Discovery. Bravery. Self. Uncharted, Ida Jo's 3rd album in as many years finds her in pursuit of all these things. Led as always by Ida Jo's “innovative violin work and her soulful vocals” (AV Club), Uncharted is expressive and groove-oriented, bearing the marks of the southern rock and folk that influenced her. (Think of artists like Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and The Band.) “Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history.” (Relate Magazine) Also present are the subtlety and grace of her background in classical violin. Add to that a healthy amount of individuality and stubborn indie spirit and you begin to get an idea of her sound. “Ida Jo's voice is refined enough to conjour reflection and edgy enough to stir agitation...” (Isthmus Daily Page) Thematically, Uncharted is focused on the pursuit of self, no matter how difficult the road may be. “The uncharted takes fortitude and bravery” she sings in the title track. We have to sacrifice and struggle if we want to blaze a new trail and be who we are meant to be. On violin, Ida Jo employs a seldom heard technique that is the combination of a folk fiddle style called "chopping" and her extensive classical training. She plays the rhythm, the harmony and sometimes even the melody at the same time. What it ends up sounding like is beyond explanation and without comparison, somewhere between an acoustic guitar and an orchestra. She is one of only a handful of violinists in the world to play in the style. It has been praised as "masterful and unexpected" (Emmie Music Magazine), "inventive yet accessible," (AV Club - Madison) and "avoiding rootsy fiddle or orchestral indie clichés" (The Isthmus). Just as on her previous releases, Ida Jo continues to push the musical and lyrical boundaries of pop music. In a world where most pop music marries predictable chord structures to even time signatures (4/4), Ida Jo embraces quite the opposite. Many songs are in 5/4, an odd time signature usually reserved for contemporary jazz or electronic music. Ida Jo uses the rarity to her advantage, creating a groove and flow you never hear in pop music. A musical prodigy from a young age, Ida Jo has an impressive resume of international performances. Her talents have taken her to Europe, Canada and thoughout the US. She has appeared at South By Southwest and Summerfest, and her hit political cry “No (We Won't Take It)” was featured on Democracy Now!