Burgeoning Mexican alt-pop star Ximena Sariñana is not easy to explain. Sure, anyone can see that she’s adorable. And her jazzy pop tunes are toe-tappingly infectious. But you have to open your mind and heart and get to know her a little to really appreciate the affection she inspires in her legions of fans.

First, you have to know her story. Sariñana started life in front of the camera as a child star in telenovelas before she grew up to take on the role of deep voiced chanteuse. She released her platinum selling debut album Mediocre in 2008, nabbing two Latin Grammy nominations. She also nabbed the heart of Mars Volta founder/guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, with whom she collaborated and toured the world as a vocalist in Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group.

Her voice is childlike yet deep and expressive, her style is fresh and modern, and it all comes together with a bit of oddly old-fashioned charm. Allow yourself to fully appreciate a track like her honeysuckle sweet single “Wrong Miracle” and chances are she’ll worm herself into your heart too.

She’s currently working on crossing over to the English-speaking market, and the new songs are daring and bubbly and gathering praise from both sides of the border. It really looks like she’s on her way to international stardom. And when you listen to a buoyant track like the first single “Different,” you can help but root for her.