Song of the Day

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July 7, 2023

Jamey Cummins: “Automatic from Downtown”

By: Jack Anderson

Our ability not just to create, but to contextualize our expressions in a meaningful way is one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and because of that, collections have remained attractive to consumers, manufacturers, and artists alike. But since streaming numbers became one of the most-sought out metrics, musicians have regressed from the full-length physical record model to the sporadic attention-grabbing digital single model of releasing music, so those who share pieces within a plurality deserve praise. Now, Jamey Cummins is no stranger to LPs nor standalone singles. A student of styles ranging from avant garde to vintage jazz, this Iowa-raised, Austin-based singer-guitarist dropped his debut album Hinterland in 2020, stretched out his schedule with “Turn this Thing Around” and “Toenail Moon” in 2021, returning to long-form with last year’s Electric Spanish and this spring’s Incidentals. At that rate Cummins could’ve easily sated his fanbase for the remainder of the year, but despite entering the dog days of summer, Cummins just came through with a bit more than a sole single. Today Jamey Cummins and E.M.R.’s Austin Sisler released Stay Connected. At a trim three tunes, the bulk of Stay Connected is its two title tracks, the synth-pop inspired EP opener, and the extended Analog Version centerpiece. It’s pretty common practice to include a remix or two when releasing singles, so major kudos to Cummins for also rounding out Stay Connected with “Automatic from Downtown”. Following those first forays into contemporary pop radio bait and turn-of-the-millennium indie rock, respectively, “Automatic”‘s placement as Stay Connected‘s closer make the EP play like a gradual exploration into the past that stops right in the mid-’90s halfway between X and Wilco for some nuanced garage rock, full of modern production flourishes. All three can be enjoyed in isolation, but spinning it front to back is the best way to Stay Connected to Cummins and Sisler’s collective musical threads and get the most out of this nine-minute journey.

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February 14, 2025

Kowloon: “Heart Begins With You”

L.A.’s Kowloon is truly a one-man operation. Songwriting? Him. Instrumentation? Him. Recording, production? Yep, all Kowloon. Backed by a full library of effects and music gadgets from various eras, Kowloon released a string of singles last year, demonstrating his affinity for the darkwave sounds of the 80s a la the Cure and Bronski Beat. Ahead […]

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February 13, 2025

Tommy Francisco: “Tommy’s Groove”

Even a piping hot bowl of tokontsu ramen can’t fully shake-off today’s bone chill, but maybe the headspace of partying on a yacht in Mallorca can. Austin native Tommy Francisco hit the scene in 2020 with “Fever,” giving him an international audience and proving his ability to blend his Latin and Indigenous backgrounds into a […]

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February 12, 2025

Serebii: “Verrans Corner”

Auckland, New Zealand’s Callum Mower, known as Serebii, has always focused on pushing forward. Forward musically, forward personally, and now, forward into naked vulnerability.   Serebii’s upcoming album Dime finds Mower at his most vulnerable. Historically, Mower has relied on his mastery of instruments and production with others, namely fellow New Zealander Arjuna Oakes, but […]

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February 11, 2025

Slept All Day: “Asteria”

Austin duo Slept All Day may be new on the scene, but don’t sleep on them. Together, the two create moving soundscapes a la Bonobo and Washed Out. And they use their vocals as an element of the scape instead of its driving force. And despite the electronic instrumentation and vocal effects, the music is […]

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February 10, 2025

Middle Satre: “Corrupted (Uncorrupted)”

Welcome! Today’s theme is vision and reimagining. After spending a childhood in Salt Lake City, Hunter Preuger moved to Austin to sow oats with his project Middle Sattre. The project quickly expanded into a six-piece…and then an eight-piece, and a year after the release of their debut album Tendencies, the experimental folk outfit returned to […]

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February 7, 2025

Death Palmz: “IL2H2LU”

I’ve heard your week’s woes, I know it’s been one, so Aunt Tay is here to deliver a little Friday elixir to shift you into weekend mode as you get ready to burn rubber in the parking garage. Austin’s Death Palmz is another project from Exotic Frutica, and if you’re familiar with the punk band, […]

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February 6, 2025

Scott Collins: “Aphophenia”

Austin singer-songwriter Scott Collins has been ever-evolving in both songwriting and sound and now he’s started leaning in more to letting himself define his sound, branching out and seeing what feels right. His 9th EP And All This Happened serves on the title’s promise: it’s all happening. But the early 00’s indie sound is still […]

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February 5, 2025

Small Engine Fire: “Good Old Day”

Who said that energy and introspection can’t co-exist? It wasn’t me. And it certainly wasn’t Small Engine Fire. The new Austin band is made up of members of Lola Tried and Quiet Company, and together they create something a little nostalgic, like taking a ride out to Wilco with your Grandaddy. Small Engine Fire throws […]

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