Marissa Nadler

Somewhere between the fantastical heights of Joanna Newsom and the heart-wrench of Sharon Van Etten, Boston-based Marissa Nadler has fastened her status as one of today’s premier singer-songwriters. Since starting out in 2004, the 30-year-old siren has received near-universal critical acclaim over five albums. Last month’s eponymous LP was another win, one that continued Nadler’s eerily gothic storytelling via her dreamy mezzo-soprano voice. She’s not solely beholden to acoustics, either, having contributed extensive vocals to black metal band Xasthur’s 2010 swan song, Portal Of Sorrow.

Updated 07/13/2011