South African-born singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov began his music career living out of his truck and burning his CDs at copy shops. ∙ Songs from Isakov’s 2007 self-released album, The Sea, the Gambler, appeared in episodes of Girls, Californication, and Rectify. ∙ He has toured with Iron & Wine, Calexico, and Ani DiFranco as well as Brandi Carlile, who appeared on five songs on 2009’s This Empty Northern Hemisphere. ∙ A lifelong vegetarian and owner of a farm in Boulder, Colorado, Isakov let a burger chain use “Big Black Car” in a commercial, then he donated his proceeds to sustainable farming groups. ∙ His career-spanning album Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony was orchestrated by several composers, and the full symphony supported him on tour. ∙ The Grammy Award-nominated Evening Machines features Isakov playing drums, ukulele, banjo, electric, acoustic and bass guitars, and eight different keyboards.