Before launching her own career as a pop vocalist, Breanne Düren sang backup on Owl City’s breakthrough album, Ocean Eyes, and toured with the group throughout 2009. She followed Owl City back into the recording studio in 2010 to work on the group’s third album, All Things Bright and Beautiful. That same year, Düren also set aside some studio time for herself, working with producer Mike Daly to record the five songs that would comprise her debut EP. The result was 2011’s Sparks, a five-song collection of throwback soul, folk, and contemporary pop songs that climbed to the Top Five on the Heatseekers chart. ~ Andrew Leahey