One of the most beautiful traits that bind mankind together is the quest for knowledge and truth. Our seemingly unquenchable thirst for the full story—the dirty laundry and the accolades alike! Never was there a truer statement than “enquiring minds want to know” and it seems we’ll go to any lengths to get to the bottom of things.

 

While that may not have been what local artist Sarah Jaffe set out to accomplish, she has definitely placed herself among some of the strongest truth seekers. In her debut album Suburban Nature, brought to you by local label Kirtland Records, she has captured a pristine collection of songs that are as hauntingly beautiful as they are lyrically empowered. While comparisons to Sinead O’Connor and Fiona Apple don’t quite give you the texture of Sarah Jaffe, they do lend a bit of direction to her musical approach. With strong vocals that hang heavily on tracks spacious enough to fully showcase her style, this surprisingly mature debut release has not left my playlist yet, and I don’t see it getting old anytime soon.

 

At this point Jaffe definitely has her hands full, what with her first record, a great tour opening for another Dallas darling, Norah Jones, and radio support including “Clementine” on 91.7 KXT and “Before You Go” on 102.1 The Edge. The official first single is “Vulnerable,” and these three songs are definitely the strongest on Suburban Nature. “Clementine” has a bit of an Americana feel, and when she insists she didn’t care because she was young, you truly believe her. The most commercial of songs on the record, “Before You Go” is a fresh waltz through the loss of a relationship—yes, it’s over but you know deep down you’re going to survive—while “Vulnerable” insists on individuality and strength.

 

Set to release on May 18^th,  Kirtland Records again shows their support of local artistry as well as a willingness to go beyond the scope of the traditional commercial artist.