By Gwen Davis

Looking for the freshest new face in the local music industry? Singer and songwriter Michal Waldfogel popped her way into Seattle's music scene last Sat. when she launched her latest album by giving a free concert at the Hillman City Collaboratory.
Waldfogel, 29, produces soulful, melodic songs that describe illusions perplexing society. The album, entitled "Crossing Imaginary Lines" gives listeners insight into Waldfogel's non-traditional ways of viewing the world, as well as access to her powerhouse voice combined with gentle guitar and flute.

When I close my eyes and truly see, all of those lines are imaginary is a lyric of a lead song.

"The album started three years ago when I picked up my guitar and finally played a song that I wrote," Waldfogel said. "When I moved to Seattle last year, I collaborated with other musicians," one of which was Joshua Watler, Tukwila resident and owner of Simple Space Studio in Tukwila where Waldfogel recorded the album.

Given the compromised state of music albums in 2014, Waldfogel had a unique way of making sales: she created postcards fans could send to others. On the front of the postcard is artwork with a lyric of one of her songs. On the back of the postcard is a small space to scratch. Upon scratching, the receiver gets a secret code to download a song for free.

The entire album can also be downloaded and shared with others.

"I put a lot of thought into it," Waldfogel said. "You can share the music in a really personal way with someone who you love."

Waldfogel's singer-songwriter journey began in Nov. 2011, and since then she has enveloped herself in the music scene.

But Waldfogel doesn't just make music. She's also studying to be a naturopathic doctor at Bastyr University. Waldfogel additionally is interested in yoga, as an additional way of healing people.

"Michal is one of those people who can do everything," said Jesse Eisenheim, a friend of Waldfogel and attendee at the event. "She can sing, perform, study naturopathic medicine, make delicious challah and is good at bringing people together. She's talented."

Check out Waldfogel's music at michalpearl.com