Confucius and Fresh explore some of the biggest rivalries in the history of West Coast Rap.
Don’t Austin My Lockhart: How Austin musicians seeking affordability are impacting surrounding towns
We’re looking at what happens to small towns like Lockhart when a bunch of Austin musicians seeking affordable places to live move there.
You’ll hear from musician Emily Gimble, musician and co-owner of Fiddler’s Green Jenn Miori Hodges, co-founders Courthouse Nights and Rach and Rhodes presents Rachel Lingvai and Will Rhodes, musician Pierson Saxon and founders of Duett’s in Martindale, Texas Ryan and Katie Grametbaur.
How SXSW went from an Austin festival to an international experience
SXSW started in 1987 as a regional music festival in Austin. You’ll hear how it started and how it changed over the years from the perspectives of some of the musicians who’ve played it. You’ll also learn about what changed because of musician protests, what SXSW was like in Sydney, Australia, and what the festival might look like in the future.
Check out this flier from the first SXSW
Artist Interview: Golden Dawn Arkestra — “Orgy”
REET REET PETITE!!! Part 2 of our episode featuring Texas’s finest purveyors of world funk sex beat, Golden Dawn Arkestra, is here! In this interview with lead groove despot, Zapot, you’ll hear how he found enlightenment, five dollars, and a new lease on life by moving to Austin, Texas all those years ago.
We highly recommend listening to part one before diving into this interview.
Big thanks to Long Center for allowing us to gather this scandalous confession at our permanent booth.
Got a story you want to confess and maybe have it turned into a song? Join the Song Confessional mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest episode, news, and the whereabouts of our confessional booth: https://songconfessional.com/connect.
Pause/Play is taking a quick break
There should be a new episode of Pause/Play this week. But, we got hit by a mix of travel, COVID, and unforeseen circumstances. So there’s no episode right now. But there will be in two weeks!
In the next episode, you’ll hear about the history of SXSW, and how it’s changed over the years.
And in the episode after that, you’ll hear about what happens when people leave Austin and start music scenes in towns around Austin.
We want to hear from you — do you live in a town close to Austin with a new thriving music scene or have you been to a show where you least expected to see live music? We’d love it if you would send us a voice memo about your experience!
You can leave a message at kutkutx.studio/contactpauseplay, email us at pauseplay@kut.org or you can leave us a message on Instagram — our handle is @pauseplaypod
Who owns Austin’s venues, how it’s changed, and why it matters.
20 years ago, most of Austin’s venues were independently and locally run. But over time, corporations like Live Nation and Oak View Group have entered Austin’s venue landscape. Discover how that happened, and what it means for our live music ecosystem.
How laws targeting LGBTQIA+ Texans are impacting Austin’s live music scene
LGBTQIA+ members of Austin’s music scene talk about how proposed bans on drag performances, and laws outlawing gender-affirming care for minors are impacting their work and their lives.
You’ll hear from co-owner of Cheer Up Charlies Maggie Lea. Plus you’ll hear from Austin musicians Caleb de Casper, Lizzy Lehman, Pelvis Wrestley’s Jammy Violet, and writer/musician Jack Kaulfus.
Peace, Love, and Texas Women: Women in Austin music reflect on the Texas abortion ban
Women from the Austin music scene talk about how the Texas abortion ban is impacting their lives.
You’ll hear from music publicist Adrienne Lake, membership manager at The Recording Academy Amanda Garcia Davenport, Cassandra Shankman, aka DJ Cassandra, event producer Cheyenne Doer and songwriter, rapper and producer Qi Dada, who is one-half of the Austin hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm.
What does Drake’s A.I. Diss Song Mean for Rap?
Fresh defends Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which uses dupes of Snoop and Tupac’s voices. Plus hear Confucius’ take on the University of Texas’ response to a recent pro-Palestinian protest along with other headlines, and Hip-Hop Facts.
How are global and local changes impacting the Austin Music Scene?
How is climate change impacting Austin’s Music Scene? What about skyrocketing ticket prices? Or changes in AI and tech? How are new laws in Texas affecting women and LGBTQIA+ people in the music ecosystem? These are some of the questions that hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen will explore in Season 5 of Pause/Play. In the first episode, they look at how COVID has shifted some people’s relationship with live music, plus they give you a season overview.
In this episode you’ll hear from neuropsychotherapist Bella Rockman, Lawrence Boone from the Far Out Lounge and Stage, Meteorologist David Yeomans, Jammy Violet from Pelvis Wrestly, Austin musician Caleb de Caspar, Adrienne Lake from Daydream Believer Austin and Frontgate Tickets founder Mellie Price.
Chicken Run: Daniel Pereira + Austin FC Superstitions + Pollo’s Great Escape
We talk with Austin FC midfielder Daniel Pereira about living with his parents, the hokey pokey in Virginia, baseball in Venezuela, and why he’s the most-hated Austin player (so far) in our very unofficial poll. We also drill down into fan superstitions and why Pollo is so beloved.
Trailer: Pause/Play Season 5
The new season of Pause/Play starts on April 17th. This season is all about change. We’ll be looking at the impact that climate change, changes in laws, changes in ticketing, changes in venues, changes in tech, and more are having on the Austin music scene.
Té for Two: Austin Musician Gina Chávez and Winger Emliano Rigoni.
Co-host Jimmy Maas interviews singer Gina Chávez. The native Austinite shares her experience doubling as an independent musician and philanthropist, her experience singing the national anthem as a queer artist during Pride Month, and how she went from a Brené Brown fangirl to performing an original song she wrote for Brown’s podcast on stage.
Then Colombiano co-host Juan Garcia kicks off the conversation with Emiliano Rigoni, the senior midfielder of Austin FC, entirely in Spanish. Originally from Argentina, he and Garcia speak about his longstanding relationship with Sebastian Driussi, playing in a Russian premiere league, and his love for the community that makes his new hometown special. To break the tension, the two share a cup of maté—a tea-like beverage that sparks joy throughout the interview.
Pump up the Volume: Gyasi Zardes & Austin FC Match Day DJs Peligrosa
Austin FC striker Gyasi Zardes speaks on the all-time greats he’s played with, plus how music has helped him find balance and how parenthood changed him.
You’ll also hear from Austin DJ crew Peligrosa – who are the home game DJs for Austin FC – about mixing fan favorites at Q2 stadium, surviving as an artist in Austin, and the connection between rockin’ a party and teaching school.
A New Hope: Austin FC’s season opener w/ goalie Brad Stuver and singer Mélat
Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver talks to hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia about his pre-game ritual, his favorite date night spot in Austin, and how he makes sure that what happens on the field stays on the field.
Austin musician Mélat explains what it’s like to sing the national anthem at the season kickoff game — she’s done it three times! Plus she explains how she manifested a professional soccer team for our city.
Juan tells you why Austin FC is paying tribute to the Armadillo World Headquarters on their new away jersey.
And Jeremiah Bentley and Landon Cotham from the Moontower Soccer podcast talk about off-season trades and signings.
Trailer: ¡Vamos Verde!
¡Vamos Verde! is a podcast that looks at the intersection of Austin FC and the community that surrounds it. Hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia talk to players, staff, fans, musicians, and artists to bring you an inside look at the culture of Austin’s only professional sports team.
The first episode comes out on Feb 29th, with episodes coming out every other Thursday through the end of the season.
¡Vamos Verde! is a production of KUT and KUTX Studios in collaboration with Austin FC.
The new season of Song Confessional starts Feb 7th!
The new season of the Song Confessional podcast arrives on Feb 7th! Walker Lukens and Zac Catanzaro travel around the world collecting anonymous confessions from everyday people and then give them to songwriters and bands who turn them into new original songs. This season features new songs from artists like Golden Dawn Arkestra, Woodbelly, Buffalo Hunt, Pigeon John, and more !
An Outsider’s Take on the Austin Music Scene
In this bonus episode, Brazilian journalist and podcaster Filipe Speck explores the Austin Music Scene from his perspective as someone visiting the city for the first time.
Filipe is the co-founder of Matinal
You can listen to Filipe’s podcast Noites Gregas.
Afrotech and Hubbledvision
Confucius and Fresh interview J.M., the founder of Austin’s Hubbledvision, and Chicago-based artist Blvck Svm about their musical collaboration and the Afrovision event at this year’s Afrotech.
You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about who wrote the treatment for Dr. Dre and Tupac’s “California Love” video, the debut of Will Smith’s “Summertime,” what Questlove called himself before he landed on Questlove, and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Texas rappers can get lazy.
Confucius talks about Mike Pence dropping out of the presidential race, Trump’s lawyer’s claim that he can’t go to jail because he has a secret service detail, the data breach at the Austin Meals on Wheels and more on Confucius Reads the News.
What Does Artist Cey Adams Have to Say?
Confucius and Fresh interview hip-hop art legend Cey Adams, former creative director for Def Jam who designed album covers for everyone from Run-DMC to Jay-Z. They talk about his early days in hip-hop, what it’s been like to watch the genre evolve and grow, and his new show “Combinations” at the West Chelsea Contemporary in Austin.
You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Jay-Z’s first appearance on television, Jermaine Jackson’s diss song to his younger brother Michael, and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that the culture put unrealistic artistic expectations on Bobby Shmurda after he got out of jail.
Confucius talks about the recently discovered flesh-eating parasite in Texas, the new speaker of the House, and Bob Mendez’s legal woes in Confucius Reads the News.