Anders Osborne
Anders Osborne Oftentimes the most true portraits of America have been rendered by those who have come from outside its borders, yet somehow seem to understand and inhabit our culture more than those of us who have lived here all our lives. Consider the Band, which 30 years ago became the archetypal American outfit despite being four-fifths Canadian. Swedish native (and current New Orleans resident) Anders Osborne is that sort of artist as well. He's worked his magic for other performers, writing "I Was Wrong" and "A Better Man" both Grammy-winning songs from Keb' Mo's album Slow Down. Osborne combines classic American musical forms such as blues, rock and roll, and Crescent City funk to create a sound that acknowledges no borders as they're usually understood, but defines its own space in the world and demands to be heard.