Female folk-pop fans -- Mandy Moore, Yael Naim, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Brandi Carlile (you know = "smart-girl songwriters") -- please assure me that the tremendously talented Amie Miriello is already on your radar. Yes? Good. Did we not tell you about her back in August, right before she released her album, I Came Around? Indeed we did.
So, Amie Miriello just released a brand-new video entitled... "Brand New," directed by Chris Berkenkamp, and it's an artful series of summer snapshots and memories wrapped around a hypnotically sensual chorus that'll make you yearn for a couple of reckless summer flings, no matter how dysfunctional. And yes, that is Nick Lachey.
(Oh yeah, and David Archuleta fans -- Amie's on Team Archie too since they toured together earlier this year. But you knew that.)

The coffeehouse meets the beach in the easygoing music of boho California-free-spirit Angel Taylor. The closest I can come to classifying her summery sonic melting pot is "the female Jack Johnson," but even that falls woefully short. Her bouncy blend of sleepy reggae, upbeat soul and acoustic pop evokes everything from Third Eye Blind to Sheryl Crow to "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," without actually sounding like any of them. Who do you think she sounds like?
Angel's debut album, Love Travels, got a boost from iTunes, when they named her "Make Me Believe" their single of the week. And it's a fitting match. The breezy go-to track would be right at home in an iPod commercial. The song's success won her opening slots on tour with Adele, Brett Dennen, Brandi Carlile and Gavin DeGraw, among others. Are you impressed yet?
To seal the deal, fall into "Make Me Believe" or any of Angel Taylor's other delicately-plucked perfume daydreams, and keep an eye out for this gently rising talent.