Kimya Dawson

The "honest to blog" references aren't likely to go away anytime soon, but let it be said again for clarification: Kimya Dawson existed long before Juno. Much like the Shins, with their Natalie Portman/Garden State affiliation, Dawson didn't even record any new material for the movie, which shot her music into the public consciousness. Instead, her back catalog — both solo and with the Moldy Peaches — wound up custom-made for a crowd of quirky teen ironists, who missed the boat the first time around. Dawson, who sports ginormous hair and a little-girl voice, has been quite prolific as a solo artist, cranking out five albums in five years. Her literate, low-budget approach fits the K Records model quite well, but her newfound mainstream success could lead to some interesting creative crossroads in the years ahead. For now, she's on the road with her husband, one-man-band Angelo Spencer. A reunion with Adam Green and the Moldy Peaches looks inevitable too.