Photo: Peyton Hayslip

This week, KERA’s Art&Seek has featured people in North Texas arts worth keeping an eye on in 2012. We wrap up the series with a look at Tiger Darrow’s continued musical exploration.

KERA Radio story:

Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is known for producing musical stars. Erykah Badu went there. So did Norah Jones.

And now another alum hopes to follow in their footsteps.

Tiger Darrow graduated from the arts magnet school in the spring and released two albums before getting her diploma.

“In Love With a Boy,” from her 2011 album You Know Who You Are, represents Darrow well – personal lyrics, catchy rhythms, stacked harmonies, and, most significantly, a love song.

But in 2012, Darrow’s ready to spread her wings.

DARROW: “So for this new one, I said, OK, let’s do something different. I’m going to see how long I can go without writing a love song. Well, so far I’ve got like one. … I’m trying to write about current events a little bit more. I was like, OK, the personal thing it’s alright, but let’s branch out. There’s other things in the world.”

This year, the 19-year-old’s world has gotten much bigger. She enrolled at NYU and is studying music composition and theory. Being a part of one of the country’s top arts programs is already paying off.

DARROW: “I’ve already got one friend who’s like, ‘So, you’re going to be one of two vocalists for my band, now, OK?’ And I was like, ‘Cool!’ And then another friend that said, ‘When am I playing drums for you?’ So definitely meeting all these people is so helpful and they’re such valuable resources.”

She continues to record music using her home computer – just as she did with her first two albums. And she’s already hard at work on her new album. Look for it this summer.

Tiger Darrow performs tonight at Opening Bell Coffee in Dallas.