Most bands decide on a musical style before they sign a record contract.

But A & M Records’ up-and-comers Burlap to Cashmere chose a different route.

The New York band’s innovative blend of ethnic folk pop, sporadically accented by Latin and Mediterranean rhythms, has created a new genre of music that defies categorization.

With its energy and power, the band advances into territory yet to be explored by any group — until now.

Percussionist Scott Barksdale said Burlap’s unique sound is the result of seven Brooklyn boys with different musical backgrounds.

“It’s kind of what sounded right to everyone,” Barksdale said. “We never tried to categorize it.”

Lead singer/songwriter Stephen Delopoulos and lead guitarist Johnny Philippides were influenced by their Greek heritage, while other band members draw from American pop music.

When these different styles are meshed, the result is a brand new type of sound.

“There was really no plan to the music,” Barksdale said. “It just kind of came out as it came out. Whoever it reaches, it reaches.”

Some people have been confused about the kind of listeners Burlap to Cashmere is trying to reach. Because many of the songs from Burlap’s debut album, “Anybody Out There,” have strong Christian themes, most audiences automatically tag the group as a Christian band.

Barksdale said it’s OK if people think they’re a Christian band, but it’s also all right if they don’t.

“We’re Christians in a band, but we consider ourselves a mainstream band,” Barksdale said. “However people take it, that’s great.”

Burlap to Cashmere has vowed to leave interpretation up to its listeners. However, the band has gone to great lengths to make sure a wide range of them get the opportunity to interpret.

Although it is signed to major label A & M Records, the band also distributes its music through a Christian label called Squint.

Band members are happy with their decision to sign on two dotted lines, but Barksdale said when they were looking for a label, they took a while to find a record company that was right for them.

During the search, many labels were interested in the band’s potential, and others also were interested in changing the band’s style.

“[A & M] didn’t want to change our sound at all,” Barksdale said. “They were very musician oriented, very music oriented.”

After the label gave Burlap to Cashmere freedom to express itself in whatever capacity it wanted, the group took the reigns and made the debut album one of the label’s most eclectic albums to date.

But Burlap hasn’t yet carried out all of the band’s ideas.

“We’re seven people,” Barksdale said. “There’s a lot of growing we can do in ourselves.”

Burlap to Cashmere will open for Jars of Clay at Neumann Auditorium in Waverly Saturday night. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $16. Those interested can call 319-352-7058 for additional ticket information.