Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Sounds Like: Needtobreathe, U2

The Story: The atmospheric openings of songs like 'We're on Fire' and 'Galaxy' are reminiscent of the influence U2 has had on this band -- and it's not surprising that lead vocalist AJ recently covered 'Beautiful Day.' Taking their name from a passed-on lyric that AJ once wrote, the group was only together for a year before they began recording together. After working on two EPs, they found themselves with enough material for their full-length debut, 'Last Embrace.' The title track placed first in OurStage's Music Finals in July. Northern Room have recently found themselves making the festival rounds, supporting acts like Dashboard Confessional and the Bravery.

Hometown: Richmond, VA

Sounds Like: Nick Drake, Adem, Iron & Wine

The Story: Brothers Christian and James Mason have been making a name for themselves with gorgeous acoustic ballads reminiscent of singer-songwriters from the '70s. On their first full-length album, 'The Sun, the Moon and the Sea,' the duo finger-pick their guitars to create rich textures in the vein of Nick Drake, and sing with the hushed restraint of Elliott Smith. The brothers' tunes have ended up on CMJ radio charts and placed 2nd in the Folk channel on OurStage, as well as earning them opening act slots for Magnolia Electric Company and indie darlings Mates of State. For all the attention they've gotten, mainly through grassroots marketing, the two should be commended as much for their promotion skills as for their music. Keep an eye on these two.

Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.

Sounds Like: Death Cab For Cutie, Mineral, the Album Leaf

The Story: If Finland frontman Josh Fleenor's voice sounds familiar to you, it may be because of its eerie similarity to the vocals of indie icon Ben Gibbard. The budding band from Melbourne, Fla., is well aware of the obvious comparison but maintains a gentle, dreamy guitar-pop sound that is all its own. The guys showcase their knack for melody on the song 'Through These Walls,' which may also elicit Death Cab comparisons. Fans have started buzzing about Finland on OurStage, but the band hasn't quite reached rock star status just yet -- the members' current jobs include pizza delivery boys, a cook and a Nike employee. Keep an eye (and an ear) out as they start making their way up the indie-rock food chain.

Hometown: Chicago

Sounds Like: Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Amos Lee

The Story: Intimate lyrics and powerful vocals accompanied by soft guitar and melodious strings define the sound of this young songwriter's first record, 'The Pregnant Letter.' With the help of TJ Callanta on violin and backing vocals, the 24-year-old's music has been catching the attention of many, including DeVotchka, who took the pair on a mini-tour as their opening act. Meanwhile, on YouTube, viewers have been raving about the "songs we didn't write but wished we did" -- covers of mellow tracks like the Postal Service's 'Such Great Heights,' Damien Rice's 'Volcano' and Ryan Adams' 'Two,' and even an acoustic reworking of Regina Spektor's 'On the Radio.'

Hometown: Boulder, CO

Sounds Like: Annie Lennox, Ani DiFranco

The Story: At age 19, Charisse left home to follow her dreams all the way to New York City's Lower East Side with nothing but a suitcase and a guitar. Her presence and songwriting talent soon brought offers of pop stardom, but Charisse opted to keep her artistic integrity intact, unwilling to trade her mature musical catalog for something of lesser substance. Eventually she caught the attention of producers Jack Daley and Steven Wolf (Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone, Annie Lennox) who helped the aspiring songstress produce an EP entitled 'Pleasure Victim.' Within a month of joining OurStage, Charisse's song 'Red Handed' reached the No. 5 spot in the Indie Pop category, and another, 'Can't Tear Us Down,' made its way to No. 1 on CMJ.


Free Download: 'Bohemians' (MP3)

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Sounds Like: We Are Scientists, Arctic Monkeys

Free Download: 'Dreaming of an M16' (MP3)

The Story: Upbeat, danceable rock with angsty vocals and a chick with a seriously gorgeous voice? Yeah, for most indie rock fans out there, the Shapes will be right up your alley. This New York-area band released their self-titled EP in 2005 and have since kept up the buzz by opening for the likes of the Bravery and A Place to Bury Strangers. They've also enjoyed the benefits of being a fan favorite on OurStage.com. All the votes the received have landed them at the top of the channel's monthly contests in rock and indie categories. As a result, they've won the opportunity to showcase their fun, frenetic rock 'n' roll at CMJ this year. And if you're a fan of shows like MTV's 'Made' or 'Gossip Girl' you've likely heard their tunes, which have been sprinkled through a number of their no doubt dramatic, episodes.

Read OurStage's interview with the Shapes after the jump.

Four lucky acts will make their way to Bonnaroo this weekend thanks to high marks received during OurStage.com's most recent contest. Morningbell, Sons of Roswell, Don Dilego and the Press Project each will get a chance to impress their groove-seeking crowds at the Manchester, Tenn. festival's Sonic Stage this weekend.

Meet the artists and check out their prizewinning sounds just after the jump.

Hometown: New York

Sounds Like: Beck, David Bowie

The Story: Val Brokesmit is to Bikini Robot Army as Mike Skinner is to the Streets. Brokesmit put together his one-man show in the summer of 2006, after his previous collaborative projects called it quits. Now gaining momentum through his OurStage profile -- he finished Top Ten in three categories in April -- he, his ProTools and the resulting dance-rock song haven't looked back.

Free Download: 'Fragile Things' (MP3)

Why do you think you are doing well on OurStage?
I'm not really sure. I'd like to think it's because my music is really, really great, but it's probably because my friend Paul designed a really cool Bikini Robot Army poster for me.

OurStage's Interview with Val Broeksmit continues after the jump.

Hometown: Boston (originally from Dallas)

Sounds Like: She's basically the female, blond version of G. Love.

Her Story: 19-year-old Emily Elbert may be small and adorable, but the Dallas-born singer-songwriter is taking big leaps toward success on OurStage. Since joining the site, the pint-sized, self-professed "acoustic soul-folk" singer has surfaced in the Top Ten of the site's monthly contests in the Folk, Acoustic and Singer/Songwriter categories, and has reaped the benefits of success. The emerging artist-friendly site has since hooked up Elbert, who released her aptly titled debut album, 'Bright Side,' in 2006, with the opportunity to open dates for folk-funk counterpart G. Love, as well as guitar virtuoso Kaki King. Look for her to support the tours of Marcia Ball and Ben Taylor this spring, where, should you catch a show, you might be treated for her infamous cover of, that's right, Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'

Watch the adorable guitarist goof off backstage with G. Love after the jump.

Hometown: Los Angeles

Sounds Like: Cat Power, Beth Orton

Her Story: While growing up, Sydney Wayser split her time between Paris and Los Angeles, developing an appreciation for adventure and culture at an early age. Her resultant worldly nature has played an integral role in the music she creates, as evidenced on her 2007 album 'Silent Parade,' which finds her bandmates playing everything from saws and toys to wine glasses. Wayser has consistently reached the Top 10 in both the Acoustic and Singer-Songwriter monthly contests on OurStage, and recently won the chance to open for Moby and Kaki King at this year's SXSW festival. Following the festival, she supported King on the guitar virtuoso's East Coast tour dates.

Our friends at OurStage recently sat down with Wayser for a chat about her influences and what she considers a perfect day. Enjoy the excerpt below and read the entire interview here.

Are you influenced by any French musicians?

I feel that I have been greatly influenced by French artists. To name a few: Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg and Raphael. My influence from France has been more than simply music. My influences stretch from architecture, to painting, to parks, weather, the specific light of the sun that only Paris has, the sound of the ambulances through the thin streets, historic events, writers ... the list goes on.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Sounds Like: Stereophonics, Oasis

Download: 'Blip' (MP3)

His Story: At the age of 18, David Avram Brown gathered up his guitar, a sleeping bag and about $100 bucks and began his hitchhiking adventure from New York to California -- an appropriately rash decision for someone who goes by the name of Benny Strange. But his impulsiveness eventually paid off and, after several years up and down the West Coast, his music career began taking off. With the help of Modest Mouse's Joe Zook and Black Eyed Peas' Ethan Willoughby, Strange released the first of his two EPs, 'Nowhere Left to Run,' in 2006. 'When Continents Collide' followed in January of this year with a release on iTunes.

"I'm just trying to take it in. Being here in Austin is just wild," drummer Pearson Constantino grinned while his bandmates prepped for their SXSW showcase in their room at a Hotel 6, where they slept two-to-a-bed. "We've definitely bonded," singer and Plushgun brainchild Dan Ingala said from outside their cramped quarters. "Through many means -- Goldbond, sleeping with my friend Sam, who isn't my romantic partner, though I could see how that could come across."

They're a quirky bunch -- as evidenced by their frontman, who has a penchant for pre-show pacing and says that the band's moniker reflects "something soft, something killer." And they're often compared to the Postal Service for their synth-heavy songs, which they would later play for their industry-saturated, discerning crowd at Maggie Mae's.

The four piece has come a long way since its origins in Ingala's tiny NYC bedroom. With the release of their self-titled EP in October 2007, Plushgun garnered attention for 'Just Impolite' -- a dance-y, accessible track about dying romances -- which was featured on artist-friendly outlets like MySpace, where you can hear their entire EP for free, and OurStage, the Web site responsible for their slot at SXSW.

Plushgun have been OurStage favorites for some time now, winning top honors in the site's monthly contests. They were January's No. 1 artist in Alt Rock and have held residencies in the top ten of several other genres, including Indie/Alternative and Pop -- a testament to Plushgun's unpretentious, genre-blurring accessibility.

"We're here because we made it," Ingala said. "There's a long, rocky road ahead. But after this experience, we know we're ready for it. I think."

Check out a day in the life of Plushgun, and download free Mp3s after the jump.

Brooklyn's the Forms were one of hundreds of bands showcasing their chops at this year's SXSW festival, where they treated their hype-enabling audience to a cover of Nirvana's 'All Apologies' at Austin's Red Eyed Fly. But impressing industry folks and bloggers aside, the Forms also have been riding a steady swell of good old-fashioned online fan frenzy -- the result of which landed them onstage at last month's Plug Awards.

Cue OurStage.com, an online destination for those who want to discover new music in any number of genres, wherein they can listen to songs by emerging artists and vote for their favorites each month. The Forms created a profile on the site and landed in the top ten artists for January with their track 'Knowledge in Hand' -- an accessible rock anthem recorded by wonder producer Steve Albini (Pixies, Nirvana). The success on the site led the people at OurStage to select the post-hardcore group for its slot during the 2008 Plug Awards. "It's a little intimidating, to be honest," the band admitted during the event. "We are so lucky ... a lot of people are going to be hearing us tonight, which is what it's all about." Bonus: St. Vincent's Annie Clark name-checked the band as her favorite performers of the night, along with indie-pop enchanters Bat for Lashes.