Making it as a musician today can require a heavy helping of DIY spirit, and Tommy Alexander has that in spades. It carried the California born musician all the way to Burlington, Vermont, where he founded Jenke Arts, a nonprofit artists’ collective and record label, and eventually all the way back west, where he found a new artistic home (at least for the moment) in Portland, Oregon. Once in Portland, Alexander connected with producer Mike Coykendall, who has worked with a slew of indie darlings, including M. Ward, She and Him Bright Eyes and Blitzen Trapper. Alexander’s vocals recall the earnest warble of Conor Oberst but expand into a unique, infectious indie rock style all his own. His honest and heartfelt lyricism comes to life in his songs which will strike a chord with you the very first listen.