Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

May 2, 2024

Henry the Archer: “ViolinT”

By: Jack Anderson

If this late Spring’s got your spirits shook up and you’re looking for some renewed motivation to tend to your garden (be it literal or figurative), we’ve got a DFW act that’ll make you go hard in the yard.

And that’s on behalf of singer-guitarist-keyboardist R. Hennessy, AKA “Henry O”, who’s been hitting the mark as Henry the Archer for nearly a decade and a half now. A consecutive two-time winner of Fort Worth Magazine‘s “Artist of the Year” distinction, this Fort Worth three-piece aims at the the broad genre target of alt-rock, perfect for groupings within surrounding styles. But that’s not to say Henry the Archer’s arrangements aren’t accurate or precise, since the trio’s clearly struck something strong to earn several streaming heavyweights.

This morning, marking Henry the Archer’s first record since 2017’s Zero Is a Number, their EP The Garden is finally ready to harvest. It’s a six-song plot blooming with indie-folk (“The Garden”), pop-punk (“One or Two”), brassy ska (“Sheep Song”), reggae (“Someone Beautiful”), and even a stripped-down keyboard-and-vocal duet (“People Make a Place”) – but ultimately all rooted in alt-rock. The album release show is next Saturday out in Arlington, but Henry the Archer does have a couple of shows here in town at the turn of the next month – 7:30PM on Friday, May 31st for a SoFar Sounds session and 8PM on Saturday, June 1st at ABGB alongside Mr. Kat. So fire up The Garden‘s bullseye of a lead single and EP opener “ViolinT”, which totally reminds us of millennium mainstream indie rock era, The Hives-style howling vocals and all.


Episodes

May 26, 2026

Sierra Velez: “Lovin’ On Me”

Self love and Afro-carribean beats – what else could you want from a summer anthem? Sierra Velez, a newcomer to the Austin scene originally from New York, is dedicated to transport listeners to a tropical getaway. This song is sure to make you feel much closer to the ocean rather than the rivers and lakes […]

Listen

May 20, 2026

CHROMETONGUE ft. Primo the Alien: “Cool Girl”

Primo the Alien and CHROMETONGUE bring the cool girl energy on their new release “Cool Girl” — a perfect mix of polished and slightly chaotic. Huge synths, slick production, and the kind of energy that makes you want to drive a little too fast at night. It feels icy while still being fun, and every […]

Listen

May 19, 2026

BOO85: “Funny Story”

Many horror stories become our favorite laughbale memories thanks to the gift of time, and Austin alt-rock pop group BOO85 (boo-eighty-five) articulate this well in their new single “Funny Story,” where the mantra is “sit with it, laugh at it, relinquish it.” Emphasized with layered, catchy pop-rock hooks, Go-Go’s -like vocals and harmonies and enough […]

Listen

May 15, 2026

Her Mana: “Starlight”

Picture this: you’re crusing around Barton Springs listening to your favorite radio station wink wink, and the fuzzy pulse and twinkly synth sparkles of Muse’s “Starlight” flood your car. Suddenly, inspiration strikes. So goes the story for Emilie Basez, one-half of Austin world-folk duo Her Mana. Like a long-term relationship response to the original’s falling […]

Listen

May 12, 2026

Street Peach: “Cloud 12”

Austin-based Lani Thomison, aka Street Peach, is fresh off an Ari Lennox after-show at Stubbs and returning to Song of the Day with her latest single, Cloud 12. Produced by Chris Beale of Magna Carta, this song muses on the soaring highs of a romantic relationship in her unique alt-R&B style. With a warm guitar […]

Listen

May 11, 2026

Danny Malone: “Leaves”

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Danny Malone. Following a bit of a hibernation period, the Austin-based singer-songwriter (and former Sonic Guild grant recipient) had a prolific songwriting year in 2025, penning over 60 songs. As he puts it, his inspiration was “a long battle between my ego and my spirit, and the […]

Listen

May 8, 2026

Lola Bates: “Madonna Gold”

Dark, broody, and effusing forest witch energy, LA’s Lola Bates lays it all out on the table in her debut album Love and Power. A deeply intricate and intimate exploration of keeping the scales of being and sharing yourself in balance, Bates strikes piano keys like plucking heart strings, emphasized by her lush vocal harmonies […]

Listen