At age 20, singer-songwriter Charlotte Sometimes is advancing steadily through the ranks.

Though she moved from Wall Township, N.J., to the New York scene four years ago, this year Sometimes got signed to a major label, took the helm of a five-man band and changed her name.

She will be performing tonight at the final show sponsored by Nittany Booking this semester at SoZo, 256 E. Beaver Ave.

Garrett Bogden, president of Nittany Booking, saw her at Vans Warped Tour during the summer and said her entire set blew him away.

"Her music is mainstream, but at the same time has an independent feel to it," Bogden said. "There are elements of jazz. She's very talented."

Opening acts Good Old War, Lucas Carpenter and Acalasia, which will be performing an acoustic set, should be familiar faces to regular attendees of recent concerts at SoZo or the HUB-Robeson Center.

Bogden said tonight's show is "almost like a reunion of bands that have played here over the semester."

Sometimes, born Jessica Charlotte Poland, is a stage name. After serving as a folk singer in a rock band for a few years, she sought a name change as a way of separating her past musical identity and home life from her new songstress persona.

"I wanted to reinvent myself for my own purposes," Sometimes said.

She added Charlotte Sometimes "can be a lot naughtier than I can in real life."

Signed to Geffen Records, she released her debut LP Waves and the Both of Us in May and was recognized by VH1 as an artist "You Oughta Know" for her breakout song, "How I Could Just Kill a Man."

"Not too often does an artist on a major label come to play at a venue that holds little over 200 people," Bogden said.

Sometimes said it is never difficult for her to write songs or poems. She writes most songs in about 10 minutes.

"I have a lot of emotions, so music is a good outlet," Sometimes said.

In fact, she said she has more than 60 songs ready for her next album, but is undecided on which will make the cut. She said she hopes to add a folk-inspired sound and strings.

"It could go in so many directions," Sometimes said. "It could be a really fun record or a really sad one."

Kate Valentini (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) seeks out new music by browsing Web sites such as purevolume.com, which is how she became familiar with Charlotte Sometimes.

"I really enjoy her music," Valentini said. "Her songs are really catchy and most people can relate to her songs."