It’s a tough world out there for young female singers, songwriters and pianists. The average talent level for girls who can sing has never been higher, as every young lady wants to be the next Adele or Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey or Amy Winehouse.

That’s part of what makes it all the more impressive that Tess Henley was selected out of over 10,000 candidates in Guitar Center’s National Artist Discovery Program in 2014.

The soulful R&B singer won that contest (along with several others) by bringing a flash of the past with her timeless tunes, shaking the current perception of pop music in favor of a heart-touching sound that could’ve topped the charts decades ago just as easily as today.

1. She released her first album in 2008

Although Henley is just now starting to make it on to a lot of people’s radars, her debut album Easy to Love is actually seven years old now. The record even saw a re-release as a deluxe edition in 2011, once she’d sparked a little more interest with her sophomore effort, The Appetizer.

2. She started playing piano at age 3

For those who knew Henley growing up, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that she’s found success as a performer. At 3, she began playing piano and a few years later she could already harmonize with her mom. Beginning in 2nd grade, Henley also took part in her school talent shows in Kent, WA, including dressing up as Morticia Addams and performing the Addams Family theme song in 3rd grade.

3. She’s from a musical family

Henley’s mom was the singer of a Seattle-based band, and her brother Carson is a singer-songwriter as well. As a kid, Henley would help her mother practice and work on harmonies while on car trips around town.

4. She recently opened two sold-out shows for Culture Club

When Culture Club and Boy George came through California, Henley received the opportunity to open a couple of concerts and show her skills off to a sold-out crowd that had likely never heard of her before. According to Henley, her green room for the shows was big enough to house an entire NFL team, although she decided against actually doing that.

5. She has a new EP out called Wonderland

As the winner of the aforementioned Guitar Center contest, Henley was hand-chosen by legendary producer Don Was for his assistance in recording her latest EP. The duo knocked out all four tracks in just three days at Henson Recording Studios in LA, with Henley calling it “the most organic and effortless recording experience I’ve had to date.”

6. She loves to play sports

Henley still has a passion for the athletic endeavors she enjoyed before becoming a professional musician, but she recognizes the dangers that sports can pose for someone who makes a living with their fingers. Though she loves to play soccer and basketball, Henley’s history of finger dislocations and broken bones has led to a bit of caution, since her career is centered around being able to play the piano with all 10 fingers.

7. She was on Jimmy Kimmel Live

In January, Henley made a splash on the national level by performing two tracks off Wonderland on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The late-night circuit is a big step for any young performer, and it seems as though the national exposure can only help Henley at this point in her career.

8. She's a big Justin Guarini fan

Although Guarini lost to Kelly Clarkson in the initial season of American Idol, the singer won a major spot in Henley’s heart. Aside from being “obsessed with” Guarini (and his hair), the American Idol Live tour was one of Henley’s first memorable concert experiences, along with George Benson and India Arie. More recently, she’s enjoyed Nine Inch Nails live and hopes to one day see Stevie Wonder.

9. She enjoys doing arts and crafts in her free time

When she’s not busy on tour or in the studio, Henley likes to keep her visually creative side strong too. Her favorites are painting and starting craft-based projects, but she admits that she doesn’t always get the chance to finish them because she’s always taking on projects of enormous scope. “I guess I have a hard time not dreaming big,” Henley adds.

10. She has back-to-back national tours going on right now 

Currently, the songbird is making her way across the US with fellow singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson, and she has another nationwide tour coming up in the fall, playing shows with Jon McLaughlin. If you don’t get the chance to see her on either of those times around, she’ll also be invading advertising spaces, as she partnered up with L’Oreal for a mascara campaign.