If you are familiar with the independent music scene, Maya Azucena might ring a bell. The attractive Brooklyn native just released her sophomore CD titled 'Junkyard Jewel' and has opened for such names as Roberta Flack, Bilal, Martin Luther, Jaguar Wright, and Joss Stone even opened for her (thanks Maya!), just to name a few. Find out more about this newcomer in '5 Questions.'

Who were some of your music inspirations growing up and what's in your IPod today?

I have so many inspirations that its really difficult to narrow them down but I can as a artist. From young ages, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Michael Jackson as songwriters definitely inspired me. As vocalists, classic gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, which is also one of Aretha Franklin's main inspirations. Also Ella Fitzgerald and Prince again as vocalists. And then just growing up with a backdrop of hip-hop. Hip-Hop has always been the rhythm and aggression and it has been important for me to have in my music because it's me. I grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. All of that is just inside and that's what I try to express in my music.

My most recent purchases were the Lily Allen and the Amy Winehouse CDs. I can't say they are on major rotation but I do like the singles. A lot of DJs give me mix CDs and I have fallen in love with the mix CD. It puts a bunch of stuff on my table all at one time. My friend DJ Center has a couple of amazing mix CDs that I have been bonkers about. I love Jadakiss, Nas, Little Brother, Joni Mitchell, Coldplay, Radiohead.

Why did you name the album 'Junkyard Jewel?'

Junkyard Jewel is the name of one of my songs. Junkyard Jewel is about someone that is incredibly special and beautiful but might not realize it because life can weigh you down and you might not realize it when you are covered up with life. Being that's the idea of the song, I would say Junkyard Jewel is a sentiment of the entire CD. Instead of going with your usual route of hip-hop beats and big R&B productions, I stripped it all down and just went to the core of the songs and the voice. It's basically an acoustic soul CD. I felt Junkyard Jewel felt the description of the CD because it's this raw, uncut thing in the middle and it still has urban, hip-hop and soul but it's just this raw, uncut thing.

You received a lot of critical acclaim for your work. How does that help or hurt you as an independent artist?

I have to say that journalists have really had my back and that has really helped me as an independent artist. When you don't have a budget and you can't afford mass advertising, really what goes with you is word of mouth and other people talking about you and the buzz. Underneath it all, journalists aren't all about money. They seek out what they feel and what moves them. I consider it a honor that I have been really supported by the press because I've had no money or institution influence to make them talk about me. They are responding to something that they feel moves them. That encourages me because it's important to me to have integrity and I believe if I keep working hard and keep giving my all and being in love with what I do with professionalism and integrity that it's going to start to speak to people. The press support has been nothing but a blessing for me.

You have a very sexy image but your content is not as provocative as a number of artists out there. Is that a fine line to walk in terms of music and image?

I think it is a fine line actually. What I try to put out there is not to deny anything about me. I am a sexual person and I feel that a black woman can be self-assured, confident in their sexuality without having to present it like a stripper. These images are based on men's objectification of women. The music videos of today promote women as strippers. I don't think you have to dance on a poll in order to be a sexy, beautiful woman. At the same time, I'm not afraid of the fact that I'm a woman and that I like myself but I am trying to present it in a different way. It is a fine line but I feel if you are just being honest, people will respond to what's really you.

Your online game is pretty heavy – do you think the net allows you to do the job of big labels or is it just a dream of internet geeks and starving artists?

I don't think the Internet literally replaces the major labels and institutions. It can't entirely replace it because all of the big institutions are getting down with the Internet. If you are trying to deal with a stable marketplace, you do end up playing ball with the major companies. However, the Internet allows for a freedom that we didn't have before as artists to make a name for yourself and a living for yourself and not have to rely on the traditional way of doing it. I can't say the Internet completely replaces the institution, but if you are willing to work for it, you can make a fantastic living.