Scottish-born singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch has made a name for himself in the U.S. with his brand of mellow and folksy acoustic ballads.

Never heard of him? His song “Orange Sky” has been used in the films Garden State and Ladder 49; on television as part of Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., Prison Break and House; and on a national commercial for the Honda Element. Ringing any bells yet?

Such commercial success would be mundane if Murdoch were just another major label pop artist, but it is all the more intriguing considering his path to success. Unhappy with the treatment he received from record executives during auditions and interviews, he opted instead to independently release a four-song EP, creatively titled Four Songs, which has gone on to become the greatest-selling CD in the history of independent record retailer CDBaby.com.

Four Songs was enormously popular on radio stations across the country, a bit shocking given that the lengths of the songs are anything but radio-friendly.

Proving that he had more depth than his first release indicated, Murdoch released Time Without Consequence in summer 2006. The album has garnered much critical appraise, including being called the “sleeper album of the year” by Billboard Magazine. Like Four Songs before it, Time Without Consequence was also entirely self-produced, but this time released on Murdoch’s self-created record label, Zero Summer Records. Recently, he was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s 10 Artists to Watch.

In terms of sound, Murdoch most closely resembles Nick Drake, albeit with a slightly huskier vocal. While he isn’t a guitar virtuoso, he more than makes up for it with his heartfelt songwriting, displaying a wide range of emotions through his lyrics and simple guitar playing. Most of these songs are true ballads that would make even Bob Dylan proud, clocking in well over the five-minute mark.

His live show will include most, if not all, of Time Without Consequence, along with a healthy dose of audience banter that is a hallmark of his live shows; Murdoch frequently taking breaks between songs to tell stories or make comments to the crowd. His shows also feature plenty of songs not included on either of his releases. Additionally, he operates without a set list, so he is free to go in any direction as the show progresses.

This flexibility, as well as a fairly diverse catalogue of released and unreleased material should provide an interesting evening, even for those already very familiar with Murdoch’s material. For those who aren’t, it should serve as a springboard to knowing more about this up-and-coming artist.

Alexi Murdoch plays at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington on Sunday. The show begins at 9 p.m., and tickets are $12. The closest Metro stop to the Rock and Roll Hotel is Union Station, a short cab ride to the venue. Murdoch will also play The 8×10 in Baltimore on Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets are also $12.

Contact reporter Tripp Laino at diversions@dbk.umd.edu.