McCombs was born in 1977 and raised in Northern California. He has spent most of his life drifting across the U.S., doing odd jobs and listening to peoples stories from which he says he derives much of his inspiration. He has ever been at odds with mainstream recording labels and is mostly supported by his loyal fan base and Domino records. Always mysterious in his interviews, McCombs has only cited the Beatles and American folk music as his influences, but his work speaks for itself. His music leaves the listeners in a romantic fog and his catchy melody’s and morally ambiguous questions leave you wanting for more.