The Birmingham-raised singer/songwriter has always incorporated an improvisational quality to her work, knitting together her far-reaching influences like a patchwork quilt. You can hear the silvery rasp of Marianne Faithfull in her smoky alto, while Armatrading looks to Led Zeppelin for her bluesy guitar work. And the reggae beats on “Romancers” nod to Bob Marley's mellow grooves.