Missy Higgins -

In a world littered with disposable pop Missy Higgins is a welcome relief.. passionate, sincere and proudly Australian.

The 23 year old singer/songwriter from Melbourne has enjoyed phenomenal success in her homeland in spite - or perhaps because - of shunning the usual synthetic packaging and tabloid tackiness. Instead she's adopted a more timeless approach, relying on her undeniable songs and unforgettable live performances to build a genuine and gimmick free connection with her audience.

Missy's latest album, "On A Clear Night", retains the hallmarks of her earlier work - irresistible melodies and 'arrow through the heart' lyrics delivered by a voice that clearly means it. However, this time around the tracks benefit from the empathetic production of Mitchell Froom who helmed the first three Crowded House albums as well as works by other quality artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney and the Finn Brothers.

The new album also showcases the changing world view of a more self assured artist. There's a quiet strength to these new works which suggests a more confident young woman. She's grown up in public and "On A Clear Night" is the diary she's kept along the way.

"The album hopefully reflects where I'm at right now", explains Missy. "I just feel a lot clearer about who I am and what I want to be doing with my music. Working with Mitchell was a big part of that process too. I've still got so much to learn but I think I've moved on from most of the confusion and self doubt I felt when I was just starting out. I'd say that's the main difference between the old songs and the new ones."Ê

Tracking of "On A Clear Night" wrapped in December of 2006 and to mark the final day of recording Missy joined Neil Finn onstage at a secret club show he did at Largo in L.A.. After doing her own set she joined in on backing vocals with Neil and his makeshift band that also featured Mitchell Froom on keys and the legendary Jon Brion on guitar. The group improvised versions of classic Finn songs like "Fall At Your Feet", "Four Seasons In One Day" and "Better Be Home Soon" which, in the closing of a circle, Missy used to perform with her brother many years before.

"It was a really special night", Missy recalls. "From my point of view it was just a perfect way to celebrate the completion of this album. Of course if you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be singing "Better Be Home Soon" with Neil Finn I'd have laughed at you and then I'd probably have panicked and refused to leave the house (laughs). But after everything that's gone down over the last few years I was able to just relax and enjoy the night. It was beautiful."

Eric Hutchinson -

“Hutchinson is undeniably charismatic, splitting his time between keyboard and guitar, crooning about stormy romances and everyday struggles.” - Washington Post

“Oh” is one of 10 keenly observed songs from Hutchinson’s self-released debut album, Sounds Like This. The CD, which showcases the young singer-songwriter’s unique brand of soul, bowed at #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart in September 2007. But “Oh!” was penned during a dismal period of his life. His deal with Maverick Records had fallen apart when the parent company shuttered the label. With the plug pulled on his nascent recording sessions, Eric hit the road again. “It was all about getting the exposure and the experience,” he says. After a relentless touring schedule, Hutchinson, who began writing songs as a child in the DC suburb of Takoma Park, MD, put everything he had into making his album.

Sounds Like This was released on Hutchinson’s own label, Let’s Break Records, at the end of August 2007. Overnight it was breaking records – thanks largely to the efforts of a good friend. One of his high school buddies emailed celebrity blogger Perez Hilton a link to Hutchinson’s MySpace page. Hilton recommended it on his site and soon, Eric’s album was ensconced in iTunes’ Top 10 alongside the latest releases from Kanye West and Dave Matthews. It peaked at #5 on the iTunes album chart, becoming the highest-charting album by an unsigned act in iTunes history. No small accomplishment for a record that almost didn’t get made.

A flurry of press followed, including features in Billboard and the Washington Post, which said “Hutchinson is undeniably charismatic, splitting his time between keyboard and guitar, crooning about stormy romances and everyday struggles.”

Hutchinson moved to New York last spring and, eager to tour behind Sounds Like This, began putting together a band. With Jimmy Coleman on drums and Tom Craskey on bass, the trio hit the road in January 2008 with OneRepublic and continues touring with Missy Higgins through the summer of 2008. He will be touring non-stop as Eric closes in on his goal of playing each of the 50 states (he’s up to 40) and embarks on his first international gigs. And, of course, he will no doubt find inspiration in the inevitable random conversations with total strangers along the way.

Julie Moffitt -

http://www.myspace.com/juliemoffitt

2007 looks to be a breakout year for Julie, with major events already in the works. February sees her song "Let Him Be" included in Paste Magazine's Sampler, alongside The Shins and Lucinda Williams, and in July she'll be enjoying her first solo stage slot at Summerfest.

During September 2006, Sony's AcidPlanet.com and AcidXpress software sponsored the Julie Moffitt Remix Contest. Hundreds of entries were submitted from DJs and fans worldwide, starting the radiation of Julie's name from the Midwest around the globe. In November, the trend continued with the inclusion of "Try" on Australia's popular Sounds Like Cafe series (volume 14), previously featuring rising stars like Beth Orton and Corinne Bailey Rae.

In June 2006, she joined Machine Records' Martha Berner and Los Angeles' Arrica Rose on a whirlwind national Hit & Run Tour, sharing the stage with Los Angeles' King Straggler and New York's Adam Levy (guitar - Norah Jones), playing major venues across the country including San Francisco's Rickshaw Stop, the Walnut Room in Denver, Nashville's 3rd and Lindsley and WXPN's World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.

2006 also brought us Julie Moffitt's Burst Records debut, The Stolen EP, recorded with Daniel Holter at BurstHQ with the talents of Dave Marotta (bass - Burt Bachrach, Toni Braxton, Manhattan Transfer), John Ferraro (drums - Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, David Baerwald) and Chris Mosher (piano - Sixpence None the Richer).

Over the past year and a half, her songs have been featured on radio stations throughout southeastern Wisconsin and across the country, including the Standard and Pours station in Dallas and KUGR in Green River, Wyoming. The Stolen EP is currently in rotation at college radio stations from Hawaii to Maine, as well as independent radio stations in Nashville, Tucson and Milwaukee, to name a few. Julie has also appeared on Milwaukee's WTMJ Channel 4 news and Fox 6 Wake Up News, headlined the Chick Singer Night Anniversary Show at Tangier in Los Angeles, appeared twice so far at Summerfest, and headed down to Austin, TX, for her first appearance at SXSW in March 2006.

Check out Missy's latest cd: "On A Clear Night"
	1. Where I Stood 2. 100 Round the Bends 3. Steer 4. Sugarcane 5. Secret 6. Warm Whispers 7. Wrong Girl 8. Angela 9. Peachy 10. Going North 11. Forgive Me