They write the songs

Up-and-comers
The above-mentioned singer-songwriters have at least one foot firmly planted in the spotlight. Here are a few worth mentioning that have their foot in the door (and a profile on MySpace.com).

As the niece of folk legend Vic Chesnutt, Liz Durrett has the singer/songwriter thing in her bones. Her debut LP “Husk” (Warm Electronic) is a collection of songs recorded in the mid-90s when Durrett was still a teenager. It’s a hint of her first new LP, due out this fall, and mostly features her voice accompanied by a guitar and percussion. Her whispery voice paints delightfully eerie images that most adolescents are unable to verbalize. Now that Durrett’s in her 20s, it will be interesting to hear how she’s evolved.

Graham Travis wears his influences on his sleeve. The guitarist/pianist write songs that evoke the solid musical foundation of both the Beach Boys and the Byrds, but with a folk-rock sensibility that is modern and unique. His debut LP, “Why Don’t You Know Me Yet?” (Poptek Records) is a collection of masterfully crafted songs that are both catchy and poignant. Travis moves easily from piano-led ballads to percussive rock songs, pacing his lyrics and vocals in perfect rhythm to ensure his songs will stay embedded in your head. Give Travis a year or two, and Grammy will be calling his name.

Cross your fingers for Jenny Owen Youngs, the New York City-based singer songwriter who has a song on the season premier of HBO’s “Weeds.” As snarky as she is cute, this guitarist writes hilarious songs such as “You can’t handle my love,” as well as performing earnest covers of the Britney Spears tune “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” “Batten the Hatches,” her self-released debut LP, was released in 2005.

New York City-based writer Helen A.S. Popkin recently launched her own singer/songwriter career, and is currently performing live in her living room, kitchen, and occasionally a friend’s house.

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