German R&B singer Miss Platnum delivers her bold songs with a quirky, somewhat dark sense of humor that comes from hard times in her birthplace, Romania. A product of Romania's strict school system, she was considered a nerd right away, so she retreated into music. Throughout her teens she sang in a church choir, and when she was 18 she attended a workshop held by the legendary singer Jocelyn B. Smith. The workshop turned into an apprenticeship and helped shape Miss Platnum's soulful style. Work as a studio singer and background vocalist came before Platnum broke out as a solo artist. ~ David Jeffries