The word diva calls to mind some of music’s most acclaimed vocalists, and most infamous bad-girl behavior. Fortunately, Rock ‘n Soul singer Quinn Archer is the quintessential diva, but only in the former sense. In fact, her feet seem firmly planted on the ground, except for that searing sense of sadness coloring this Brit’s sound. Archer’s tunes, from the smoldering “Dark Places,” to the quiet, thoughtful ballad “Rest of My Days,” are siren songs—her soulful voice drawing in listeners; her lyrics expressing a disembodied longing, an implacable suffering beyond words. Archer hails from South West London, having moved to Los Angeles in her teens to pursue her dream of making music. From stints singing for Shooter Jennings’ band, Stargunn, fronting bands like Stereofiend and Juliet’s Royal Blood, and forming outfits with Ricky Philips (The Baby's, Bad English) and Gavin MacKilllop (Sugar Cult, The Rembrandts, Goo Goo Dolls), Archer has remained tenacious and steadfast—but one look into her eyes reveals the trying times she’s endured. Archer has recently been spotlighted by Vanity Fair as “Britain’s next great soul singer.” With her debut EP, Dark Places, out this July (2014), Quinn Archer finds herself finally able to realize her dreams and, with her gaze aimed high, will let little stand in her way. www.quinn-archer.com www.twitter.com/quinn_archer www.instagram.com/quinnarch