In the Indie music scene, obscurity oftentimes equals credibility. So when it came time for Scarlett Johansson to record her debut album, she decided to cover some of Tom Waits’ tunes in her own style.

Anywhere I Lay My Head is a droning, ethereal collection of songs done in what sounds like an echo chamber. But what it lacks in radio-friendly singles it more than makes up for in artistic integrity and sonic complexity.

Scarlett’s voice, while not the most likeable in the world, is a challenging mix of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane and Nico from the Velvet Underground. While she’s sometimes rough and abrupt, it’s refreshing to see someone who is comfortable enough in their own style to unapologetically offer it as her own.

Songs like “Falling Down” (a collaboration with David Bowie), “Fannin Street,” and “I’ll Shoot The Moon” take on a new life with Johansson’s voice behind them. In fact, she just may be responsible for introducing some killer music to fans who may not enjoy Waits’ muddy, growling voice, despite his songwriting genius.

As an interesting side note, Scarlett will most likely not be touring in support of her new album. She recently told press, “I have crippling stage fright, so it would be a challenge.”