Marc Scibilia

Sometimes, a universe of meaning can be found in a question from a child. When Marc Scibilia’s five-year-old daughter asked him about death, words failed. So, he sat on his back steps and wrote More to This—a plaintive tune about life’s big dilemmas and blessings shared with those we love. In an uncertain age, the song struck a chord with listeners, becoming a viral sensation overnight.

The Buffalo-bred, Nashville-based singer-songwriter makes soulful music on his own terms, channeling the national mood. Finding inspiration in folk, country, alternative and anthemic pop music, he has crafted a distinctly American sound that's rueful yet buoyed by hope.

Driving it all is Scibilia's determination to stay grounded by what really matters. It's a lesson the fiercely independent artist's five-year-old helped teach him. “You chase things your whole life,” says Scibilia. “But the real blessings and beauty of life are right there with you the whole time.”