When I first played MoZella’s self-titled debut EP album, all I could think was that she has the husky voice of an old man – and not in a sexy way, like Scarlett Johansson.

But the longer I listened to the 24-year-old Detroit native’s CD, the more I realized she sounds like Macy Gray. The first time I heard both artists, I thought their backup singers were better, but their work grows on me each time I hear it.

After listening to the five tracks all the way through a handful of times, I am starting to grasp the beauty of MoZella’s work. With its mellow rhythms and simplistic lyrics, the work seems to vibrate its way directly into your unconscious mind. You will find it creeping up throughout the day so that you want to keep singing hooks like, “Somebody give me something strong so I can release yah/A double shot of Amnesia/Life would be easier.”

MoZella, whose work appears in the most recent Mercedes-Benz TV ads and will be on an upcoming episode of the WB’s “One Tree Hill,” seems to be heavily influenced by a mixture of jazz and hip hop that makes the album reminiscent of debut albums by Norah Jones and Alicia Keys.

Overall, MoZella makes a strikingly strong and surprisingly unique performance in a genre that has been exhausted by music fans and artists in recent years.

The album is definitely worth listening to – just do not give up on it at the first hearing. It gets better, and this album would be perfect for listening to in traffic jams because of its calming sounds.