Courtesy Monica Wright has never taken voice lessons, but she may have% inherited her %talent from her father, who was a vocalist in the Air Force.

SHE IS: Monica Wright

HER SOUND: Folk/pop/jazz. Wright, 25, sings angelically about love and love gone wrong, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar (think Jewel or Vanessa Carlton).

HER SONGWRITING: “I don't think I have too many positive songs, even if they are upbeat,” Wright said. She likes to write songs that tell stories, build characters and explore human relationships, finding inspiration for her lyrics in everyday conversation: “If you're around me and you say something interesting, don't be surprised to hear a song about it,” she said.
She also collaborates with her friend, poet and photographer Mercy Gary. “You can feed off each other's experiences,” Wright said of collaborating. “It's quite therapeutic, too. You become each other's therapists.”

HER ALBUMS: Hot Air Balloon, five-song EP, 2007

HER INFLUENCES: Soul musician Donny Hathaway, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos and, incongruously, show tunes. “They're so animated,” Wright said.

HER WEB SITE: myspace.com/lookingformisswright

WHERE TO SEE HER: Performing with the AudioGlo Experiment at the Cove on Thursday, April 3; performing solo at the Orderup at Lincoln Heights on Friday, April 4, and April 18 and at the Orderup at the Colonnade on April 10 and April 24. She plays Luna every other month and often can be found trying out new material during the open mic on Monday nights at Tonic.

THE 210 TAKE: Wright has an appealing, expressive voice, and her lilting melodies mesh well with her earnest delivery. Keep an eye out for her first full-length album, Inside And Out, due out this year.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor