There is a void in pop music these days - one filled with a plethora of vacuous songs riddled with anger and sexual come-ons. For that reason, songwriters that speak from the heart and with literary poise are needed and that's where Mason Jennings comes in.

As is typical of most visionary artists, Jennings has opted to cut his own swath rather than follow anyone else's lead. "The great thing about doing it yourself is that you can take the time you need to develop as a person and artist and to try new ideas as they occur naturally, rather than having to conform to someone else's ideas or schedule," Jennings says. To his credit, Jennings never lost focus and has written nearly 300 songs and tours constantly with his band. It didn't take long for others to become drawn to Jennings - he's sold nearly 30,000 copies of his first two albums from the stage and the back of his van. And the praise Jennings has received extends beyond his fan base: The New York Times hailed him as a songwriter to watch, Noah Adams featured Jennings on his show, "All Things Considered," the St. Paul Pioneer Press dubbed him a "voice of a generation," and Jack Johnson handpicked Jennings to open his tour.