Thao Nguyen probably didn't plan to release her LP just when listeners are itching for another Leslie Feist--but that sure is a nice bit of luck. Nguyen and crew's Kill Rock Stars first is quirky and whimsical, as inclined to tough drums as dainty mandolin, cushy soul as flinty indie-pop.

According to Thao Nguyen, she has two talents: her first is she has a knack for beat-boxing and humming at the same time and her second, and in her opinion finest, is that she had a capacity to watch so much TV as a kid, she?s convinced her personality is made up of several different sitcom characters. Of course Thao, the 23 year Virginia-bred songwriter, is forgetting her unique voice, natural sense for a good melody, and striking lyrics, skilful guitar plucking and her deadly dry sense of humour. Thao?s debut for Kill Rock Stars, showcases all these talents and more, proving she?s a star in the making. With her perky strumming guitar, bluegrass tinged banjo, giddy sense of self and uninhibited vulnerability, Thao manages that rare combination of songs that sound happy but are, at times so sad. Whether using an acoustic guitar strummed with a toothbrush or a sharpie pen, or employing keyboards, horns and a full rhythm section with her band The Get Down Stay Down, her songs are always buoyant, littered with catchy riffs and lyrics gripped with intimate details juxtaposed with her cheeky humour. ?My songs reflect my personality as far as shirking the seriousness of things? says Thao.