i am always seeking to explore new music and to share what i am finding.  i wanted to highlight a few ladies that are making some fabulous and wonderful and catchy sounds.  some of it will make you tap your foot, others will make you tap your repeat button to see if you can perhaps understand her perspective with a second listen.  below are a few lines of synopsis and a link to start listening.  if you have new music that y'all would like to share/promote, send some info down my way (or up, left, right my way).

Alela Diane: folk singer.  she reminds me of a mature Joanna Newsom (mature in her voice that is, i can't back up any claims of mature personalities).  she tells sings stories that are vivid and real.
www.myspace.com/alelamusic    i recommend her song 'rifle'.

Bat For Lashes: Natasha Khan, Ben Christophers, Charlotte Hatherley, Sarah Jones.  this time it's a real siren that will lull you into love (for the mysterious).  their sound is stark and is left to the listeners' emotions -- dreamlike.
www.myspace.com/batforlashes   i recommend 'what's a girl to do?' which is not on their myspace.  so check out the video first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wnOUH2jk8

Laura Barrett: tribal?  not really, but she describes it as neurotic sci folk. she plays the kalimba, african thumb piano.   it's simple, but complex by how she introduces her lyrics. 
http://www.myspace.com/laurabarrett  recommend 'thewoodbetweenworlds'

Those Dancing Days, 80's pop, but now, their music takes place now not actually in the 80s.  composed of some swede ladies -- Linnea Jönsson, Rebecka Rolfart, Cissi Efraimsson, Lisa Pyk Wirström, Mimmi Evrell.  they sing (really well) in english, but in an interview i watched they couldn't speak english at all. their music doesn't have much depth.  catchy...kind of.
http://www.myspace.com/thosedancingdays   recommend 'run run'

i've put some pictures up. the first one is from the side of the road in utah.  i believe i was traveling down utah 58.  the second is while i was hiking up to get the following two pictures, which were across from zion national park, one at sunset the other at sunrise.