Her debut album's called Whoa, Nelly!, but 21-year-old Nelly Furtado has just begun picking up speed. She's received glowing reviews in many magazines for her sophisticated blend of R&B, pop, and world music. You might have heard her single "I'm Like a Bird": Over a heavy, hip-swaying beat interjected with snaky loops, Nelly warns her lover that she is "like a bird/ I only fly away/ I don't know where my home is/ I don't know where my soul is."

Shimmering harmonies soften the bittersweet message - one that is probably ringing true for this family-oriented young woman whose journey has been taking her all over the world. In the midst of a cross-country radio tour, the pop songbird paid VH1.com a visit, settling in with some tea to ponder the many facets of "Nellyness."

It was a bit of a leap for the singer - a devout supporter of the do-it-yourself ethic - to sign to a major label, DreamWorks, and make a full-on pop record. But she believes opportunities present themselves when the time is right. Click here to find out what Nelly has to say about people who liked her until they heard her "sh*t on the radio."

Nelly enlisted her friends Track and Field (aka Gerald Eaton and Brian West) to co-produce her debut album with her. Because making a pop record was new for everyone (Gerald and Brian had only produced their own band, the Philosopher Kings), they were able to approach the process with fresh ears. Click here to find out how Track and Field helped Nelly put the sounds in her head on tape.

With elements like samba rhythms and even a sample of the modern classical ensemble Kronos Quartet, Whoa, Nelly! gives an unusual twist to traditional pop arrangements. But, says Nelly, she couldn't leave out the catchy hooks if she tried. Click here for Nelly's take on her pop sensibility.

Some of Nelly's earliest pop inspirations were Mariah Carey and TLC. Click here for the lowdown on how she "uses and abuses" R&B posturing.

Unlike many contemporary divas though, Nelly is also a singer/songwriter - meaning, she's got something to say. Click here to find out why she felt she needed to learn to play guitar before making a record.

Because production is such an important part of Whoa, Nelly!, you might think Nelly's live show would rely on a lot of samples. In fact, there are 26 session musicians on the record, and though she can't take them all on tour, the concert vibe is more raw, incorporating hip-hop, rock, and even a Brazilian Carnival feel. Click here to hear how the second-generation Portuguese immigrant brings it all together onstage.

Her first gig was at the age of 4, performing a Portuguese song in church with her mother. Even then Nelly got "that Hollywood feeling" and knew her life would be dedicated to performing. Click here to learn about her progression as a musician - and why her parents can't deny her this "vice."

Like the beat poets, Nelly strives to live her life as poetry. Click here to find out what inspires her on a daily basis.

- Steffie Nelson