With inspirations ranging from current political and environmental concerns to personal narratives, within is recording artist and singer-songwriter AlyssA's first full length release. This new album is also the much awaited follow up to AlyssA's debut self-titled EP, which was released to rave reviews in 2000. Hailed for her incorporation of Indian, and African traditional music on the EP, "AlyssA's gently soulful sound, calls to mind artists as different as Congo's Lokua Kanza and Australia's
Robyne Dunn."

In the eight years since the EP was released, AlyssA has had the time and opportunity to pursue different musical influences and to generate some truly personal and original material. To Alyssa, "the music and lyrics just came as if an offering of insight from some greater source than I, and I hope people who hear this music really feel it."

"Feel the Softness", the fifth track off the new album, has already been nominated for Best Indie Pop Rock Song of 2008 by the Inland Empire Music Awards.

AlyssA called on her old friend, and fellow musician, Deron Johnson (Miles Davis, Seal, Alanis Morisette, David Sanborn) to produce "within". Johnson, a co-creative force on the album, gave the album its brilliant arrangements and pushed AlyssA to trust in her instincts both in her vocal performance and vision for the album. AlyssA described her working relationship with Johnson as one of constant fine tuning and creative exchange back and forth.

AlyssA and Johnson's creative vision for "within" was further expanded by a group of veteran players. Joining them are Dave Lavita (Alanis Morisette) on guitar, Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon) and James Genus (Horace Silver, Brecker Brothers) on bass, Chris Bruce (Seal) on bass and guitar, and Jimmy Paxson (Stevie Nicks) on drums.

AlyssA's determination to keep her work candid and authentic is manifest throughout "within". The album opens with "Earth Child", which is compositionally based off the rhythmic and meditative chanting practiced in yoga, and is an homage to the sounds of the earth. "Subway Gospel" is a testament to AlyssA's use of personal observation and self-reflection in her writing. The song draws its inspiration from a visceral reaction to a homeless man trying to survive on a New York City subway. AlyssA remembers "he was filthy, had bare feet and tattered clothes I watched him pick up a cigarette butt from the floor, light it and then put it in his mouth and swallow it." Johnson had a clear vision for the song, and had AlyssA record it in a single take.

After some great musical experiences during her college years in North Carolina and some time on the West Coast, AlyssA returned to New York to pursue music full time. Taking a job with a company that catered rock concerts at major New York venues, AlyssA found herself in the company of some of the top bands and musicians in the world. AlyssA quickly developed relationships with these players and recruited them for her own gigs and recordings. She continues to work with these friends today on stage and
in the studio.