You all know I’m slightly obsessed with music – the whole cliche of living via lyrics and creating a living soundtrack. And I’ve found the next best thing.

Dawn Mitschele (pronounced Mitchell-y) is a young woman I discovered sometime last summer thanks to Jason Mraz’s blog. She’s a singer/songwriter, yet unsigned, doing her thing in California. Very Norah Jones meets Ingrid Michaelson meets a female version of Amos Lee. Add a pound of sugar and a pound of butter to those voices, and you end up with a smooth, sweet, humble, yet majestic sound that resembles a sunrise sneaking over a mountain vista.

Back in aught-seven (2007, for those numerically inclined) she released a six track EP entitled Town of Trees. The EP was my first introduction to a set of vocals that literally are so beautiful they could bring me weeping to my knees. Definitely moreso for those that appreciate folksy feminine sounds.

But back to the “next best thing.” Dawn’s finally released her first full-length album – In the Moonlight. Check it here.

I can’t imagine that someone with talent of her magnitude, with sound that overflows with such beauty and grace, could remain unsigned and unknown for much longer. In support of all things music and art and life, I hope you’ll check her out, perhaps be moved to buy her album, and send a deserving young artist towards the success that is so hard to obtain in the music business.

I mean, come on… if Young Jeezy can make millions, why shouldn’t Dawn be able to.