"It feels so cosmopolitan!" artist, Tori, exclaimed in a text message the day her debut album To the Moon finally landed on iTunes. Arriving in San Diego in 2006 via Long Island, NY, Tori teamed up with queer music luminaries, producer Beth Ladwig of Elliotthedog Music, Inc., (San Diego) and Megan Jane, the quiet, multi-talented, Berklee-trained guitarist, to manifest an album with such urgent appeal that it earned Tori an invitation to open for Jewel and Colbie Caillat at PetCo Park's Stand Up To Cancer concert this November before hard copies of the album had even finished printing. Though her discs were hot off the presses, Tori's formidable stage presence and unflinching musical performance proved an intense predisposition to the big stage. Also sharing in the PetCo Park spotlight was Tristan Prettyman and Justin Long, two more well-seasoned performers to whom Tori skillfully measured up -- shoulder-to-shoulder -- in everything but name recognition. Get to know the nascent talent breaking in San Diego whose horizon is undeniably primed for big things. Download "To the Moon" on iTunes or listen, look and become a fan at www.ElliotTheDog.com/Tori. GET ACQUAINTED | Test the waters with my favorite tracks: "For You," "Alaska Again," "Lucky Boat," and "Rockets" SOUNDS LIKE | I might compare Tori's voice to: Cat Power, Beth Orton, Sia, Fiest, or Jolie Holland (Be Good Tanyas) Editor's Note: Keep an eye out for Mary B's full interview with Tori. Mary Buckheit is a freelance writer based in San Diego. A long-time columnist for ESPN.com she continues to pen for ESPN Music. Her essays have also appeared in Boston Spirit Magazine, FlawLes Magazine, AfterEllen.com, and GayTravel.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryBside