Song of the Day

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August 8, 2024

Caleb De Casper: “Sik Culture” (prod. Ribongia)

By: Jack Anderson

Austin Pride 2024 is tomorrow! As much as we appreciate living in a city progressive enough to even host such a thing, we’re doubly thankful for the cavalcade of LGBTQ+ creators representing Queer culture throughout our city limits. In that vein, we gotta give another shout out to our June 2022 Artist of the Month Caleb De Casper.

The classically trained pianist is always pushing his sonics forward, beginning with Grand Guignol-inspired cabaret and outlandish glam rock to De Casper’s admirable grasp on synthpop. But if there’s one thing that’s a constant throughout Caleb’s catalogue it’s this: candid, hyper-sexualized, and unapologetically Queer lyricism. Well, that and his unwavering audacity for theatrical wardrobe choices.

A couple weeks back Caleb De Casper overthrew the Center for Disease Control for what comes to mind when we see the letters “CDC” with “Sik Culture”. Co-written by Jonathan Horstmann (frontman of fellow KUTX Artist of the Month Urban Heat) and produced by flamboyant Florentine Ribongia, this banger’s all about the un-ending app-obsessed endemic of modern times, made graceful by orchestral elements (as reflected in its worldwide premiere at February’s Indie Orchestra) and the darker side of disco pop, like if the flashy nightclubs of Saturday Night Fever went through a full-blown goth glow-up.

So get off your phone, go show some support, and no matter what, keep on dancing.


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