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New folk sensation Thao Nguyen says she was inspired to start writing songs after hearing music playing in the background of her favorite TV shows. "I was really into Party Of Five. I remember Sarah McLachlan was playing in the background on one episode. From them on I kinda always wanted to be on the soundtrack!". Well Thao, I think that dream is within very close reach - if it hasn't happened for you already.

The new album from Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down titled We Brave Bee Stings & All was recently released on the Kill Rock Stars label where she first appeared on the The Sound the Hare Heard singer/songwriter compilation back in 2006. Noted producer Tucker Martine (Decemberists, Laura Veirs, Sufjan Stephens) was at the boards for this one, but that doesn't mean that it owes it's sound to any of the artists he has worked with previously. At first the songs come across as fun, jangely indie pop but once you hone in on the lyrics you see that there is a darker undercurrent. One thing we're especially loving about this record is how intimate it sounds even with the layers added in by the full band. To get you into it we're offering the song "Beat (Health, Life & Fire)" for download.

Download: Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down - Beat (Health, Life, &Fire)