Holly Crenshaw

Singer-songwriter Kristen Hall makes no bones about where her music fits in with the current wave of acoustical music.

"The difference is, I'm not somebody who always played electric guitar and picked up an acoustic just to be in on a trend," she said. "This is my craft - playing pop material on an acoustic guitar."

Since she broke onto the club circuit four years ago, Ms. Hall's raspy vocals and melodic, introspective tunes have drawn growing numbers of fans and raised the stakes for other local folk-rock acts. The 28-year-old Avondale Estates resident has toured as the opening act for her well- known colleagues the Indigo Girls, released an album of original tunes, established herself as a regular performer at Trackside Tavern in Decatur and signed a songwriting contract with BMG Music Publishing Co.

Now she's putting the finishing touches on her second album, "Safe and Warm," set for release in December.

"The objective of this record for me would be to make it hard for people to deny the attention that you can still create with just an acoustic guitar. I really love melodies and love writing strong melodies - so people can hear them for the first time and go, Man, I really like that.'"

The Detroit native, who moved to Atlanta 11 years ago, said she started playing the guitar as a teenager, but a serious case of stage fright kept her from performing. Ms. Hall had already worked as a graphic artist and movie production assistant when she met the Indigo Girls - Amy Ray and Emily Saliers - who encouraged her to perform.

"Literally, Amy made me get up and do it," Ms. Hall said. During a break in their shows, Ms. Ray would ask Ms. Hall if she'd get up to do one of her songs. "She never gave up, and one night I eventually caved in and did it."

Her follow-up to Real Life Stuff, her 1990 release, will feature Ms. Saliers of the Indigo Girls and Sara Lee, who plays bass for both the B-52s and the Indigos.

What remained consistent in her new batch of songs, Ms. Hall said, is the honesty she brings to her lyrics. "I take things very seriously, and I think that definitely comes across in my music - but not so seriously that I can't laugh at myself. I poke fun at myself in my own songs all the time."