Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and author best known as the frontman, principal songwriter, and guitarist for the Portland, Oregon-based indie folk rock band The Decemberists. Born on October 5, 1974, Meloy’s distinctive sound is characterized by his reedy tenor voice and highly literary, narrative-based songwriting, which often employs ornate, archaic vocabulary, complex fictional characters, and epic themes drawn from historical incidents, folklore, and sea shanties, contributing to The Decemberists’ baroque pop style across albums like The Crane Wife and The Hazards of Love. Beyond music, Meloy is an accomplished author who holds an MFA in creative writing, having achieved commercial success with his New York Times-bestselling children’s book series, Wildwood (illustrated by his wife, Carson Ellis), and he is scheduled to release his debut adult novel, Cascadia, in 2026.