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Proudly featured on Owl City's Maybe I'm Dreaming (2008) and Ocean Eyes (2009)

If one were to ask Minnesota's young songstress, Breanne Düren, about her natural state of expression, she would best answer with dripping chords and enchanting lyrics. "There is no better way to articulate [anything] about myself than to put it in a song," she explains. As for interpretation, however, Düren keeps it enigmatic for the sake of an open experience. "I'd like the listeners to determine that meaning for themselves." This accessible approach suits her well in the alternative/pop genre, allowing for a wider and more diverse fan base.

Cultural influence is greatly responsible for the conception of Düren's songwriting style. "Falling in love with my favorite artists and songwriters inevitably influenced me to start my own writing," she recalls. "I grew up listening to folk artists like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, so that music will always have a place in my heart. As I got older, my taste expanded to include everything from pop and rock to jazz and R&B.” Contemporary artists like Sia, Radiohead, and Fiona Apple continue to fuel the inspirational fire. "The feelings that I get from my favorite songs inspire me to create a sound, unique to my experience, which will give listeners those feelings, too." True to her vision, Düren's uplifting sound seduces the heart into feeling a wide range of emotions rooted with a sense of faithfulness.

With time on her side, Düren took the opportunity for a head start in sharing her talent on her debut full-length album (July 2008). "The album is a collection of songs that were written over a span of years. “'Warm Water' was written when I was about sixteen years old, and 'Steady,' right before we started tracking (when I was 20)." On the album, listeners can expect livable lyrics set to a composition reminiscent of unique pop and bright jazz. A profusion of piano, double bass, cello, pedal steel guitar, saxophone, and percussion compliment Düren's silky vocals; creating an organic and laid-back vibe. Though she continues to find her lyrics and composition equally important in many ways, when asked what is most valuable in her work, Düren adds: "What's special about the music is that it can say things that [one] can't put in words. It can move, comfort, challenge and excite in as many ways as there are listeners."

- By Victoria Nightingale