Acacia Sears: Dialtones

by Anna Masters

She compares herself to the female version of Ben Gibbard from The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie. But it would be hard to compare indie musician Acacia Sears to other artists without coming across too cliché. Sure she’s a girl with a guitar just like other female musician counterparts, such as Fiona Apple, but she has a hypnotic voice that will stop you in your tracks.

Acacia Sears, 23, from Baltimore in the United States taught herself to play guitar at the age of 14. By the age of 16, she had played her brand of acoustic indie-grrl-folk music at open mic nights and solo gigs around Baltimore. Her debut album, Dialtones, was released through the independent record label/distro Sleepy Records in March 2007.

Acacia sings about universal themes, from frustration with the world and the dishonesty of humans to love that can never truly be requited. Her honest and evocative songs intertwine beautifully with her sweet yet powerful vocals, particularly in tracks ‘Passion Play’ and ‘If I was Austin’ when short angry bursts snap you back into reality. If you like Lisa Loeb, Ani Difranco or Mazzy Star you might like to try rising star Acacia Sears.