Austin’s Spencer Stephenson records under the name Botany, and it’s a pretty fitting moniker. His music grows and flowers across the speakers, threading together hip-hop, electronic, jazz, ambient, and found sounds. He’s an adept collaborator, laying lush frameworks for heady rappers like Milo or even Father John Misty, but Botany’s music largely eschews words. It’s more expressionist, full of sonic rabbit holes that you can disappear into.
This Saturday, Botany takes part in Exploded Drawing’s Fusebox Festival show at Saengerrunde Hall. The event features Austinites like Soundfounder and Butcher Bear as well as Ras G and Teebs from Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder, the L.A.-based label and collective that’s helped turn experimental beatmaking into an art form. Botany is also fresh off of the release of Raw Light II, and that’s where today’s Song of the Day comes from. He conceived of “Janis Joplin” while living near the singer’s former Austin home, but the song dances to J Dilla’s stuttering, sample-based groove, all while retaining Botany’s earthy aesthetic. Take a listen below.
–Art Levy // host, Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., producer, My KUTX
