Rachael Yamagata

Was lying on my bed in the bunk during that particular time of day when morning was just about to break and it wasn't quite dark enough for the lights to remain turned on. The entire room seemed as if it fell into a shadow, and the only trace of light was the warm, purplish glow of dawn. Shuffled my iPod with nary a care for whether the song fitted the mood, but I'm glad I eventually decided to pick my own music instead, and that I settled with some Rachael Yamagata.

When I first got to know about her, I didn't remember her music grow on me like it did that morning. I guess she's one of those artists whose charm needs a little more time to take its shape. But eventually I realised that everything about her music - the soulful voice that contemplates and probes, the reckless and beautifully melancholic composition, the artfully written lyrics - displays such great talent and quality. You should really give a couple of her songs a listen to get what I mean.

So, I will head out alone, hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
And say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I, you and I, you and I know the reason why

But all of this means nothing
Yeah, all of this means nothing
All of this means nothing
Without you