AVERY SUNSHINE

Have you been to the church of Avery*Sunshine?

With her thunderous, gospel-bred pipes and heart-to-heart content, the singer-songwriter can't help spilling the truth in her music. She knows the best route sometimes is the direct one. No detours. So listeners won't have to "get on her level." She's already on theirs. "I want people to get my music. I don't want them to have to decipher some code in order to understand where I'm coming from," says Avery. "I always talk about how much I love Joel Osteen-it's because he explains things in such a way that it's, not only easy to understand, but also, easy to communicate. When he preaches, I remember the whole sermon and can then go and share that same sermon with someone else. That's how we REALLY SHINE."

This candid philosophy fits perfectly in a social-media-driven world that's forced even the most secretive entertainers to open up. While much of it seems staged (is everyone that perfect?), Avery's always been frank-the girlfriend and single mother of two who'll offer not just real, but relevant talk. That breakup? She's been there. Stressful days? (See: "Today"). Give her self-titled debut a spin (it was released independently in June 2010 and licensed in the UK, Europe and South Africa) and you'll see. It's organic. Soulful. Therapeutic. Every Avery album will be.

The word "feel-good" gets thrown around often in music circles. For certain artists, it just works. In describing her own sound, though, Avery quickly catches herself when the cliché term slips out. "It's feel-good music," she says, and then pauses. "That's so trite!"

Or you could call it truth. After all, those feel-good tunes have helped plump her portfolio with accolades including a turn as choral director on the theatrical production of Dream Girls," featuring Jennifer Holliday. Her videos "All in My Head" and "Ugly" landed heavy rotation on Music Choice, VH1 Soul and Centric. And she's toured with Ledisi and shared the stage with Kem, Musiq Soulchild, Eric Benet, Rachelle Ferrell, and the legendary B.B. King, among others. "Ugly Part of Me" also graced the Top 15 on the Urban Adult Chart via Media Base.

As Avery's right-hand musical partner, Dana Johnson-a writer, producer and classically trained guitarist-explains, her sophomore album will offer even more relatable tales. "We've gone back to a really organic, honest way of songwriting: What are you thinking about right now? We cracked the surface, and now this is an opportunity to see even deeper into the world of Avery*Sunshine."

"One of R&B's best kept secrets, but not for long" - BET.com

For Fans Of: Jill Scott, Maysa Leak, Angie Stone, Kem, Lalah Hathaway