According to legend, the singer/songwriter born Dany Gauthier was given his stage surname, Placard (the French word for “cupboard”), by roommates after he slept in a closet to insulate himself from the noise in their apartment. His music likewise constitutes a retreat from big-city bustle, his folksy serenades exuding a rustic, wood-cabin warmth. But while Placard may be a fan of enclosed spaces, he's no wallflower—his bracing, confident voice demands impassioned, face-to-face conversation.