Rachael Sage makes beautiful and soulful pop music in the vain of the Indigo Girls or Tori Amos.

With “Illusion’s Carnival,” the New York-based singer, songwriter and pianist weaves her crisp and breathy voice in and out of folky, piano-driven melodies to make an album infused with intimacy and passion.

Rachael Sage fully embraces independent artistry. She started her own record label, MPress Records, after seeing her former touring-partner Ani DiFranco start her own Righteous Babe record label. “Illusion’s Carnival” is Sage’s fourth album.

-Sage actively tours the United States and Europe, playing at clubs, festivals and showcases. She gained national attention after winning the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2001 and garnering a spot on the Lilith Fair.

She uses her classical piano training to great advantage. In “Unbeauty,” the piano melts into the cello behind Sage’s emotive lyrics that speak of love, longing and life. Sage, of Eastern European Jewish descent, uses ethnically-tinged grooves to provide variety, especially in the love tune, “My Precious Love.”

Perhaps the catchiest song on “Illusion’s Carnival” is “Trouble,” a jazzy ditty driven by piano that makes full use of trumpets.

Sage’s extremely expressive but mostly simple lyrics rarely feel forced.

“I’m as sharp as a chisel chipping away stone/ Sculpt you in my imagination like it’s time I own/ Don’t want to say goodbye.”

Sage is not afraid to be bright and uplifting, and she usually makes it work.

“I’ll let you hold my heart inside your hands/ I’ll take you flying/ We’ll touch the sun with our bare fingers.”

Unfortunately, Sage doesn’t vary her vocal style nearly enough throughout the 14 tracks. Those who tire of the vocal stylings of Jewel or the aforementioned Tori Amos surely will tire of those of Sage.

One of the most generic songs is the mandatory Sept. 11 ballad, “Memory.” The song’s chorus cascades in a repetition of the word “love.” It seems many artists have written very similar songs.

Despite these minor missteps, Sage has made a lovely and personal album worthy of the independent spirit to which she has ascribed.