing adult... [+] Read More

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Shawn Colvin is one of the bright spots of the so-called "new folk movement" that began in the late '80s. And though she grew out of the somewhat limited "woman with a guitar" school, she has managed to keep the form fresh with a diverse approach, avoiding the clichéd sentiments and all-too-often formulaic arrangements that have plagued the... [+] Read More

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By the time Shelby Lynne won her Best New Artist Grammy, she'd already completed six albums, and had over a decade of recording experience under her belt. Yet in a way, the award was appropriate, since I Am Shelby Lynne was the album that finally found her taking control of her music, following years of casting about in search of an identity.... [+] Read More

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Sinéad O'Connor ranked among the most distinctive and controversial pop music stars of the 1990s, the first and in many ways the most influential of the numerous female performers whose music dominated airwaves throughout the decade. Brash and outspoken -- her shaven head, angry visage, and shapeless wardrobe a direct challenge to the popular... [+] Read More

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Suzanne Vega was the first major figure in the bumper crop of female singer/songwriters who rose to prominence during the late '80s and '90s. Her hushed, restrained folk-pop and highly literate lyrics (inspired chiefly by Leonard Cohen, as well as Lou Reed and Bob Dylan) laid the initial musical groundwork for what later became the trademark... [+] Read More

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Having led a rather dark existence during her childhood, Toni Childs (b. Orange, California) faced one of two options: a descent into violence, or, a journey of self discovery. Thankfully she opted for the latter and a extra-ordinary talent was born. The voyage saw Childs live in London, for a while writing lyrics for a Nigerian band. Returning... [+] Read More

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Vanessa Lively grew up in San Antonio, TX and has lived many lives for someone of her age. She is an artist, a dreamer, a traveler, a strong woman, and believes in the power of transformation. Her music is growing and changing right along with her. Having gifts in many areas of the arts, Vanessa’s original artistic focus was as an oil... [+] Read More

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