Ian Axel

by Katherine Fulton Ian Axel's music career was off to an unofficial start at the age of three when he composed his first song at his grandmother's piano. After studying classical music in college and taking a job as a jingle writer, Axel embarked on a career as a singer/songwriter in New York City, taking some of his inspiration from Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, and Ben Folds. The gamble quickly paid off -- in 2006, his song "Afterglow" landed in the Top 12 in the New York Songwriters Circle competition; a year later, Axel returned to the contest, and his song "We Are" placed in the Top Five. His first release, the EP im on to you, debuted in 2007.