Whether one chooses to acknowledge the spiritual world and its cosmic ideals, one cannot deny the power of a greater force; it's a natural draw to something that's passionately raw and real, and it's something unexplainable. It's the desire to search and grab a hold of the soul survivor within oneself, and having the strength to make sense of what's in front of you. Singer/songwriter Marion LoGuidice has her finger on this exact pulse -- embracing the good while tearing apart the bad for a richer understanding of what fuels our creative being.

"What each song is for me is like another vertebrae in this new backbone that I have been building for myself," LoGuidice says. "Each time I am moved to write another song, I feel as if I am leaving the topside world that we live in and entering into a sacred place -- a place where some kind of healing goes on that isn't so obvious -- for me it feels like God's house. I believe that healing one's heart is an inside job, and once you find the right kind of support (people who understand the kind of endurance and strength it takes to heal) you must share the gifts of that journey."

For LoGuidice, it's the power of song that gives life to her inner struggles. She examines the loss of certain relationships while also analyzing painful situations bigger than one's own control, and it's her poetic approach -- an abounding combination of layered choruses, extensive bridges, and vivid emotional imagery -- that blossoms into a tangible optimism. Such lyrical narratives carry the lilting beauty of her second album, God's House.

While her 2003 self-released debut Mother Wheel provided a glimpse into her abundant inquisitiveness, the majestic sanctuary that is God's House finds the Long Island-bred songstress tapping into her New Yorker sensibility with a warm sensitivity. Her earthy, dramatic vocals are reminiscent of country-folk singer Victoria Williams, while her wild artistic spirit recalls Laura Nyro and Sophie B. Hawkins. From the uplifting acoustic guitars of "My Song" and "Laurie" to the heart-heavy sincerity of "Sorry," God's House is illuminated in vast musical colors stretching across the rock/pop canvas, but it's the guitar-driven intensity of "Mary," a tribute to Mary Magdalene, that brings everything back to LoGuidice's door. Pop diva Cyndi Lauper also offers up her signature colorful vocals to this haunting standout.

"After reading the book The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, I just really wanted to tell her story," LoGuidice says. "I believed that Jesus needed her as much as she needed him. It's kind of like the saying, 'Behind every good man is a good woman;' I believe Mary was that for Jesus."

Credit producer Oz Noy for a careful rendering of the outlines of Marion's sonic landscapes. His succinct arrangements showcase Marion's strengths as an imaginative and thought-provoking songwriter, while also giving each song its own lush depth. "Oz is like working with a wizard. He's just a brilliant, creative, and confident person."

Also this time around, LoGuidice embraced her role as a live performer. Prior to issuing Mother Wheel, she hadn't performed before a live audience, however with a 2004 appearance at SXSW, and several sold-out performances at the intimate Manhattan showcase Joe's Pub and additional house concerts under her belt, LoGuidice's stage presence has flourished.

"My songs are like lamps and when I stand on stage, I plug them in," she beams. "There's a certain kind of channeling that I do when I step on stage -- I unplug from this world to go into this other dimension, and it comes from a very deep, honest place. I think people are craving that in their life."

Jody Denberg, Content Manager at KSGR Radio in Austin, Texas has been championing LoGuidice since the start. Denberg says, "Once in a blue moon a CD hits as deep as Marion LoGuidice's. Let yourself be touched by this music. It is beautiful, emotional, musically unique and positively inspiring."

LoGuidice adds, "Most of all, I want my music to be of service to other women who feel like they've filed away their creative life ? their richer life, or what I call my soul life -- into some dark corner. That's my deepest desire because it brought my life from a place of just surviving to a place of thriving"

Coming up this summer, LoGuidice will branch out beyond her New York-based roots to head to the Southwest for a handful of shows. In celebration of their 15th season on the air, LoGuidice will perform in Austin at KGSR Radio's $)A!0Unplugged at the Grove" (7:00pm) show, Thursday, August 21st at 7:00pmCST. Additional shows slated for this fall will be announced shortly.