In Ethiopia, music is the lifeblood, and an endless trove of quality music and musicians have orginated from the East African nation as part of a rich tradition. Austin is lucky to have a seed of the Ethiopian diaspora end up in Central Texas where it/she has blossomed into one of the most intriguing and talented chanteuses in the Austin scene. Melat Kassa blends sensual R&B beats with jazz and electronic tinges that are accentuated by her otherworldly smoky vocals. It is no coincidence that Melat won the best emerging artist poll for Soul/Hip Hop given her stratospheric talent and overwhelmingly attractive looks. While Melat may not be the typical style of music to come out of Austin, she has all the tools to become the most succesful yet.
Sprung from a seed fertilized by punk, Drip-Fed’s sound branches out into thrash, hardcore and noise genres with exhilirating outcomes. The Austin quartet of unrelenting force is beginning to show how their music breaks into an echelon of beautiful destruction that is unto themselves. Lead singer, Jeffrey Blum, has a vocal set that awakens a visceral and primal element, while simultaneously writing lyrics that are gripping and impactful. "The Shivers" has a serrated edge of adrenaline cutting through a catchy backbeat,of which it’s genius can only be truly appreciated after having left the track on repeat. Drip-Fed’s next upcoming album release, Under the Wave Blanket, drops March 3rd and I can comfortably say that Operation Rolling Thunder will look like a cap gun compared to the devastating impact their new album is certain to cause.
Jess Ledbetter grew up in Texas, but spent time in New York playing music under the moniker, JACKIE. Upon moving back to her home state, Jess became the frontwoman of 90’s nostalgia-influenced band, Honeyrude. However Jess also wanted to try writing, recording, and playing everything on her own in a home studio, hence this new self-titled project. While Jess’s sound is sprinkled with alternative 90’s sounds, her soothing yet pained voice evokes more of an Angel Olsen or Cat Power vibe that meanders through catchy melodies and shimmering guitars. In the new music video for "SENTIMENTAL", Jess links up with cinematographer and friend, Cyrus Moshrefi, to create a visual link to her hometown and past. The video features shots of Ledbetter’s childhood neighbor and friend, Libby Spencer, as well as an airplane that sat on Spencer’s lawn, playing in the theme of sentimentality. Jess is approaching the rollout of her music in a unique way, choosing not to release an album, but instead put forth a continuous stream of songs accompanied by videos for as long as it seems necessary.
An artist creates to evoke a reaction, and Forrest and Isaac Ross Lemaire of Mr. Kitty are electro-goth sorcerers who succeed in creating an 8-bit dreamworld for their listeners. Not quite neophytes, Mr. Kitty have had five previous releases, and their discography runs the gamut between wistful tracks of wintered melancholy to frenetic electro-bangers of seizure-inducing speed. The constant through all of their music is the gothic romaticism of Forrest’s lyrics and the perpetually evolving innovativenes of Isaac’s hard-hitting beats and crytsalline synths. Mr. Kitty’s sixth album, A.I., will be released digitally on March 7th and the pysical release will follow on May 5th. The question that lingers while listening to Mr. Kitty is "Is this a catharsis of emotion? Or is it the gradual demented slide into a mental breakdown?" The oscillating diagnosis makes Mr. Kitty eternally appealing and while their music is scintillating, it is their live show, specifically Forrest’s energy, that is crown jewel of their appeal. See Mr. Kitty play February 9th at Nite School (Sky Hutchen’s brilliant dark wave showcase) @ Cheer Up Charlies or catch them February 28th @ Elsyium aka ‘The Mecca of Austin Gothtronica’.
Beautiful effervescent melodies float with melancholic precision on Blushing’s debut EP, Tether. The shoegaze quartet is a little over a year old but they already exude the technical proficiency and dreamy wistfulness of their influences like Lush, Slowdive, and Cocteau twins. The band is comprised of two sets of marital partners and the music reflects the comfort and ease of a heightened intuitive understanding. Tether may only have four tracks but quality outshines quantity by a wide margin and, the ebb and flow of their debut EP leaves listeners entranced, particularly with the angelic vocals of Michelle Soto and Christina Carmona. Blushing played their first show at Cheer Up Charlies on the 15th but their sound was as tight and professional as a tenured group, and with an upcoming show at the Sidewinder on February 9th, the group’s momentum is starting to snowball. While many in the music industry pontificated of the demise of Shoegaze in the mid 2010’s but it is band’s like Blushing that are breathing new life into the genre and keeping it fresh for new audiences.
True artists never fail to find mediums for their inspiration. In the case of indie pop quartet, Velo, they have a renaissance man in their lead singer, Ofer Shouval (guitar/vocals). Velo,consisting of Waldo Wittenmeyer (keys/vocals), Marcus Brown (bass/vocals) and, Travis Newman (drums), has been on the Austin periphery since their genesis in late 2014, penning and performing powerful songs across a multitude of local venues, amassing a solid foundation of fans in the process. However the band’s momentum seems to be reaching its zenith as they prepare to release their debut full-length album, At Sea, on January 22nd. Shouval not only penned most of the album’s lyrics, but remarkably found time to animate and direct the music video for their first single, "The Grip". A slow-building masterpiece, the song’s inspiration drew heavily from the pain of Shouval’s breakup with a previous band which simultaneously coincided with the heartwrenching breakup of a girlfriend. The dark themes of "The Grip" evoke loneliness and impending doom on each frame, which was deftly hand-drawn by Shouval. Using a DIY palette of looped textures, a printing press, and DSLR camera, the video depicts an asteroid decimating a planet, a period of regrowth follows, and then another destructive asteroid striking, all the while the instrumentation builds the song’s chorus to epic levels. Velo is a deep pool of songwriting and musical talent that will undoubtedly blow us all away on January 22nd.
"I’ve got a thousand friends, but they don’t know who I am/ because I met them on the internet, but they’re all I’ve got" Art Pop is the result of a collaboration between the Grossenbacher brothers who recently released their first self-recorded and self-produced album, This is Art Pop, which was made in a converted closet. The seven songs on the debut are a bit rough but overwhelmingly and undeniably charming. Descriptive lyrics illuminate themes like a break-up, existential crises, unemployment and social anxiety. Each song in,This is Art Pop, attempts to capture and illustrate a specific moment or feeling, and despite the limited production, the album succeeds in pulling your heart strings. Influences like Car Seat Headrest, Lou Reed, and Parquet Courts shine through in the songwriting and descriptive lyrics. Art Pop is the loveable underdog in a city saturated with singer/songwriters and indie rock but their talent and dedication to music is unassailable.
The genesis of Honeyrude can be traced back to 2013 when Ian Lund and Billy Kunath began playing music together in Austin, the lineup was finalized when Paul Goetz and Jess Ledbetter joined soon after to round out the dream-rock quartet. Preparing for their debut EP release in the Spring of 2017 via Shifting Sounds, Honeyrude released a music video for their first single, "Roger McClain", which oozes with 90’s alt-rock nostalgia. Citing Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and Teenage Fanclub as influences, Honeyrude pulls off the 90’s slacker guitars and shoegaze melodies with deft precision. Frontwoman, Jess Ledbetter, is a perfect mix of Shirley Manson from Garabage and Bethany Constantino of Best Coast, combining her golden voice and looks with a badass attitude and deferential humor. At a time when female-fronted slacker rock groups are surging (i.e Bully, Dilly Dally, Slothrust), Honeyrude is representing Austin well. The band’s nostalgic, scuzzy, yet ethereal vibe ensures that an audience is waiting for Honeyrude to start sharing their dreams with us.
Hailing from Sedona, the Watters came to Austin with lofty aspirations and their latest full-length album, Great Unknown, proves they’re on their way. Jenna Watters sings with a delicate fortitude that weakens one knees while her husband, Dan, provides deft guitar melodies that are complimented by a bold brass backing section. Production on Great Unknown isunabashedly expansive and the big band sound packs a whallop, but the songwriting is also intimate, striking a balance that draws comparisons to Fleetwood Mac. The Watters have incredible range and a surplus of talent, which is no surprise that they have a headlining show at the Mohawk on Thursday, December 15th. Dan and Jenna have unmistakeable chemistry and with talented group of musicians around them, there doesn’t seem to be anything holding them back.
The Austin four-piece math rockers, Trying Science, have recently released their debut EP, Vacation For Snakes, and it falls nothing short of impressive. The instrumentals on Vacation For Snakes are technically sound and inherently dramatic, leaving no void for vocals or excess. Their songs don’t take long to ramp up into full-blown masterpieces of winding guitars and deftly placed effects. Their sound can be compared to a less spacey God Is An Astronaut or a lyrically-devoid Mew. While songs like "Blowing Raspberries" and "Dad’s Other Daughter" are melodic and pleasant, Trying Science can also cross into prog-metalesque territory on tracks like "Sick,Sick 6" and "OFPS" where their technical skill shines brightest. Trying Science have a well-produced, clean, and intriguing debut that points to a promising future. Catch them January 5th at Beer Land for their next live performance.
Taylor Baker met Drew Walker at a Local Natives concert in 2013 and as fate would have it, a baby would arise from the chance meeting. There is no actual toddler to speak of, but the metaphorical musical synthesis that call themselves, The Wild Now, have had their momentum snowball with the release of their debut EP, Gold Dust. The talented duo self-describe their sound as ‘indie gelato’, which proves accurate as they embrace a swirl of influences including pop, folk, alt-rock, and even electronica. Taylor’s vocals have an impressive soulful depth that can either effortlessly dominate or perfectly compliment Drew’s dexterous guitar riffing. The six-track EP has a confident intimacy that eschews sensationalism and embraces a more roots-based songwriting dynamic. Tracks like "Salt" and "Gold Dust" project subtle brilliance while "New Eyes" and "Seek" have chorus swells that quicken the pulse with fortified guitars, horns, and synths. The chemistry of The Wild Now is rare in it’s fluidity and ease, and with many upcoming local shows, Austinites should be thankful to see this duo hone their craft in our backyard before they are lost to an inevitable national audience.
Ambient waves of electronic bliss gently wash up on the soft sands of Tocaio’s music. Formed in the Winter of 2015, Tocaio is the solo project of Carlos Ramirez who creates electronic instrumentals that tap into vivid tapestries of nostalgia in the listener’s mind. Ethereal progressions and airy grooves hint at Nujabes or Books as influences, but Tocaio does well in finding it’s own unique vibe and sound. The 6-track Yesca EP includes four originals and two remixes which can both lull you into a dreamlike trance as well as scintillate your senses.Yesca sets the stage for Tocaio’s debut album, Pointillism, which is expected to be released early next year.
