Daniel Johnston is an Austin-based singer-songwriter whose unique musical style and stark, confessional lyrics have gained him a large and devoted following. Often mixing child-like sensibilities with dark themes and a wavering, unorthodox vocal style, Johnston's music and recordings are often described as "Outsider Art] due to their Low-Fi production values and unusual themes, including ghosts, superheroes, religion and unrequited love. Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Johnston got his big break after he was featured on an MTV special spotlighting Austin artists and musicians. After Johnston's self-produced tape cassettes started to make their way into the hands of music critics and fans, he began to gain the attention of stars such as Kurt Cobain, Beck and Sonic Youth. While Johnston briefly spent time in a mental institution due to his illness, he has since made a minor comeback and performed at the 2006 South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.