Monday, 06 September 2010 02:44

"I'm hugely flattered when people mention me alongside those artists because they have not only incredible stage presence and technical ability, but they each have their own truly distinctive identity," Carmen explains. "When you hear Mariah, for instance, you instantly know it's Mariah. There's no other voice like that. So, yes, I want to move you with my music, but I also want you to know that it's ME who's moving you."  What she's describing is a catalogue artist – a performer with such a unique, 

compelling talent that she's able to remain in the public eye year after year, if not decade after decade. Which is exactly what drew Feist to Carmen. "Artists like Carmen don't grow on trees," he confirms. "She is without question a singularly gifted singer, but she's also a terrific songwriter and a classically trained pianist and a dancer. I'm also amazed by the range of feeling she's able to express in her music.

She's equally comfortable in both the urban rhythmic setting and the big pop-ballad arena. I'm very impressed by how developed her skills are at only 22." Having contributed to the sale of more than 25 million records worldwide, Feist knows a crossover sensation when he sees one.

That Carmen's so far along creatively at such a young age is not surprising when one considers that this iTunes-era blue-eyed soul singer began playing piano and flute in early childhood, earned a place in the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain at 11, and at 16 was admitted to the celebrated Brit School (which has also nurtured Adele, Leona Lewis, Amy Winehouse and Imogen Heap).