HEAR THIS: Jared Bartman
Peoria, Illinois’ Jared Bartman is one of those artists who could feasibly creep into just about any Pandora station imaginable and be right at home. Well, perhaps not “Halloween metal” or Gregorian chants, but for everything from Tchaikovsky, Delta blues, Father John Misty, and Balkan folk, he’s got you covered. With a vocal inflection that recalls Andrew Bird and a knack for creating whimsical, multi-layered arrangements, Bartman’s genre-defying talents shine bright on his 2013 LP, Misery Makes Strange Bedfellows. “Garden Gate” is the perfect soundtrack to a piƱa colada-fueled beachside lounging session, while the chilling harmonies of “Silver Screen” will have you floating on air.