Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

July 2, 2024

deCasa: “INSTIGATOR”

By: Jack Anderson

Remember that expression “in the house” that was used to show enthusiasm about someone or something’s presence in close proximity? Yeah, you don’t really hear that one much anymore in the 2020s… But if you do want something that’s retro without sounding too dated, deCasa is sheer delight.

Since 2019, deCasa’s Ricky Santiago-Cruz has incorporated his Puerto Rican upbringing into this Austin solo project with effusive flavors of funk, soul, hip-hop, and reggae for a breezy, inner-city-meets-remote-island vibe. On top of that, this Caribbean Cowboy’s the head honcho of his very own label, the emerging Rock Bottom Cartel. And with the added experience of playing alongside KUTX favorites Mobley and The Bright Light Social Hour, Santiago-Cruz has mastered the art of moving the crowd as deCasa.

Speaking of which, ahead of an open invite free house party on Saturday, July 20th (DM Ricky on Instagram for all the deets), last week deCasa rolled out a soulful, synth-y piece of daytime disco. So if you wanna start shit on the dance floor without breaking too much of a sweat, “INSTIGATOR” is short, sweet, and begging for rhythmic feet with a relaxed uptempo energy that doesn’t sacrifice the accessibility of its slick, Jamiroquai-esque grooves.


Episodes

October 13, 2026

Night Tapes: “Easy Time to Be Alive” [KUTX At ACL Fest 2026]

Flutes. Falsetto. Phantasmic. That’s London trio Night Tapes in a nutshell. What began as late night jam sessions between housemates has evolved into hundreds of millions of online streams, journalistic praise, and global festival slots, including the illustrious “get them in the door early” slot at this year’s ACL Fest. Night Tapes brought their ethereal […]

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October 12, 2026

Almost Heaven: “Oscillation” [KUTX Live At ACL Fest 2026]

Austin post-punk-injected electronic duo Almost Heaven exemplify “fresh nostalgia.” The duo made of Stefan Barraza & Jaelyn Valero have become increasingly ubiquitous since the release of their Raw Cranium EP back in January, leading to ample spins on the KUTX airwaves and an ACL Fest debut this past weekend, firing up and electrifying the Tito’s […]

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October 8, 2026

Jess Williamson: “Goodbye to All That” [KUTX Live at ACL Fest 2026]

We caught Jess Williamson backstage at Austin City Limits for a live performance away from the mudslides. This Texas-born, LA-based artist brought her warm voice and indie folk/alt-country sound to the tent with an acoustic rendition of “Goodbye to All That” from her upcoming record, “A Mile South of Heaven,” which releases tomorrow. If you […]

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October 7, 2026

Palace: “Kid” [KUTX At ACL Fest 2026]

Palace stopped by the KUTX tent at ACL and performed their song “Kid.” A dreamy, guitar-driven track that balances hazy textures with a strong melodic pull, “Kid” has a nostalgic quality without feeling stuck in the past, making it the perfect feel-good song.

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October 6, 2026

New Constellations: “Hot Blooded” [KUTX At ACL Fest 2026]

Ascending us from the muddy muck of the ACL Fest grounds to the astral plane is Portland dream pop duo New Constellations. Childhood friends Harlee Chase and Josh Smith popped by our backstage tent to grace us with an acoustic rendition of “Hotblooded”: a heavy-hearted meditation and reckoning from Chase written in 2021 following a […]

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October 5, 2026

Elijah Delgado: “You and I” [Pop-Up at ACL 2026]

Another ACL Fest means you’re getting LOTS of exclusive live performances captured backstage in our pop-up tent, and we’re kicking it off this year with one from right here in Austin! Elijah Delgado has been performing for years, culminating in the release of his debut EP in 2021, which catalyzed his steady rise in the […]

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October 1, 2026

Das Mörtal: “Drain Me”

While our heads over here are preoccupied with our own back yard, shout out to ACL, I want to take it to Montreal for some spooky, mood setting dark synth jams to start October right. Das Mörtal just released this track on September 30th, and it’s so head boppingly good. Best paired with Erie weather […]

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September 30, 2026

Fatales: “Voices”

New York duo Fatales blend dreamy vocals, rock guitars, and cinematic Western influences on “Voices.” Kaelin Kost’s soft delivery contrasts with David Pattillo’s bigger guitars, creating a really cool tension between fragility and force. Think Fleetwood Mac meets dream-pop meets a classic Western.

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