If you’re familiar with the back allies and small venues that are warmed by the best of Seattle's local music, you've no doubt discovered a wealth of talented female singer-songwriters that would make you swear you were in the presence of Norah Jones or Grace Potter. An evening with Willow, however, is far from this. Her performance delivers, on a refreshingly current format, burst after burst of smart and emotional indie-pop flavors.

Willow is a small brunette adorned in sundresses and smiles. She looks more like the kind of girl you would hang out with than an artist who's living a life committed to a character invented for the stage. In other words, she looks extraordinarily average. But then she sings...

When Willow takes the stage you find yourself doing a double take–stumbling to explain how this overpowering experience of feeling and sound can come from such a small frame. When you describe the experience you'll say that it is anything but "small" and "average."

Her performances deliver from a soft, but powerful voice that dances dynamically through an impossibly wide range of character, tone, and emotion. The music calls to mind elements from CocoRosie, Regina Spektor, Johanna Newsom, and Ingrid Michaelson.

Willow's voice floats on ballad-like arrangements of piano. Like quick and powerful punches, her lyrics draw your imagination into her world without ever being so literal as to keep you from identifying with the songs in your own unique way. With unexpected turns and vocals that dare you to harmonize, she'll keep your attention to the last song. She is simply remarkable.

Willow And The Wolf is well on its way to becoming a force in independent music.