Erin Hall won’t be pigeonholed. Idaho-born but a New Yorker for the past 10 years, she’s had a winding journey tying together the threads of music, vocals, comedy, and storytelling into a unique package – one that keeps evolving.

Listening to Erin’s witty pop songs (which verge on blues, jazz, doo-wop, and folk) is like tuning into the stream of consciousness of a single city-dweller – albeit one who knows how to delight in the details. Erin infuses otherwise mundane parts of urban life – the laundromat, those delicious little buns in Chinatown, fellow subway riders – with charming commentary and twee melodies. “I don’t often know what promotes [the songwriting],” Erin said. “I just love to laugh.”

Erin graduated from the New School with a musical theater degree and a background in cello (beginning at age 8), but her foray into songwriting came as “sort of a fluke.” Erin had decided against a career as a professional cellist, and the city’s competitive musical theater realm was taking a toll on her self-esteem.

Then a friend asked her to perform a few pieces on her cello for a weekly dramatic reading series called Tuesdays@9, which hosts writers, directors, and occasional musical guests. “It was my first time writing something,” said Erin. “I was really scared.” That night Erin debuted two comedic creations: “On My Stoop” and “Irene,” both of which would later appear on her 2008 self-titled album. The audience ate up her musical tales of Duane Reade cashiers with icky long nails (“spirals of blue and green”) and love reveries mixed with lines like “I’d even go to the zoo/…Sometimes monkeys go poo/Their cages smell really bad/But it would not make me sad/Because I’d be with you.”

Tuesdays at Nine was a light bulb moment for Erin, when all her talents finally combined into one spectacular show. “Very Thomas Edison!” Erin nodded. She continued performing in comedy clubs, but eventually transitioned to mainly music venues. “I like [music venues] a lot better because there isn’t the same pressure to make someone laugh,” said Erin. “My songs are funny, but I’m first and foremost a musician – almost more so a lyricist. I have a great time telling stories and playing with words.”

Erin continues to flesh out the musical depth of her act by using a full band these days, sometimes with brass and backup singers. “From a musical standpoint, bass lines on the cello can only go so far,” Erin explained. “Now I want to play with a band all the time, because it’s too much fun.” Working with other musicians, Erin is able to experiment more with instrumentation and composition – and benefit from the added stage energy of a group. “Jokes become more of call-and-response, which is really fun,” said Erin.

Not that Erin herself doesn’t have enough vivacity and presence to captivate an audience alone. Her propensity to perform (no doubt polished by her musical theater studies) is what makes her such a joy to watch. Erin is too humble to admit she’s got the charm of indie darling Zooey Deschanel (if she could play cello). “I’d play with M. Ward if he’d have me!” she chirped. Erin has a genuine sweetness to her that makes her approachable and endearing – with the sort of quirkiness as effortless and natural as her two-tone spirals. Her light, airy voice seems always on the verge of a laugh, and she doesn’t hesitate to ham it up for the camera and act silly.

Erin’s sunny personality might match her comedic pop songs, but she’s dipping into more serious subject matter of late. “The more I’ve been writing, the more I’m not trying to tell a joke,” she says. “I guess it’s the songwriting journey. You don’t know what you’re going to get.” Among the repertoire Erin has built around heartache and disappointment are “Too Good to Be True” and the aptly titled “This Isn’t Funny.” While fans have seen these songs performed at her recent shows, Erin plans to include them on her next album – which she expects to record before the end of the year. “It will still be cute and fun and have a lot of charm,” Erin assured me. “But it’s always good to throw people for a loop. As many people have laughed, have cried.”

Currently, Erin is working with a team from Go Folk Yourself to create a music video for her track “Sober” – a rollicking, humorous love song that’s a crowd favorite at her shows.  For more details and information on upcoming shows, visit Erin online at erinandhercello.com, and listen to some of her music there or on her myspace.

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Here’s Erin playing for us back in February at the BKLYN Rod & Gun Club!