There is so much good music being made in Austin that it can be hard to keep up. To help you stay on top of it, we’ve pulled together some of the best new releases from local artists. You can hear all of these songs on-air at KUTX 98.9 or online at KUTX.org.
Bayonne – “Oxygen”
Self-released on March 2, 2026
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Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and beatmaker Roger Sellers continues to build anticipation for his upcoming album Filters with a handful of stunning singles, including the most recent addition to our playlist, “Oxygen.” Upbeat, effervescent synths, bouncing drums, and uplifting lyrics bubble up to break the surface tension of social conformity, conventional ideas of success, and self-doubt that keep us stuck in place. Exposed to fresh air, background noise dissipates, leaving you free to find your own way forward.
Filters is out September 4th, and Bayonne is currently gearing up for a huge tour that will take him across Europe and the US before landing back in Austin for a show at Mohawk on Saturday, October 24.
Dorio – “New Energy”
Released July 24, 2026, via Earth Libraries
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The Y2K vibes are strong with Austin band Dorio’s song “New Energy,” which sounds like an unreleased collaboration between Dido and the New Radicals discovered in a dusty Napster downloads folder. Acoustic guitar loops swirl around drum machines as Rachel Rascoe conveys a general ambivalence toward the modern world in the chorus, “I don’t want anything anymore.” The whole song plays out like a bright-eyed slacker searching for the energy to find their higher calling.
You can find “New Energy” on Dorio’s just-released concept album Agent Friday & the Perfect Angel.
Chaparelle – “Two Steps Closer”
Released July 17, 2026, via Western Pleasure Records
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The first new single from our former Artist of the Month since their 2025 full-length Western Pleasure, “Two Steps Closer” is a down-tempo number meant to help honytonk wallflowers build up the courage to approach that dance partner they’ve been eyeing from across the bar. Tammy Wynette fans will appreciate vocalist Zella Day’s take on a barfly desperate for that special someone to make the final move. It paints such a vivid picture of a dingy 70s country bar you can practically smell the cigarette smoke and stale beer.
Chaparelle has barely touched the ground since they released their debut, but after over a year of touring they’ve finally booked a homecoming show. See you on the dance floor at Central Machine Works, November 7th.
Holy Wave – “First DAE”
Released July 10, 2026, via Suicide Squeeze Records
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Recorded in Ensenada, Mexico, Holy Wave’s new album, i’m DADA, captures the laid-back atmosphere of a beach town with the breezy psychedelia of songs like “First DAE.” Soft, spoken-word-style harmonies float through a liminal space somewhere between ’60s transcendence and ’70s prog rock. While that might sound blissful, the lyrics take on the tenor of a stream-of-consciousness conversation with someone talking themselves through an unraveling relationship.
Holy Wave is on the move this fall with an extensive tour schedule taking them across Europe and the States, but Austin fans will get a chance to catch them live at The Far Out Lounge on October 31st for a Halloween show with The Jesus and Mary Chain and Protomartyr.
Paige Plaisance – “Waiting”
Released August 7, 2026, via Timeless Echo
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With songs like “Waiting,” Paige Plaisance won’t have to wait long for country and Americana music fans to find her upcoming album, Swampwater. Moody slide guitar blends with Paige’s beautifully textured vocals for a sound reminiscent of Neko Case or Waxahatchee. It’s a bit of a departure from the boogie-forward party starters she’s known for in Austin’s honky-tonk scene, but she nails the heartache, making you wish you were the one she is waiting for.
Paige Plaisance celebrates the release with a show at Antone’s on September 5th. She’s also bringing her love of music and vintage fashion together for the HONKYTONK CATWALK at Sagebrush on September 26.
