New Artist to Listen For: Amy Regan

From the second her voice introduces first track on her EP, Amy Regan catches the listener's attention. Her EP, And Then There Is This, is the perfect compilation of soft ballads and soulful songs. While at times Regan's voice is reminiscent to that of angelic Priscilla Ahn, she most certainly has a flavor of her own.

New York singer-songwriter Regan began classical vocal training when she was just 11-years-old and her most recent release showcases her dynamic versatility. From edgy track "Everybody Needs Somewhere To Go" to jazzy number "Nighttime Bird," Regan's six-track EP is rich and refreshing.

The light guitar strumming in the beginning of first song, "Everybody Needs Somewhere To Go" soon speeds up to become quite the interesting storyline. Lyrics like "I'm too quick for my own tricks/'Cause I left him at nine, found another by six/I said I'd try him just for kicks/But then I'm cravin' him like an addict needs a fix" leaves the listener curious and asking for more. While she may be classically trained, it is no doubt that Regan's vocal ability stretches among many genres.

"So In Love" starts off with acoustic guitar as Regan's soft singing tie the musical accompaniment and vocals together ever so gingerly. The ballad talks of a couple in love who seem "better off as friends with some small mistakes to hide." A heartfelt song, you feel the pain and confusion throughout Regan's singing. "So In Love" segues fittingly into "Carry On," a more upbeat song with its fast drumbeat, while Regan seems to be questioning the world around her as well as a past relationship.

Possibly the strongest, most diverse track on the EP is "Nighttime Bird" — an incredibly jazzy Ella Fitzgerald-esque number that takes the listener back in time. Featuring piano, light percussion and vocals, "Nighttime Bird" sounds like it could easily fit in at a speakeasy or jazz club in the 1900s. While we're well into the 21st century, Amy Regan has that classic spark that survives the test of time.

For more on Amy, check her out on MySpace or her Web site and be sure to catch a show of hers, she'll be playing many New York gigs in the upcoming weeks.