Annika Bentley is the head of her own band (doing voice, piano, and guitar), accompanied by her mother (and bass player) Kathleen Fraser. A native of Rochester, NY, and 18 as of this writeup, Annika has been compared to Tori Amos, but as far as I'm concerned, she has Tori beat when it comes to her zest, aplomb, attitude, and elegance. Her voice sounds just as striking when she sings a capella as when accompanied tastefully by instruments.

Her discography (on the ingeniously titled Billy Likes the Samba Whistle Records):

See You Around, Lifeguard

• Twilight of the Goddess
• One, Two, She's Blue
• In Trepidation Underwater
• Nights
• The Favourite
• Suzanne
• Consumption
• Autumn]
• In Here as Much to Feel]
• Late 78

Leisuretron

• (track titles unavailable)

She has a web site at www.annikab.com.