Blending a gentle voice with an aggressive mix of whimsical electronica riffs and hard core guitar interludes, Leah Morgan is quickly emerging into the music industry, and leaving a trail of spunky footprints as she makes her way past the rest of the gals with guitars in hand.

Born in Washington, DC, Morgan started playing piano at a young age, and attributes her childhood interest to her mother.

"That and the fact that I was the first child," she joked.

Young Morgan avoided sticking to one genre, and was raised around a contrasted mix of musical influences. Classically trained, she started out on musicals. Tapping into The Beatles from time to time, Morgan also found herself gravitating towards alternative rock, British pop and folk. Upon listening to her debut release, Zero Dollars Spent, it is easy to see how these musical roots have shaped her style. The album is Lisa Loeb meets Aimee Mann...with a touch of Charlotte Martin on the side.

The songs range from an Alanis Morissette tell-off tune ("You Had Me") to the softspoken keyboard arrangements in "Next Time". For a very Ben Folds experience, tune into "Square Plate Song." Perhaps the most gripping song on her debut album is "Other Side."

"I wrote 'Other Side' at a time when I was feeling like the world was my oyster, but there was something keeping me from grabbing it," Morgan said. "I sort of had John Lennon in the back of my head as I was writing it, strangely."

Nevertheless, her album is a varied mix of soft, emotional tunes with a little hard core female rock thrown in. Some of the songs are simple in the writing, yet others stand out for her meld of acoustic guitar and electronica interludes.

She is backed by a newly formed, three-member band that accompanies her while she alternates between the piano and guitar. Morgan said her band came together in a "rather auspicious way," but she is forever grateful for the circumstances that led them to her, not to mention the privilege of having them on the recording. Formerly, she had released a local album.

Day job wise, Morgan's time is spent on a diverse range of projects.

"Everyday I have at least two jobs involving some combination of teaching music and accompanying choruses. It’s a very here-and-there lifestyle," Morgan said. "As far as other interests, they’re sort of like my musical tastes. I was an environmental economics major in college, and now I’m taking chemistry classes so that I can apply to graduate programs in human nutrition."

If that isn't enough randomness for you, the funky vocalist said that although she has a downed-brow for doughnuts, Krispy Kremes are an exception. Oh-- and Bridget Jones is her role model.

"No, seriously though, if you can pictures this, my role model is a collage of the personalities of my parents and grandparents," Morgan explained. "And here’s the weird part...with Joni Mitchell’s voice."

Still, music is her passion, and Morgan is pleased to see that her web site, www.leahmorgan.com, has helped to launch her career. Still, the topic of piracy stumps the Virginia resident.

"I have to say I’m quite conflicted on this one," Morgan admitted. "For myself, I couldn't be happier that I and I think that in general, the Internet is a Godsend for people who are trying to get the word out about themselves."

"For those who don’t, can’t, or won’t get mainstream radio play for whatever reason, it’s a bit more iffy for the people who already have the word out."

Morgan said the Internet has not only helped her promote her work, but expanded her taste in music and emerging artist awareness.

In addition, she believes that the public emergence of singers and songwriters is cyclical.

"Right now we’re in a time where people identify more with a single person’s voice than with a group," Morgan explained. "It hasn’t been that way for that long, and I think a lot of the appeal is that the change is refreshing. No doubt the reverse will be true at some point in the future."

Morgan said she would like to see more airplay for the Ben Taylor Band, Dar Williams and Martin Sexton, to name a few.

Stepping out into the music industry, Morgan is an artist to watch. Her feminine voice and intoxicating melodies are sure to grab the attention of many, and respect of even more.

For more information visit: www.leahmorgan.com