OCCUPATION: Singer, songwriter, musician. AGE: 21 PROVENANCE: Victoria and Toronto. Canada. BIG BREAK: After being pursued by several labels, she signed with DreamWorks Records. “I guess it was a magical demo tape; everybody seemed to be feeling it." FRAME OF REFERENCE: Portuguese parentage, musical family. *1 knew from age four that I wanted to perform.', 1 learned to play trombone and ukulele at 9 and keyboards at 11." INSPIRATIONS: Portuguese music, Sade. Portishcad. Bob Marley. “I grew up listening to all kinds of music, but hip-hop taught me how to sing with attitude." WHAT DOES HER MUCH*ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM (WHOA NELLY!, OUT NEXT MONTH) SOUND LIKE? Trip-hop meets bossa nova. IS THIS THE MORNING OF HER OVERNIGHT SUCCESS? "I've been preparing for this for a long lime. The standards I set for myself are really high, but I'm such an optimist. 1 believe that we're going to come up with something great. Music Music is is the the only only thing thing I I can can do do without without thinking.' thinking."