Before coalescing into the musical menage-a-trois known as Girlyman, Doris Muramatsu and Tylan (Ty) Greenstein were the Outmusic Award-winning duo The Garden Verge and Nate Borofsky was a Boston Music Award-winning singer-songwriter. Fate and housing complications led the three musicians to rent an apartment together in Brooklyn in 2001.

“It was a ‘hey-you-got-your-chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter’ situation,” explains Ty. “We immediately began to sing in a soprano-alto-tenor configuration.”

Their first rehearsal as a trio was scheduled for Sept. 11, 2001 — needless to say, it was postponed. But according to Nate, the events of that day affected the group’s vision: “After that, we thought it was really important to go into this new project with the intention to have fun, to do what felt right and to not take ourselves too seriously. We started out by calling the new group Girlyman.”

In a short time, Girlyman generated an impressive buzz with its soaring three-part harmonies, hybrid folk-pop-bluegrass sound and haunting melodies. After winning a 2004 Independent Music Award for their self-released debut album, “Remember Who I Am,” Indigo Girl Amy Ray (one of the contest’s judges) signed the band to her label, Daemon Records.

Girlyman blossomed throughout 2004. An opening slot on the Indigo Girls’ tour was enthusiastically received, “Remember” won Best New Album at the Outmusic Awards and the trio scored at several influential folk music festivals, including Falcon Ridge where they were voted “Most Wanted to Return.”

Next month, Girlyman is set to build on its success with the release of “Little Star.” The album’s 12 tracks are tied together by themes of love and war. Throughout, the members switch off lead vocals, songwriting duties and a host of instruments (acoustic and baritone guitar, banjo, mandolin, djembe).

“This CD is more political than ‘Remember Who I Am,’ and even more eclectic,” Ty says. “There’s straight-up pop, a slow country dance, a variation on bluegrass that we call ‘girlygrass.’ something vaguely jazzy and a couple rockers. Lyrically, there’s both commentary and, as usual, confession.”

Breaking the Himan

Just judging by his sexy, bad boy image alone — which is perfectly realized down to his tattooed arm sleeves — you figure that Eric Himan should be a star. Then you hear “Dark Horse,” his excellent new folk-rock release, and you’re sure of it.

“Dark” (ThumbCrown Records) is Himan’s fourth album and on it the 25-year-old artist hops from rocking rave-up (“Have Me”) to introspective ballad (“Clyde”) to country boogie (“White Horse”) to inspired cover tune (Simply Red’s “Holding Back The Years”) with the ease of an old pro.

The album was recorded with a full band (humorously identified as the Steubenville Symphony of Ohio) and ably produced by Himan and Mike Ofca. Several of the tracks would work at radio — if radio played new artists...who are openly gay...and on independent record labels.

“Dark Horse” is available at online music retailers.

Mark your calendars: Himan is scheduled to make a second...er, straight appearance at Charlotte Pride this year so come out to Marshall Park on May 7 for an earful (and eyeful, too).