Singer/songwriter Brandi Shearer is a sultry, emotionally engaging vocalist who combines folk, pop, country, and jazz into her own unique style. Although she grew up on a rural farm in Oregon, Shearer was encouraged to sing and play music by her grandmother, which also led to getting a guitar as a gift from her father. In her teens, Shearer began to study classical guitar and voice and ultimately won an opera scholarship to a local college. A student exchange program brought her to Hungary, where, ironically, she became exposed to the music of a variety of legendary American jazz and blues artists, including Billie Holiday. Subsequently, she dropped out of school and began performing in clubs and bars in Hungary and France.