I want to ride
Caroline Lufkin has a good backstory: born and raised in Okinawa Japan, she moved to Boston to attend Berklee School of Music. She comes from a rather musically inclined family, with her older sister Olivia a J-pop singer, and her brother Jeffrey playing guitar in her sister's band. After graduating Berklee, Caroline returned to Japan breifly, making a living recording demo vocal-tracks for other pop singers, and eventually was offered (and turned down) her own recording contract in Japan.
She then moved to LA and worked on her own songs, getting signed in the US by the brooklyn-based Temporary Residence records (home to Explosions In The Sky and Cex among many others), who helped her record her single "Where's My Love" released late last year. They're also releasing her full-length, Murmurs - the record is good, though it does tip just a little close to the adult-contempo-feel, but there's enough of an edge to the songs to keep them interesting. There are a few choice cuts that stand out on the record - I also recommend the tracks "Everylittlething" and the last track on the album, "Winter" - this one is the album opener, and it is a real exercise in subtlety. Caroline's real strength is her voice, which ranges from whisper to full-fledged croon. RIYL Björk, Mono (not the metal band, the late-90s electronic one), Moloko, etc.
You can buy Murmurs direct from Temporary Residence, here - also check out her Myspace page for more info and songs.