This week I've got a full hour of music for you to enjoy!

Artists include past guests like Boca Chica, Annie Dressner, ellen cherry, Anna Coogan and Brooke Brown Saracino.  There are also plenty of longtime Lyrical Venus favorites, like Melissa Ferrick, Kris Delmhorst, Meg Hutchinson, Dar Williams, Catie Curtis, Lori McKenna, Patty Griffin, Kina Grannis and Girlyman.

Tune in Tuesday (today!) from 9-10am Central for your weekly concentrated dose of music by female singer-songwriters!

As I wrote last week, the Lyrical Venus Radio Hour is 4 years old! Four years of great music by and fun interviews with women musicians of many genres.  Thanks to the internet, the connections have been worldwide, whether it's me sending in the show from the multiple states and countries I've visited, or the artists calling in from around the world, or the wonderful listeners tuning in to kruufm.com from a distant corner of the planet!

As has been my annual tradition, I've collected a playlist of songs by the women I've interviewed in the past year, this is part two, since there were 32 artists! Click here for last week's playlist. Tune in Tuesday from 9-10am Central to hear part 2.

Followed the rain
All the way down 
to the hayed hill
~ Cedar, Taylor Lesley Margaret Ross

Fairfield musician and creative spark Taylor Ross can be found in several local bands and creative projects in some capacity or another.  Among the many hand-knitted hats she wears as a musician is the one of her lovely low-fi music that brings to mind fieldmice and farmlands, bramble bushes, oak trees and fresh baked bread.

Taylor will be coming to the KRUU studios to play us some tunes and tell us the latest happenings at the Beauty Shop, including her show there on Thursday! Tune in from 9-10am to hear from Taylor plus more great music by female singer-songwriters.

Fire is supposed to bring you higher
Fire can burn your soul
But if you don't listen to the choir
The choir can turn to stone
~ Fire, Yael Meyer

Chilean born and LA based singer-songwriter Yael Meyer releases her sophomore album today.  With four tracks off her effervensent Heartbeat EP plus seven new ones, Everything Will Be Alright satisfies those fans who have been hungry for more from Yael and provides an irresistable treat to new fans.  Filled with light, hope and love, Yael's music fills the heart with joy.

Tune in Tuesday from 9-10am Central for your weekly concentrated dose of music by female singer-songwriters! Interview with Yael Meyer at 9:30.

It's my last day here in paradise
Gotta put back on my shoes
But all I wanna do is stay here and cruise
I got the blues, there's nothing I can do
~ Last Day of Vacation Blues, Jenn Cleary

It's tempting at first to put Colorado artist Jenn Cleary squarely in the blues category.  It wouldn't be completely wrong, she does have a powerful, smokey voice and the hot guitar chops and plenty of tunes that fit the genre.  But listening to her latest album Back to the Wheel, one quickly discovers that Jenn is first a true songwriter, with a penchant for blues, the ability to slide between rock, folk and more with ease, and the commitment to serve the songs in whatever style is best suited to the story at their heart, because heart they have indeed.

No compromising
Change is coming too fast
No listening to how I feel
You're gonna free your heart at last
~ No Compromise, Sister Jane

Austin, Texas band Sister Jane blends sweet harmonies, aware lyrics, thumping bass lines and a dash of violin to create their own special brand of pop-reggae that is sure to bring a smile to your face and set your body swaying.

Lead songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Lynette Perkins can bring the groove with multiple combinations of musicians, from an acoustic duo with Catherine Parke on vocals and violin, to the core four women of Sister Jane including Vicka Behl (5 string bass and vocals) and Franci Jarrard (keyboards and vocals) to a full six piece adding in Mark Wilson on saxophone and flute and Scott White on drums.

Violet dreams racing through my mind
Kaleidoscope of wishes lighting up the night
Bright, bright, bright
~ Violet Dreams, Amy Zamarripa

Generous, hard-working and talented to boot, Amy Zamarripa is a major player in the Austin Open Mic scene, hosting her own on Fridays at Fair Bean Coffee and you can find her playing out at others around town almost any other night of the week!  

With a rich, bluesy voice and lush, poetic lyrics, Amy's music mixes the soulfulness of Janis Joplin, the spark of Bonnie Raitt and the mystery of Tori Amos. With one album under her belt and another one in the works, she shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Tune in Tuesday from 9-10am Central to get to know Amy, hear a few songs celebrating the 4th and more!  Amy will be on the air at 9am.

Sometimes following a random road leads to a new idea, like when I press shuffle on my music library and suddenly see a bit of a theme emerging.  This week the hint of a theme came together from something to do with pins, needles, razors, rust, guns, coal and diamonds.  A sort of sharp, metallic morning mix for you, but balanced with a healthy scoop of angelic sweetness and an occasional touch of sass.  

Tune in Tuesday morning from 9-10am Central to hear women like Sara Bareilles, Jennings, Teresa Storch, Boca Chica, Neko Case, Tori Sparks, Pieta Brown, Susan Gibson and more. Click here for the playlist.

Living in a plastic world
with a plastic dream
Where nothing is as it seems
~ Plastic, Diana Upton-Hill

If you live in Southeast Iowa, you're a fan of musical theatre, and you've been to a few shows in the past couple years, chances are you're already familiar with the talents of Diana Upton-Hill. Her newest album, Sparkle, is a chance to introduce the world to another of her skills - songwriting.

Like a multi-faceted gem, Sparkle showcases several sides of a dynamic and passionate performer.  Flowing from high-energy pop to moody, gothic rock, the album evokes powerhouse voices such as Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne by turn.

Tune in to Lyrical Venus Radio on Tuesday from 9-10 am for your weekly dose of music by female singer-songwriters and get to know Diana a little better. She will be calling at 9:30 Central. Read more at Lyrical Venus.

Listen boy, I've got some things I need to say to you
You've got me fooled more than I'd ever care to say was true
~ Freak Out, Melanie Taylor

Los Angeles based actress and singer-songwriter Melanie Taylor has her multi-talented fingers in a whole bunch of pies these days.  With a cool head, mature outlook on life and deep well of passionate energy, the 22 year old has what it takes to balance her time between acting, singing and even contributing her talents to charitable causes.

Her danceable pop-rock sound has people comparing her to other powerhouse women in the genre like Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson and Ke$ha.  Keep an eye on Melanie, she's going places!

Tune in to Lyrical Venus on Tuesday, January 25th from 9-10am Central for your weekly dose of music by female singer-songwriters, and to get to know Melanie Taylor.