Singer-songwriters forced to find middle ground

Since the beginning of the decade, Vienna Teng and Alice Peacock have edged into the national spotlight with albums that reflect the inspiration of singer-songwriters who came of age in the 1970s - Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor and Carly Simon, among others.

However, both Teng, 28, and Peacock, 36, realize they are operating in a much different environment than the vintage artists they admire. So before recording their latest albums, each had to figure out a middle path between self-released DIY endeavors where every decision is theirs and better-funded bigger-label projects fraught with potential artistic...