Michelle Branch

There is so much pre-fab, pre-packaged musical fiction going on these days, that it's a blessing and a relief to discover a young artist who was born to share her old soul. "There's a love affair going on," Michelle says, "between me and music." Nobody cranks out stacks of obvious, lifeless lyrics for Michelle Branch. There's no one telling the seventeen year old how to move, what to wear, or what to sing about. Nobody writes her songs for her. At a time when young people are force-fed so much pap-pop, Michelle's music is a deep breath of fresh honesty. As far back as she can remember, songs have always danced around in Michelle's head. When she picked up the guitar at 14, words and music tumbled out of her like she couldn't help it. Where does it come from? "I don't really know," Michelle says, amazed, "Music has always been in me. When I sing, I have a sense of peace, I feel like my brain turns off, and I become the core person of who I am -- the essence of me. I feel connected to whatever is out there. It's almost like I leave my body and get to watch."

Just three years after Michelle Branch first picked up a guitar at the age of 14, she was signed to Maverick Records with an album in stores. Branch's debut, The Spirit Room, was produced by John Shanks (Melissa Etheridge, Chris Isaak) and issued in August 2001, spawning the leadoff hit single/video "Everywhere." Although she lists such classic rock acts as Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix as prime influences, Branch's music is more akin to such modern-day female artists as Lisa Loeb, Alanis Morissette, and Melissa Etheridge, something her more mature 2003 album Hotel Paper displayed. In 2005 it was announced that Branch had begun a project with Nashville singer/songwriter Jessica Harp. Originally dubbed the Homewreckers, the duo shortened their name to the Wreckers and released their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty, in 2006. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide