Marié Digby is known for her acoustic cover songs -- like Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Britney Spears' "Gimme More" -- that turned into viral videos watched by millions. But with her online success came controversy and a story surfaced claiming that her seemingly homemade videos were actually a marketing ploy by her label. With her debut album, Unfold, set for release April 8, we sat down with the singer-songwriter to get her take on the whole dustup and talk about her new tunes.

Buzzworthy: Why do you think your acoustic version of Rihanna's "Umbrella" connected with listeners?

Marié Digby: It's still kind of a mystery to me because it's such a simple recording. I recorded it the first day I heard "Umbrella" on the radio, so I think a lot of it was good timing 'cause I caught the song as it started to climb up the charts. Maybe it took people by surprise that that song, which exists around this major beat, would still work with just basic guitar. Other than that, I'm not sure why people like it so much. I'm flattered that people like it though.

BW: What do you make of the controversy that surrounded your viral videos?

MD: I'm still kinda confused as to how it's a controversy. Basically what the media was saying was that I was acting as an amateur or an unknown when the fact was no one knew about me. I think the point that people are missing is that whether or not you're signed to a label, you can still be invisible. You can still be pretty much in the same spot as a girl who plays open mic, just like I was a couple years ago -- without the support that I needed, without any guarantees that I was going to release an album. I also think the controversy came out of the fact that people thought it was too good to be true; there had to be some gimmick behind it. In a matter of months I went from being absolutely unknown to being recognizable for these really simples videos that I did in my living room and bathroom. I completely understand why people were looking for some explanation as to why it worked and why it worked so quickly.

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So, you we're watching the season premiere of The Hills last night and over the closing credits of premiere you heard a song you know all too well, Rihanna's "Umbrella." But, you thought, this version sounded different, as if it was performed by someone that wasn't, well, Rihanna! "Who is this not-Rihanna-person that is singing her song?" you asked. Here's the scoop:

After Spencer dropped the rock on Heidi, you heard Los Angeles-based singer named Marie Digby riffing through her take on Rihanna's latest hit. She does her own original stuff, too, but has a knack for taking the latest hits and stripping them down into mellow acoustic gold. Not a bad party trick for a girl to know ... but can she juggle?

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