Leading the way for female singers-songwriters in the 1980s, Suzanne Vega gave new resonance to musical narratives, delivering raw tales of city life in a sweet, hushed voice. Inspired by Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, the aspiring musician began writing songs at age 14, although she attended the High School of Performing Arts to pursue dance. In 1985, three years after graduating with a literature degree, Vega released her self-titled debut, which went platinum in the U.K. and sold more than 200, 000 copies back home. Solitude Standing followed in 1987, featuring the hit singles Luka and Tom's Diner (which gained popularity after being remixed by British electronic group DNA). In 2007, Vega released her first album in six years, Beauty & Crime.