On the cover of her latest album, British songstress Natasha Bedingfield stares intently from behind thick blonde bangs with little traces of a smile, inviting listeners to wonder if she is a real talent or simply another platinum starlet.

Listening to Bedingfield’s songs, it is easy to discern that the singer’s throaty voice is capable of singing everything from strong, dark ballads like “Soulmate” to frothy pop ditties like “Unwritten.” Though she is often cast aside as just another female singer with pre-packaged Top 40 singles, Bedingfield’s mixture of sunny dance beats and intense vocals tempt listeners into seeing what she

Bedingfield surprised the U.S. pop scene in 2005 with a whimsically danceable love song called “These Words.” Her debut album, Unwritten, crept up the charts and spawned the titular smash single, which popped up in television shows, commercials and movies.

Her second album, imaginatively titled N.B., was released only in the United Kingdom after its lead single, “I Wanna Have Your Babies,” bombed in the States. A new album, Pocketful of Sunshine, was crafted and released in 2008, with “Love Like This” and the title track quickly gaining radio play. Will Bedingfield ever explore her dark side? Maybe not, but perhaps her success indicates that playful pop is the best course of action for her career.

Natasha Bedingfield performs at the House of Blues with The Veronicas and Kate Voegele July 2 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 and $27.

By Caitlin McGarry

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