Kina Grannis - Stairwells
It's been a long road for Kina Grannis to reach this point - from open mics and coffee shop gigs to having a song played during the Super Bowl and leaving a major record label.
Finally, her debut album (Stairwells) has been released in the UK, proving that she was right in wanting to keep her control on the record.
A very strong first effort, it's clear that Grannis' time spent playing underground shows and writing songs in her room have benefited her, helping result in a mature first album.
The acoustic, chilled-out style on Stairwells isn't anything we haven't heard before, but Kina Grannis has a fantastic voice and vocal range, making the album more interesting and special than it should be.
Songs like 'It's Love', 'Words In Front of Me' and the beautiful 'Heart And Mind' stand out on a well-crafted, soulful debut.
Tracks like 'Without Me' feel a little more cliched and forced than the rest, the added percussion giving it a very country-influenced power-pop feel.
When the drums are kept to a minimum, Grannis' vocals remain at the forefront of the songs, not being lost behind the instrumentation.
Stairwells is a statement of intent from Kina Grannis, who has proven herself as a fantastic prospect for the future.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge