Listening to Danielia Cotton, you're bound to believe: Black is rock and roll.

As the daughter of a jazz singer, Danielia grew up in a small New Jersey town.

The John Butler Trio effortlessly combines gritty soulful vocals, elements of hip-hop, and Appalachian folk with subtle hints of everything from reggae to Zeppelin.

Being this month's WXPN Artist To Watch coincides with Boggia's second solo release Safe In Sound due in stores on May 3.

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs calls her 2005 Nonesuch release Year of Meteors "a road record." "It doesn't sound like one," she says, "but it is."

Authentic. That's the first word that springs to mind when you encounter Brandi Carlile. From her rootsy bell-clear voice to the palpable emotion that seeps through every song on her stunning debut album, everything about this 23-year-old from rural Washington state is the real deal.

"For us, ALO is more than just a band and we're more than just a group of great friends making music together. ALO is our lifestyle."