For our first artist spotlight here on the old independent blog, we don’t even have to venture outside of Music City, U.S.A. In fact, we could probably stay here for a long time (although we’ll leave soon enough).

But if we left too soon, we’d miss out on the lovely J.J. Heller. Originally from Arizona, the singer/songwriter headed east with her husband, Dave, to make it big in the music world. Her latest effort, The Pretty and the Plain, is an acoustic pop gem. At times, the sweet vibrato takes over on songs like opener “Grow.” Other times, the songs are just pure poetry, like on the stunning “Small.” Check out these lyrics:

Broken moldings all around
Broken people hit the ground
When they discover that you’re not here for our benefit
You love in spite of us
You use the least of us to prove the strong aren’t really strong at all

I don’t want to make you small
I don’t want to fit you in my pocket
A cross around my throat
You are brighter than the sun
You’re closer than the tiny thoughts I have of you
But I could never fathom you at all

Heller’s music is attractive for its cuteness—not some glamorous singer/songwriter effort, but instead invites you in to her cozy little corner with all her idiosyncrasies and quirks.  Need your own evidence?  Check the vids below.

Here’s possibly her most popular song, “Love Me,” from The Logan Show;

http://www.youtube.com/v/qUF4Cf2JVsg&hl=en

Here’s another favorite, “Only Love Remains”:http://www.youtube.com/v/w5Hd211fJOw&hl=en

–Matt Conner

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 3:04 pm and is filed under The Independent Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.