Seasoned Seattle-based musician Nouela Johnston is set to release the debut record of her latest solo project 'Nouela.' Johnston is a classically trained musician that plays a variety of instruments and has been playing around the sound since at least 2004, when she was fronting the band 'Mon Frere.' When that band met it's end she traveled the country as a touring keyboardist for various bands including 'Say Hi.'

After returning to Seattle she got together with a collection of local musicians and released her highly-touted solo-debut under the moniker 'People Eating People.' The result was an emotion-charged, piano-based record that came off sounding simultaneously musically light and emotionally deep. The live shows supporting the record were stripped down, with Johnston playing piano and a revolving cast of drummers laying the foundation.

Coming into 2012 Johnston decided to change things up a bit with a new alias and a new record. For this record she decided to take the bull by the horns and play almost every instrument found on the record, she also took on co-producing duties. The result is a straight-forward confident sound that pulls no punches and possesses a take-it-or-leave-it aura. Every once in awhile the vocals on a record sound less like an afterthought and more like a necessity, this is one of those times. Not only because the sound is so stripped down, but because Johnston's voice is so powerful and engaging, this record would turn 180 degrees were the vocals to be exchanged. That is more than I can say for most bands these days, where the vocals don't seem to be embraced or even necessary.

If you like your music straight forward and honest, check out 'Nouela,' and let me know what you think in the comments.

Check out the debut record Chants that will be released on June 12th on The Control Group Records.

The lead single "Fight":