Ruby Frost

Ruby Frost is the ice cold moniker of pint-sized New Zealand sing-songwriter Jane de Jong. I introduced you to her - briefly - earlier this month when I posted the Leno Lovecraft rework of her track Moonlight - a shimmering masterpiece. It's about time you got to know her better.

As a youngster, Frost funnelled her creativity into the written word, putting to paper the time when a gunman burst into an American church she and her family choir where attending - the gun, it turned out, was a hockey stick. Now 22, Frost has turned to music as a way of expressing her creative bent.

It was this time last year she won New Zealand MTV's 42 Unheard competition, seeing off competition from 357 artists from across the country. I never watched the show, but, wearing her handmade sequinned bat-cape, I can imagine there was only ever going to be one winner. The competition won her a recording contract with major label Universal Music, who sent her on a song-writing jaunt to Australia. There, she hooked up with a slew of big name producers and now we're starting to hear glimpses of the electronic-infused direction Frost music is heading. A little less 80's than Marina and the Diamonds; a little more fun than Ellie Goulding, Frost nestles between the two. Her voice - appropriately - takes on the icey chill of Bjork, while her charismatic style brings to mind a cuter version of Kate Bush.

Out there is precious little of Frost's music. This could be a clear sign that label want's to get things right - but when you want to hear more, it's a damn pain. Nevertheless, we're told we can expect and album out sometime in 2011.

MP3: Ruby Frost - Goodnight DOWNLOAD