Cool Hunting

His name echoes those of colonels and soldiers who fought in the American civil war. But far from that, William Fitzsimmons is actually an obscure songwriter from Jackson, Illinois, building a fan base through Myspace and, would you believe it, the TV show "Grey's Anatomy."

When I hear his song, "It's Not True," I think of bleached wood, smoky red wine, and the great American outdoors. It follows in the footsteps of Iron & Wine, Damien Rice and Sufjan Stevens—subtle folktronica that draws you in with its melodic and enchanting production. Fitzsimmons comes from the same hometown as Sufjan, so its perhaps no great coincidence that his music shares a very similar sound.

Photo by Caleb Kuhl