For Jamie Anne Bentz, a registered nurse in the neonatal unit at Ottawa’s Queensway Carleton Hospital, performing is more than just a pastime: it is a passion. When Bentz is not taking care of patients, the Braeside-raised country singer/songwriter performs at venues throughout Ottawa. “I feel like you can really tell a story with country,” she says. “You can take people on a journey.” Bentz believes music also has the power to heal, and will sing to babies in distress. “Anecdotally, I have witnessed that most infants respond well to soft singing, often displaying fewer pain behaviours and improved clinical stability,” suggests Bentz, who notes current literature from the American Academy of Pediatrics supports her observations. On June 29, she released her new extended play album After the Smoke Clears at Arnprior’s John St. Pub. She hopes to release one of her songs on Canadian radio in the early fall. To see Bentz live, check out jamieannebentz.com (Arnprior Chronicle-Guide, June 25)