Kate Voegele with Hanson, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Murat Centre Egyptian Room, 502 N. New Jersey St.
Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., $28.50, all-ages

Having already worked up a musical resume that includes opening for the likes of John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, Kate Voegele recently had the opportunity to play a different breed of performer.

Earlier this year, the 21-year-old singer/songwriter appeared on the hit television show “One Tree Hill” as Mia, a talented, but shy artist discovered by Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton).

“Having performed so many shows over the past five years has made me very outgoing,” Voegele says. “The character of Mia starts out totally opposite. My friends found out about my role on the show and were asking, ‘This chick is playing Mia?’”

Voegele says that being able to perform her own songs on “One Tree Hill” should be a big boost to both her career and the sales of her debut album “Don’t Look Away” (MySpace Records).

Before she finished high school, Voegele had filled notebooks with original songs and performed as an opening act for a 2003 tour with John Mayer and Counting Crows. She’s also taken the stage for two consecutive Farm Aid concerts, as well as Summerfest, SXSW and numerous club shows.

When it came to signing a record deal, Voegele didn’t want to be molded into someone she’s not, which some labels seemed intent on doing. So, in October 2006, Voegele signed with MySpace Records, the social networking Web site’s label.

“[Some labels] more or less said to me, ‘I don’t know if the nice girl gimmick works,’” Voegele recalls. “I became cynical about labels after that. I hooked up with MySpace because they realized it’s about the music, and they let me be me.”

“Don’t Look Away” is a fine debut effort that showcases Voegele’s multiple talents: singing, playing music and songwriting. And while she did enjoy the opportunity to act, Voegele quickly adds that “my primary focus is on the music.”