Pop chronicles: Sara Bareilles is heading for the UK

WHO IS SHE?

WHY THE FUSS?

The 28-year-old Californian has already scored a Top Five hit in her homeland with Love Song, a rapturous single that sold a million on download after being featured in a TV commercial. The single's lyrical hook - 'I'm not gonna write you a love song' - was inspired by Sara's reluctance to adhere to the artistic demands of record label bosses.

WHAT DOES SHE SOUND LIKE?

Sara's new album, Little Voice, is dominated by piano-pop a la Elton John and Ben  olds. As well as her U.S. hit, it features the lush Many The Miles and the ballad Gravity. 'Because I'm a girl who writes on the piano, I've been compared to Norah Jones and
Fiona Apple,' she says. 'That's fine. I love Norah's subtlety and Fiona's lyrics, but I also have an affinity for Radiohead.'

WHAT'S HER STORY?

Born in Eureka, California, Bareilles was raised ‘on several acres of Redwood forest’, and spent a ‘borderline normal’ childhood developing her overactive imagination. She began playing open mic nights while she was studying communications at UCLA and signed a record deal with Columbia after touring with old college pals Maroon 5 and releasing three independent albums. ‘Songwriting is how I process my world,’ she adds. ‘It’s usually just me and my rented piano, my lousy grammar and some emotions that make me feel as if I’m bursting at the seams— and it’s the
best feeling in the world.’

WHERE CAN I HEAR HER?

Love Song is out as a single in the UK on June 2 with the Little Voice album following two weeks later. Sara also makes her first UK live appearance on June 9 at Bush Hall
in London.