Adrian Quesada
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“Bravo” ft. iLe
The prolific hometown hero recruits iLe for a song where the past holds conversational-court with the future, creating something stratospherically cool: a psychedelic, Mod, Cuban bolero? Yes, yes, and yes! One of the hardest-working cats in the music biz is also proving to be one of the 21st century’s most inventive and visionary artists.
– Marc Fort
A lovely cover of Celia Cruz’s rendition of a Luis Demetrio tune. Quesada’s arrangement and iLe’s vocal execution of this song in their Studio 1A performance is exquisite.
– Rene Chavez
“Ojos Secos” ft. Cuco
– Jacquie Fuller
Annabelle Chairlegs
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“Ice Cream On the Beach”
As a longtime Annabelle Chairlegs fan, I’m confident in saying this is only the beginning for songwriter/vocalist Lindsay Mackin. This dreamy, poppy traipse into sundrenched memories is from a forthcoming album produced by Ty Segall. Ty-friggin’-Segall. Damn. Two of my favorites working together. How can I resist??
– Laurie Gallardo
Grace Sorensen
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“Cologne“
While Video Girl is my favorite song off the Blueprint album from Grace, Cologne just had that undeniable bounce you love to hear in R&B.
– Fresh Knight
Another perfectly crafted R&B banger from Grace!
– Trina Quinn
Die Spitz
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Throw Yourself to the Sword: ¡Porque Pantera!
Throw Yourself to the Sword: ¡Porque Pantera!
– Trina Quinn
Lola Tried
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“Hot Shot Barbie“
Lola Tried has been melting Austin faces for years and their new EP Feast opens up their sound a bit. “Hot Shot Barbie” efficient (under three minutes!), blistering (after a sludge-filled opening), and just as satisfying as ever. [Depending on when the feature goes up] They’ll be at Hole in the Wall on December 4 with Narrow Haunts and Paper Sister for their final show of 2025.
– Bill Childs
Warm Sound
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“Moons“
Austin duo I profess to knowing nothing about until I heard this…and then I felt like they had been my favorite electronic act for years. A song and a sound that just washes over you until you are completely submerged. The soundtrack to a hazy summers night on the East Side where the Moontowers are shining bright and you have the very best sort of margarita buzz on.
BLK ODYSSY
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“Waves“
Blk Odyssy – “Waves“
They wanted to tap into certain frequencies with this new album, and I think Waves does just that from start to finish.
– Fresh Knight
Blk Odyssy – “Heartbreak”
Get connected to this frequency already. I spoke with BLK ODYSSY about the writing process with his sensational album MOOD CONTROL, and its entire creation utilizes specific frequencies to communicate and connect to specific moods. Science and the creative spirit! It must be working. “Heartbreak” pierces something in the soul that can’t be described with mere words.
– Laurie Gallardo
Boomershack
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“Julia”
I LOVE BOOMERSHACK!!! Point blank. End of story. If these lads don’t make it big in the world, I’m not sure what’s real anymore.
– Maile Carballo
I was hooked within seconds of hearing this downtempo hard swingin’ honky-tonk tune. It’s a future classic, and I can’t wait to hear more from Austin’s Boomershack.
– Ryan Wen
Mobley
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“Yesterday’s Another Day”
Such cool, timeless grooves. This entire album (We Do Not Fear Ruins) weaves a story going beyond dystopic or apocalyptic existence, utilizing a sci fi premise that pushes into themes that are extremely relevant here and now. Mobley composes on a cinematic scale. This awesome track is just a tasty slice of a bigger and darker adventure. Can you tell I’m nerding out?
– Laurie Gallardo
The Animeros
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“Gózalo”
Austin band Animeros covers Esteban Jordan’s 1970s Latin soul classic, Gozalo Mulata, giving it a more modern, cumbia twist. Produced by Dan Auerbach of Black Keys renown.
– Jay Trachtenberg
Consisting of members from groups across Austin’s decidedly funky Latin music scene, The Animeros have been picking up fans over the past year with lively performances and a string of fantastic singles recorded by super-producer and Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach. The band’s first single, “Gózalo”— a cover of legendary Texas Latin soul artist Esteban “Steve” Jordan’s “Gózalo Mulato”— begins like a faraway radio transmission crackling across your speakers, with horns and organs punching through to your subconscious before the chorus picks you up and transports you, body and soul, to the middle of a sweaty, late-night block party with all your best friends.
– Peter Babb
Blah Spa
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“Anything to Get It”
For years I’ve wondered what it would sound like if you took Big Boys bass lines and mixed them with the energy of the Hives. And it’s even better than I had dreamed.
– Taylor Wallace
Tony Kamel
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“Makin’ It Work”
With a few years since his latest full-length release, longtime Austin picker and grinner Tony Kamel slides right back into his boots with his album We’re All Gonna Live. The lead song, “Makin’ It Work,” is a delightfully tongue-in-cheek and heartwarming ode to gettin’ by on gettin’ by. So glad to see Tony back in the saddle doing what he does best!
– Peter Babb
Teethe
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“Magic of the Sale“
– Jacquie Fuller (Moody-Fuller)
Grandmaster
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“Open The Sun“
Smack dab in the middle of July’s “Feel It Coming” upbeat energy and November’s certified slow jam “Love Shall Remain”, “Open The Sun” is juuuuust right. I love these retro-coded stage-fillers and I can’t wait to hear what the War-reminiscent cult cooks up next.
– Jack Anderson
The Point
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“Itis”
It’s so cool to see a local band do good. The secret’s out & this song feels like Austin right now. And I think guitars might be back.
– Jake Perlman
Skateland
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“Sunset Cinema“
Fly on Falcor’s safe, furry back into the heartbreak sunset, you know maiwhat I’m sayin’?
– Trina Quinn
Chaparelle
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“Devil’s Music”
Easily my favorite music out of Austin this year. Chaparelle has the spirit of classic country honky-tonk without sounding like a pastiche. The harmonies and arrangements are stellar while the lyrics are frequently hilarious. Zella Day and Jesse Woods are a dashing dynamic duo while Beau Beford sprinkles the magic fairy dust throughout.
– Rick McNulty
Ben Kweller
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“Optimystic“
Ben Keller went through the unimaginable—the death of his son Dorian in a 2023 car crash—and made music that was raw, honest, and remarkable. Optimyistic rocks as hard as anything he’s done and provides us with a direct look at what I assume his mind and soul has been going through since he lost Dorian.
– Bill Childs
Sounds like a 1990’s instant classic. This was one of my Summer 2025 album faves- really good songs and cool production. Guitars are back!!
– Jake Perlman
Magic Rockers of Texas
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“Tarmac Honey”
There are plenty of things I don’t miss about the barfly part of my life, like waking up fully clothed and hungover with nothing in my pockets but “an overdraft and a 40 bag.” I do miss seeing my friends every night, though, and I don’t think I’ll ever lose my taste for writers and lyricists like Jim Campo, who can describe its ordinary heartbreaking moments unadorned by disingenuous romantic flourishes.
– Ryan Wen
