We interviewed Alison Sudol in 2007, just prior to her Northern California concert, sharing the bill with Rufus Wainwright and Sean Lennon. She had just burst onto the scene with an impressive debut album, "One Cell in the Sea."

By 2017, Sudol was recording under her own name. In addition, she has established herself as an actress, appearing in such films as "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and TV series like "Transparent." The multi-talented artist has also explored writing prose, as well as directing music videos. As of this writing, Sudol's most recent music release is the 2019 EP "Moonlite."

A Fine Frenzy is causing quite a stir in the music industry. The focal point, 22-year-old singer/songwriter/pianist Alison Sudol, makes her major label debut with "One Cell In The Sea," a brilliant album filled with instantly memorable tunes.

"That's what I live for -- writing songs," the striking redhead says. "That's the thing that keeps me going every day, the thing that I get the most joy and sanity out of.

"Sometimes it drives me nuts. I'm not able to communicate what I feel needs to be communicated. I just have to hack through it. Sometimes that yields the best results, if you just keep at it."

Of finding inspiration, Sudol says, "II never know what's going to spark it. Songwriting is just something that I need to do and love to do. It's a part of me."

Songs may come from fantasy or personal experience. But Sudol allows emotions to gestate before putting pen to paper.

"In the heat of the moment, I'm usually not clear-headed enough to communicate a thought," she laughs. "It's only after I get a little distance that I can see what's going on. It's the same in life. When you're nose-to-nose with a situation, it's hard to see what it really is. You have to wait until you can step back. Then you can fully look at it and, hopefully, understand it."

Listeners are responding enthusiastically to her wondrously imaginative songs, including the first single, "Almost Lover." "You want to have an impact on people. Otherwise, you're just making music for yourself. I want other people to enjoy it. But it's a search for the right sonic experience, rather than trying to fit a trend, because I can't ever follow that kind of stuff."

She's realizing how strong an impact her songs have. "Only now am I realizing that people are connecting to it. Up until now, it's felt like I was still in the little creativity bubble. Touring, we're meeting people who have heard the record and I can see that it's gotten outside my little world. That's an incredible feeling."

After nestling into a studio, she's finding new gratification in performing live. "It's definitely two different types of satisfaction and creativity. One is creating something from nothing, which is thrilling and fun, but also has its hardships and craziness.

"Then when you take it out on the road, the material is already done, but you have to make sure not to let things go into auto pilot, because you're playing for people who have never heard it before. That brings a new life to the songs every night. So I love the whole process."

She's currently touring with Rufus Wainwright and Sean Lennon. "It's a huge growing experience. Rufus is absolutely incredible, such a pro, so fun to watch. He's such a great songwriter. His whole production, musicality and attitude are priceless, so uniquely him. You listen to 30 seconds of a Rufus Wainwright song and you know it's him. He can take that unique thing, go into any genre and still make it his own.

"Sean is lovely, very quiet and gracious and makes really nice music. He comes from such a rich musical heritage, obviously, that it's cool to meet him and be around that."

Sudol is eager to return to the Bay Area, having played a club date here recently. "I absolutely love San Francisco. It's such a great town. So funky and wonderful. There are so many nooks and crannies.

"It feels like a complete city. Some places seem like they've been slammed together. New stuff is thrown together helter skelter. Nothing really makes sense. There's no connecting vibe throughout the city. When you're in San Francisco, you know you're in San Francisco. There's all the different little neighborhoods, but it's got its own great attitude. It's like a softer, sweeter New York."

On this tour, she's enjoying the upgrade from van to bus travel. "The bus is such a luxury and so much fun. Last night we had a little singalong in the front of the bus after the show. It feels like summer camp a little bit.

"It's really easy to sleep, because the hum of the wheels against the pavement makes this nice sort of purr. It kind of rocks you to sleep."

When she was five, Sudol, who was born in Seattle, moved to Los Angeles. Her parents, both actors and drama coaches, encouraged her passion for literature. "I was a bookworm. I read anything I could get my hands on. I never played video games and I wasn't a sporty kid. Reading was my recreation, and then writing, as well."

Her literary favorites included Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis and Jane Austen. Musical taste encompassed an eclectic mix, from Ella Fitzgerald to Motown, Philip Glass to Coldplay. Sudol taught herself to play piano.

In choosing a band name, Sudol drew on her literary foundation. A Fine Frenzy comes from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"The whole thing about the lover, the lunatic and the poet all being united in a fine frenzy -- that just seemed so fitting.

"There's this madness that takes over when you're in love, when you're writing or when you're just crazy -- it's kind of all the same. You can only think of one thing and you just have to get it out of you."

For the latest news on this artist, visit www.alisudol.com.