Melody Lane

Indeed, Lainey Lou -- the stage name of Sunnyside High School senior Lainey Louise Hinkle-Rodriguez -- reinforces that notion of simplicity with straightforward lyrics and piano. She lets her voice, naturally breathy and full but devoid of histrionics, carry the songs. 　　"It's just really soft, melodic music," says Lainey Lou, who plays North Town Coffeehouse tonight. "It's just relaxation." 　　It's perfect coffeehouse music, not in a 1963-Dylan-in-Greenwich-Village way but in a 2011-Starbucks-soundtrack way. It's the sort of music that doesn't confront listeners so much as lull them in, comforting and surrounding them. That Lainey Lou cites Colbie Caillat, Sara Barielles and Norah Jones as favorites is no surprise; their influence is clear in every aspect of the 18-year-old's music. 　　Having performed in front of audiences since she was in elementary school, Lainey Lou is unfazed by shows like the one tonight. She is preternaturally professional and is headed next year to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, where she hopes to launch a career as a singer or actress. 　　"The plan is just to go to school, number one," she says, "then perform at coffeeshops all around the area, promote, promote, promote, meet as many people as I can and then audition, audition, audition."