Liam Finn

Rolling Stone recently reduced New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Liam Finn to a simple formula: He equals Elliott Smith minus the despair plus a leprechaun. The Smith thing might have some validity, and Finn does have a beard, but there’s a whole lot more to the guy. The son of Neil Finn, from Crowded House and Split Enz, Liam got his start fronting the alt-pop group Betchadupa. Now in his mid-twenties, he’s just released his solo debut, I’ll Be Lightning, which he played, recorded, mixed and produced at his father’s studio. Live, Finn is essentially a one-man band (but usually joined by singer EJ Barnes), looping guitar and bass parts as well as hopping on the drum kit.