One of the most explosive forces in the indie rock community in the last few years, Wild Beasts have inspired everything from critical praise to interpretive dance troupe covers. The UK four-piece mix shoegaze traditions with glammy theatrics to tell their stories.

Laura Veirs released her self-titled, self-released debut in 1999 and in January 2010, she released her latest project, "July Flame" on her Raven Marching band label.

Realizing that no one has really tried to create a pop culture phenom in quite this way before in an era when the flat world theory seems most plausible when observing global music consumption, they are genius.

Alec Ounsworth is best known for his work with the band, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. To date, the band has released two self-distributed, full-length studio albums: "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah" and "Some Loud Thunder", as well as the internet-only live album release of "Live at Lollapalooza 2007: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah".

Bill Caperton and Mike Gunnerson, both formerly of Ela, spent 10 days in a northwoods cabin writing and recording music.

Joshua Carter and Sarah Barthel of Phantogram have known each other since junior high school but didn't become a band until 2007. After the duo honed their unique sound--slow-burning indie rock decorated with heavy, eerie electronics--they quickly earned the attention of independent labels.