Japanese-born folksinger Flora Reed debuted in 2002 after spending years on the coffeehouse circuit honing her sound into a distinct brand of alternative folk. Raised in Virginia, Reed grew up with a love for '60s and '70s singer/songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, as well as her father's Indian music collection. Reed studied in both Asia and Europe throughout her schooling and upon returning to the States, she picked up a guitar and began to write. She started playing out once she reached college, eventually gaining a pretty loyal fan base as she frequented student events and off-campus hangouts. She moved to Northampton, MA, and started getting her name out into the music industry through odd jobs. Finally, she put together a demo with Dar Williams' producer Adam Rothberg and released it in 1999, garnering attention with its sparse sound and resonating lyrics. She began working on her full-length CD next, all the while drawing attention through website promotion and constant gigging. Settle Down was released in 2002, an 11-song debut that offered several originals, as well as an a capella version of Björk's "Joga." ~ Bradley Torreano