Amanda Stott

TORONTO -- Amanda Stott refuses to be pigeonholed.

"This new album is a reflection of all the new sounds that I've heard in the past five years," said Stott, 22, while in Toronto promoting "Chasing the Sky," her sophomore disc of piano-driven organic pop.

And for the former prairie crooner, the jump from Nashville pageantry to her current radio hit, "Homeless Heart," has been an easy one because this time out she has collaborated with a whole new group of people.

Jon Levine (The Philosopher Kings, Nelly Furtado, Jacksoul) produced the set and her CD features songs penned by Andreas Carlsson (Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, N-Sync, Britney Spears), Desmond Child (Kelly Clarkson, Robbie Williams), Stephen Moccio (Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman) and Marc Jordan (Rod Stewart, Cher). The result is a disc that is both honest and musically varied.

"With different writers, everyone brings something new to the table."

"What I love about co-writing," she says enthusiastically, "is you're able to have different styles."

But whether it's the pop-tinged "Waiting for My Star to Fall" or the piano-led "My Real Life," Stott's rich vocals are the main ingredient in a musical collage that seamlessly weaves its way into the fabric of its listeners' lives.

And don't look for any negativity here. "Chasing the Sky" is on an express elevator to making sure everyone has a good time.

"I want to bring about a good message," she grins. "I feel like there is a lot of negativity in the world right now and a positive record is something the world needs."

"One of the main messages," she says turning serious, "is living for the moment and taking a chance when it comes your way."

With its positive vibe, tracks like "Maybe Tomorrow" and "She'll Get Over It" sidestep the prepackaged ballad meat farm to emote simple, but genuine, emotion.

"I like an artist who's honest," she quips.

"The best compliment that I could get from a person is they saw themselves in a song."

And while she loves to shop and go to movies, her sound comes off as a cross between radio-friendly songstress Liz Phair and piano-based singers like Vanessa Carlton. On "She'll Get Over It" she channels Phair's "Why Can't I?" and on "Paper Rain" and "Undeniably Real" she conjures Carlton's "1000 Miles."

Her vocals range from soft and sultry ("Cry") to hip shaking ("Waiting for My Star to Fall") to hickory smoked goodness ("Getting There"). And she does it all with amazing confidence.

"As an artist you have to be true to yourself, but It's good for an artist to keep evolving."

And Stott's not your regular pop princess. She has a big social agenda and when she's not on the road or in the studio, she's playing for Canadian servicemen and women.

"I hadn't grow up around military, but you have to pick certain things you believe in and put your voice to them."

Still, Stott wants the focus on her music, which is why she's currently on tour with "Canadian Idol" winner Kalan Porter sans band.

"It felt natural for this tour to be just me and my piano," she says matter-of-factly.

"With coming out with a new sound I wanted to just really make it very plain that this is who I was. But I can't wait to be able to tour with the band."

And don't expect the Winnipeg-based singer to churn out similar tunes on her next album.

"In the future, you never know -- I might come back doing something totally different again."

And since she's a testament to what happens when you allow talent and artistic freedom to dance in the same playground, that can only mean good things are ahead.