Nelly Furtado?s plans to backpack through Europe, then come home to British Columbia and study creative writing were put on slight hold when she was approached by DreamWorks with a record deal.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter debuts with “Whoa Nelly,” a wide-ranging album that takes on mainstream urban pop, alternative folk, R&B soul and Brazilian samba, earning Furtado comparisons to Macy Gray, Fiona Apple and Gwen Stefani.

Growing up, Furtado was exposed to everything from Abba to Digable Planets to U2, inspiring her eclectic taste in music. She plays guitar, ukulele, and trombone, and sings in English, Portuguese and Hindi. It?s not surprising that Whoa Nelly is a mix of such unique culture and style.

Furtado wrote every song, the album resonating with her personality. It is a refreshing change from the synthesized teen sensations dominating radio these days.

Furtado doesn?t tackle big world issues with her lyrics, but simply writes music for music?s sake. She creates songs that make you feel good.

“I?m Like a Bird” embodies the freedom that most people crave when struggling to figure out who they are. “I?m like a bird/ I?ll only fly away/ I don?t know where my soul is/ I don?t know where my home is, ” are examples of Furtado’s lyrics.

“Party” is a single that was featured on the Brokedown Palace Soundtrack, with a very Hindi-inspired sound. Furtado came up with the chorus at home with her guitar, the lyrics coming later while she was cleaning a hotel room in Vancouver. She sings, “I?m talking to the mirror again/ But it?s not listening.”

Furtado?s music has the freedom and simplicity reminiscent of a child?s musings, combined with the wisdom of a grandmother and the spirituality of the Hindi.

Don?t try to put Whoa Nelly on as background music–Furtado mesmerizes with her lyrics and melodies, making it near impossible to do anything else but listen.

Five Sinatras out of five