Anni Rossi plays Deli CMJ show on 10.21 at The Living Room

4AD artist Anni Rossi began her violin training at the tender age of three, so she’s been around music – studying it, exploring it, playing around with it – for most of her life. Perhaps that’s why she understands and appreciates the appeal of delicately rich music. “West Coast,” a gorgeous track from her album, Rockwell, is about taking a trip across the country. Rossi starts the song slowly, plucking strings and flirting with the listener; she then makes a quick shift, progressing into something very powerful. The shift is unanticipated, but extremely evocative, with emotional lyrics (“shifting my life and my belongings/ on a road trip that turns into going home / I can’t really feel it…”) and passion-filled instrumentation. Aside from her serious grasp of the instrument, her music can also be playful in a fun and folky way. Rossi bears quirky traces of Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor – tracks like “Candyland” from her newest album, Heavy Meadow, are simple and sweet songs that float amidst sonic movement. And then there are the covers – like the one of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” – which are an adorably fresh take on popular music and a nod to Ms. Rossi’s creativity. – Vann Alex Daly