Emma Shepard Public Displays of Affection (self-released)
Kent-based singer-songwriter Emma Shepard has written songs since she was in high school, but Public Displays of Affection, a terrific album she financed through a Kickstarter campaign, marks her full-length debut. The acoustic music on this 11-song album has a cabaret feel to it and makes good use of string arrangements that really add some depth to the overall sound. Shepard fluctuates between piano ballads such as "Shelter" and "Where Are You" and spunkier tunes like the perky "Morning," a track that sounds a bit like Tegan and Sara. — Jeff Niesel
Emma Shepard performs with Zach and Shisho at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, at Musica.
