An enrapturing storyteller, Audra Lynne Kubat (of Stunning Amazon) offers a present-tense history lesson in her solo work, intertwining fantasy with reality all the while. Shadowed and ruggedly beautiful, her knowing voice fades into wind whipping across an empty beach and seeps through cracks in the pavement of an abandoned city. Aggressive yet subdued guitar strums offer a sturdy backbone. Overall, an empowering and humbling experience to behold.

Audra Lynne Kubat is sitting in the back room of Union Street at the end of her shift, dabbing at a glob of ink with her finger that found its way onto a black-and-white sketch she's working on. It looks kind of like a plant or flower stretching off the page, blooming from the dried and bleached pulp. When she sees me, she puts it away and tries to focus her attention on her music, what I came to talk to her about. "It's for a class," she says looking down. "I've never really been good at drawing reality."

Everything else about her exudes realism, however. Her naked and pale complexion, hair pulled back into a cream-colored wool hat. Not to mention her stark new solo album, Elixir, a ruggedly pretty venture into muted guitar, haunted voice and empowering-while-humbling storytelling. It calls to mind great albums from folksingers such as Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez, and translates their messages to the present tense - and to the language of her hometown. Most of her subject matter draws from growing up and living in Detroit. She recognizes the things she doesn't like - racism and fear - and is attempting to inspire positive change.

Kubat's holding a release party for the CD on Saturday at 313.JAC. The party's going to have a loose format, which will allow her a chance to talk about what she's been up to and to eat some of the vegetarian food she plans on bringing. She'll also play a few songs.