Alexander, aka Alexander Michael Tahquitz Ebert (aka lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros) has a unique background, which might explain the odd mixture of influences and distinctiveness of his music.

According to his wiki page, his father, Michael Ebert, would take him on long trips through the desert, where his mother took footage of him chanting while cradling his daughter. One of his names, Tahquitz, is an homage to his father’s favorite climbing rock. His influences include Johnny Cash, R&B and a South African elementary school teacher, Ruth.

He has all the requisites of an artist: Wikipedia even makes note of his troubled teen relationship with his father.

Of course, good music is more than a series of check boxes or a troubled childhood resume. So, just listen and see if his story resonates: