Marianne Barlow

She was born in Van Nuys, California (Like omiGOsh, the VALLey!). She was a Girl Scout too, and before you think "big nerd" the answer would be, well, kinda, if that means intelligent folk with lovely, earth-based imagery. Her songwriting career began in college when she heard someone else's attempt at a song about babies and death (don't ask) and thought, I could do better than that. And better she is. Ask singer-songwriter Christine Kane who says, "Marianne Barlow's music speaks of beauty and depth. She weaves haunting emotional and personal lyrics with strong melodies and rhythms to create some real gems." She'll remind you of established folk artists like Judy Collins, with a timeless interweaving of melody and lyrics, but with a sound more suited for an MP3 age.

With music shaped by folk-rock stalwarts like the Indigo Girls and Natalie Merchant, her songs come through her from another place -- the universe, God, her right breast (more on that later), whatever you want to call it. She offers a sweet take on a relationship in Dreamin', with harmonies as rich and full as the emotion. In Even the Blue she uses color as a metaphor for finding our place in the world, adeptly touching on universal themes, like a good Dar Williams song. California February leaves you wishing for a day like this:

Gorgeous morning, kiss the sunshine, gorgeous glowing afternoon
Freedom speaks a flowing language, play with me in nature's room

There now, doesn't that make you feel better about OmiGOSH California? Oh and the breast thing? Its a song about taking care of yourselves, especially for women. Its a light hearted look at a serious issue, partly centered around a friend who had breast cancer but there's also this:

You know the Amazons, they didn't need 'em
Didn't have babies or just didn't feed 'em

Her dad is a jazz musician who's shared the stage with everyone from Engelbert Humperdinck to Lindsay Buckingham. Marianne performs around the bay area in California (Rose Street House of Music, San Francisco Free Folk Festival, live on KWMR) or perhaps sometime soon in a cozy cafe in your hometown.

When she's not doing her singer-songwriter thing she performs with the Merry Ukuladies, a vocal harmony and (of course) ukulele trio. She teaches private music lessons to beginners in guitar, piano and ukulele, and has been a preschool teacher too, so many of her fans are under five, but it's a guarantee that adults will enjoy her too. Just don't hold the Valley thing against her, k?