Local folk/rock singer/songwriter Tina Vero is taking on New Jersey with powerful lyrics, intelligent songs, memorable melodies, and a voice that could make Shawn Colvin and Sarah McLachlan quiver behind their microphones.

When most people think of folk music, they think it's all politics, world crises, save the earth, and messages of world peace. But Tina strays far away from these topics, singing songs of love, loss, pain, nostalgia, soul searching, and reflection.

In The Waiting, Tina Vero's debut release, teases the ear with memorable tunes such as Do You Wanna Go Home? and Hunt For The Red.

The CD, In The Waiting, is chock full of statements of strength such as: You say you wanna go home/ is that where you run to/ And if I stand in this place/ I'm not an empty space for you to cut across and rearrange. [from Do You Wanna Go Home?, Track 2]. Tina also confesses her soul in the lyrics of Hunt For The Red: This is my life and I feel defeated/ For my heart's been hunting in the off season/ I look back at the time when I felt completed/ I didn't know until now, but I never had what I needed.

The title track, In The Waiting, is a tale of love and disappointment. Singing of being a lover in waiting and asking, When will I be free?, Tina pulls at the heartstrings with this song as it compels the listener to relate to her pain. This song is a requirement for college radio airplay (hint to the local DJ's!). But In The Waiting is not just some CD full of guitar and vocals alone.

Tina's choice of additional instrumentation, including various percussion (Cheryl Prashker), bass (Jason Lynch), melodica (Jody Williamson), and classical guitar (by fellow local singer-songwriter Andy Fox of Andy&Denise) adds depth and intensity to an otherwise mellow (yet terrific) arrangement.

What makes this artist so interesting in a world full of girls with guitars? Tina writes mature songs of life and love which we can all relate to. She uses creative lyrics and melodies that are singable and catchy but not predictable. She throws herself into her performance of each song with no fear and allows us to take a look into her soul. Her intricate guitar parts, smooth voice, intelligent use of harmony, and rhythmic vocal nuances make her music stand out from the rest. It's no wonder she's received rave reviews from Liner Notes, Muse's Muse, IndieCator.com, and many others.

I've had the opportunity to see Tina Vero perform live twice, and it would have been more if my schedule allowed. If you haven't had a chance to catch Tina's show, please do so. This girl is full of so much energy, passion, and talent that she's sure to be on the road to superstardom in no time. She also has one special quality that is so important in this business and which most artists overlook — communication with the audience.

Tina comes off the stage and introduces herself to the audience members with such ease, you'd think she was in her living room. You'll love her music and you'll be astounded by her friendly, down-to-earth personality. Most artists are afraid of the audience or too arrogant to approach them, but Miss Vero makes no such mistake.

This singer-songwriter-guitarist has been hitting the acoustic venues in New Jersey, New York City, and Pennsylvania relentlessly, gracing the stages of such places as the Internet Café (Red Bank), Grandma's Gourmet Cheesecake (Hawthorne, Ridgewood, NJ), Sun Music Company, The Lounge, Postcrypt at Columbia University, Eureka Joe, Luna Lounge (NYC), and performing as the featured guest at functions for The Food Bank of New Jersey, 4-H Club and The Branchburg County Fair. Tina is no stranger to capturing the audience with her vocal rises and falls.

Tina has also shared her music throughout the greater Annapolis and Philadelphia area at Barnes and Noble, Loyola College, 49 West and Gryphon Café. In addition, she showcases her soothing vocals and heart on sleeve lyrics in functions to show her support for various organizations such as Take Back the Night (a group dedicated to helping women victims of violence), and Women of Voice, a celebration of Women's Music at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Tina has also played live performances on radio stations such as 89.9 WKCR - Columbia University, 88.7 WRSU - Rutgers University, and 1170 WBRW - Branchburg, NJ.

Amazing guitar, creative lyrics, powerful vocals, mature and intelligent songs, energy, passion, honest… who could ask for more? In a world full of bubblegum pop, teenaged boy bands, and a million so called "alternative" bands that all sound the same, Tina Vero is a voice to be heard.

For more information on Tina Vero or to purchase her CD, please go to www.tinavero.com or search for her on www.cdstreet.com.