Chris Pierson: Chris Pierson is a solo artist who, like the best of them, turns life's misfortunes into emotionally riveting music. And life can throw a lot of material your way. Chris would know. After dealing with the stress of a personal turmoil, a friend suggested he "write it out"-advice that's done Chris and his listeners heaps of good. After "writing it out," Chris' songs so impressed friends that he found himself booked on an open mike, and from then on life would never be the same.

He pinched his pennies and bought an 8-track recorder, putting together his first CD that, by 2003, saw him weather miles of touring as the energetic and successful artist he always was.

He then moved to Atlanta where he re-invented himself as a darker more mature performer. And though Chris probes deep, he entertains your socks, pants, whatever else you'd like to be removed, off. We thank Chris' friend for telling him to not only write it, but to outstandingly sing it out.

Dana Andrews: Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, Dana Andrews is the self described "Southern Belle" of the group. But as we know of so many lovely, lilting Southern girls, there's often a fierce Steel Magnolia stirring underneath. For as nicely mannered, sweet and full of homespun charm as Dana is, there's a young woman who absolutely commands the stage.

The 22-year old beauty found her music as far back as elementary school when she landed herself in school plays, talent shows-anything that would showcase her wonderful voice. Writing lyrics by the age of 13, Dana also turned poetry to song and by her early teens was soliciting musicians to compose her lyrics and melodies.

For now, the hard working singer is balancing a waitressing job while fronting a band based out of Columbia, South Carolina, as well as performing weekend gigs with a cover band. Ever ambitious and musically open, Dana's work ethic and talent will take her far, with both an infectious smile and a rocking, raised fist in the air. Yes-this is how we like our Southern girls.

Dilana: A tattooed and, more importantly, tremendously talented singer and songwriter, Dilana counts Tina Turner as one of her musical idols. And it's easy to see why. Just as Tina carried the gusto and appeal of the big boys, so does Dilana, a thoughtful and direct woman who immediately communicates serious rocker cred.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dilana began her singing career early, finding her way on stage in front of her first audience at the age of 7. From then on she was music obsessed, leaving school at 16 to sing in a traveling duo and soon performed in different bands. She moved to the Netherlands to further herself and start her own band. A wise decision-Dilana's band became one of the country's most sought after groups. From there she only went up, recording her debut album "Wonderfool", which garnered five singles, four music videos and loads of touring and festival gigs (over 200!).

Pretty, driven Dilana now lives in the United States where she's enjoying success as a solo act with surely more hits to follow. And we'll follow her. Honestly, Dilana has the power to make us follow her anywhere.

Jenny Galt: Jenny Galt has a sly way about her that manages to simultaneously evoke the (rocker) girl next door, an international woman of mystery and that ultra cool chick who always cranks the good tunes at the party. And then there's her music. Adept with gorgeous vocals, impressive piano work and guitar playing, the multi-faceted musician is a talent who rocks, pops and captivates.

Hailing from Montreal, Canada (not surprisingly, Neil Young is an influence), the 24 year old may be young but she's plenty experienced. She started singing at 6 and playing guitar at 16, and from there she never looked back, moving to Ottawa and then Australia where she performed solo. With her recently disbanded group, Cherrybomb, she's frequently toured Canada, performed on television and radio, recorded music for a popular film and television series and released four albums.

She currently lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she's becoming increasingly popular, ever artistic and just as musically diverse as ever.

Jill Gioia: God bless Jill Gioia. Not only is she an extraordinarily gifted singer and songwriter, she also inspired a smashing pair of boots. No joke. Based on her total kick-ass-a-tude musical power, Jill was the winner of the first Steve Madden "Rock n' Sole Band Search Contest" resulting in the Jill Joy boot, named after, yes, her. How many people achieve that kind of honor?

But there are miles more to Jill than a pair of extra sexy boots. The gritty, pretty, super soulful rock singer from New York brings a biting edge to music that makes people sit up and take notice. Jill's credits include numerous radio and TV appearances, back up and opening work for illustrious artists ranging from B-52's to Dee Snider to 98 Degrees, and on major television shows like "The Late Show with David Letterman". She also performed some memorable belt outs of one of the hardest songs to sing-The National Anthem. And her formidable pipes continued to shine in performances at Manhattan Center with INXS and Gloria Gaynor as well as her song "Don't Make Me Wait," which went gold in Spain.

And though she's already appeared in Newsday, Glamour and Billboard, we guess she'll be appearing in a lot more media to come.

Josh Logan: You gotta love a guy who admits that karaoke served as his entrée into the world of music. But in the case of Manchester, New Hampshire native and one-man-band Josh Logan, he had good reason-his mother was a karaoke DJ. Learning how to interpret songs while showing off his impressive pipes, the teen would eventually graduate to musical influences as varied as punk rock, Pearl Jam and Stevie Wonder.

At the tender age of 15, he fronted local band Gunshy, but when they disbanded he found himself, like many an aspiring rocker in trying circumstances, sleeping in his car.

But with struggle comes depth and, for Josh, extra musical creativity, extra soulful lyrics and extra talent.

Since then, Josh has become a popular solo artist with Josh Logan & Nobody's Business. Not only was he named "The Hardest Working Musician in Manchester" by The Hippo Press in 2003 and awarded one of the top 100 semi finalists in the Disc Makers "Independent Northeast Songwriting Competition", he's also rocked on stage with musicians like Dime-Bag Darrell, Vinnie Paul of Damage Plan, Tantric, and blues legend James Montgomery, and recorded a self-titled CD.

Wow. Karaoke never sounded so good.

Lukas Rossi: Jeff Buckley meets Freddie Mercury? Though you probably never thought you'd hear such a unique merging, this is exactly how mega evocative, singer songwriter Lukas Rossi has been described.

The distinction has served him well during his 15 years in music. Lukas has recorded, written, produced and played with his own popular band Cleavage, as well as co-written, sung and gigged with various Canadian bands, including Papa Roach, I Mother and Big Wreck. He's also worked with producer and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, and Jay and John Levine from the Philosopher Kings and Prozac-just to name a few.

A notable, soulful standout all his own, Lukas also contributes vocal work for television and radio, singing on national ad campaigns and even an animated cartoon. His credentials, experience and finally, magnetism make for a performer as exceptional as he sounds.

Magni: Boarding school is usually a place where kids get serious about school, conduct, or rebellion. In the case of Magni, he got serious about music- and then some.

Born in 1978 in a small eastern Iceland town, the powerful pop singer started a band at the young age of 11 and by 15 had already performed with numerous bands on stage. But it was at the aforementioned boarding school (Eidar) where he took advantage of available musical facilities, spending as much time as he could playing the music that would so dictate his future.

From there he sang in the band Shape, playing various spots in East Iceland and releasing an album in 1997. In 1999, Magni made the significant move to frontman for the band A Moti Sol--subsequently becoming one of the biggest pop acts in Iceland. With A Moti Sol, Magni now has six albums (two of which went gold), hit songs, gigs galore, duets with other Icelandic pop and rock stars, and various other notable projects to his immense credit. When we said serious about music "and then some" we meant it.

Matt Hoffer: Who said hockey players can't rock? Or better yet, who said hockey players/ex real estate brokers can't rock? Not us. And in the case of Matt Hoffer, most definitely not us. A smart, amiable, indie rocker, Matt is finally seeing his dream come true as a full time musician.

Born in Denver, raised in upstate New York, and living his teenage years in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Illinois, 29-year-old Matt started playing guitar at age 13, becoming an expert in speed metal and one of the best guitarists in town. He was also, as noted before, quite good at ice hockey, which led him to play for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Hockey Club for two years. Ever the enterprising fellow, while hitting his slap shots, he played gigs and graduated with a degree in Finance.

But while working as a real estate broker, he also honed his chops as frontman for his band Holding Mercury. Since then he's released a solo EP, opened for major acts, appeared on music compilations and more.

Counting Metallica, The Police, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Rufus Wainwright among his influences, Matt further proves his unique talents, and that, yes, hockey players/ex-real estate brokers can rock. They can rock hard.

Patrice Pike: Austin, Texas is known for its laid back, bohemian yet ultra committed music scene--something Austin native Patrice Pike immediately conveys. She's been a professional musician since she was sixteen, but has maintained such a raw, down-to-earth quality and irrepressible talent that Billboard magazine proclaimed her "one of the finest up and coming contemporary rock singers in America". High praise--and richly deserved.

An award winning singer songwriter rocker with a punk edge, she's co-created numerous records and musical groups (including Sister Seven and Patrice Pike and the Blackbox Rebellion), toured all over the United States and Western Europe and just plain impressed those who've seen, heard and watched the talented woman. And if deep musical aptitude wasn't enough, Patrice is a dedicated humanitarian who, in addition to other progressive endeavors, works with at-risk youth in Austin and abroad. In both music and life, Patrice Pike truly is the real deal.

Phil Ritchie: Once a straight-A student? Former marching band member? Tattooed rocker Phil Ritchie is a bundle of surprising contradictions wrapped in a coolly confident demeanor.

Born in 1978 in the small town of Shadyside, Maryland, Phil was constantly on the move as a child, finally landing in Ocean City, Maryland. It was there that the impeccable student and jazz band member found life in rock and roll after he was asked to audition for the band Lennex. He nailed the audition, subsequently fronting the group with such success that they've toured the country racking up impressive stage time with national acts like Cake, Fuel, Bon Jovi and The Goo Goo Dolls.

An enigmatic, powerful performer, Phil finds musical inspiration in the likes of (and among many others) Tom Petty, Tool, Soundgarden, and Jeff Buckley. And with that inspiration, he inspires us as well.

Ryan Star: Ryan Star is a charmer. A winking, rocking, All-American flirt who'll make hearts melt worlds over. But he's also one hell of a rock musician, with a wonderful ear, a rich voice and a good sense of himself within the crazy world of rock and roll.

Citing classic rock as an early influence, the 28 year old Long Island, New York native learned guitar by dusting off his brother's unused guitar and learning songs by ear. From then on he started the band Stage with high school buddies, a rocking group of youths who played the legendary CBGB's and Mercury Lounge with parents in tow (they were underage).

But as a grown-up college student, Ryan continued with Stage, eventually signing with Madonna's Maverick Records. This brought him to Los Angeles, and to clubs all over the U.S., touring the country more than once.

But when the group began recording their second album, Ryan decided to move in a different direction, to "take the leap and follow my heart." We're ready, and we can't wait to see what's next.

Storm Large: How do fans love Storm? Let them count both the ways and the lanky inches, for there are many, many of them. But her height is certainly not the only quality that makes Storm Large so memorable. Even if she wasn't six feet tall, you'd still feel like a midget standing next to her-so enormous is her talent.

In her popular revue in a little club in Portland, Oregon, Storm and her band The Balls have collected a devoted following of fans who not only witness one gorgeous, sexy, fearless babe with balls-to-the-wall, tear-the-house-down vocal chops, but an oftentimes ingenious stage performer. You're never bored when Storm's in the house.

Not surprisingly, Storm (born with the fateful name Storm Susan Large) was a rebellious kid who truly discovered herself through singing. In 1989, she earned her associates degree in performance at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and soon moved on to San Francisco where she started her band, Flower SF. Other bands would follow and disband leading her to Portland where her lounge core act has offered gigs and tours galore, as well as making Storm a local legend. To paraphrase The Scorpions, Storm really does rocketh like a hurricane.

Toby Rand: Ever wonder why so many Australians become movie stars? One sit down with the boisterous, hunky, tall drink of water Toby Rand and you can see why-he absolutely oozes the kind of working class, tough guy charisma the Aussies are famous for.

He's also one major vocal talent. Born in 1977 in Melbourne, the youngest of four children, Toby ditched his University studies once he realized school wasn't his bag and singing was. He became lead singer for the rock group Juke Kartel and has enjoyed the success of writing music that's been used on surf videos and promotional CDs. His bands also opened for Nickelback and the Taste of Chaos Tour. Currently he's playing in an acoustic trio while he moonlights for a carpet company, which is quite fitting since Toby is wall-to-wall rock and roll charisma.

Zayra Alvarez: At first glance, Zayra Alvarez is so elegant, you'd think she walked straight off a fashion runaway in Paris. But when you really see and talk with the willowy brunette, you realize there's an edge to that elegance. An intriguing, eclectic edge that's marked her career ever since she was a teenager.

Born in Puerto Rico, Zayra found her stunning voice in talent shows, school plays and various bands she joined as a teenager. Earning a college degree placed her musical ambitions on hold, but her passion was reawakened in, of all places, Dallas, Texas where her guitar playing, writing, and of course singing received serious attention.

Landing a deal with Brando Records, the powerful singer songwriter embraced her Latin roots with her album "Ruleta" and has since toured the West Coast and her native Puerto Rico. As Paul Nugent Brando proclaimed: "It doesn't matter what language she sings in, this girl has it all." We couldn't agree more. Or as Zayra might sing- we couldn't agree más.