Song of the Day

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October 24, 2023

Katy Kirby: “Cubic Zirconia” (ACL Fest Pop-Up)

By: Jack Anderson

We’ve got just one more ACL Pop-Up to share with you for Song of the Day, and this one comes with an exciting bit of news. It comes courtesy of indie-folk-rock singer Katy Kirby, who was raised just about an hour’s drive from Austin out in Spicewood before relocating to Nashville for college, and most recently, Brooklyn. Bouncing from one musical hub to another’s done wonders for Kirby’s artistic wisdom, as she’s definitely leveled up in the half decade since dropping her debut EP Juniper.

And the momentum’s been especially strong in the post-COVID era, considering Kirby just played both Sundays of ACL Fest on that big ol’ Miller Lite Stage. Those ACL gigs are bookended between two new singles – “Cubic Zirconia” from the tail end of August – and, just a few hours old, “Table”. The latter arrived this morning alongside an announcement for Katy Kirby’s sophomore full-length Blue Raspberry, set for release January 26th.

Based on the weight of her ACL appearances and “Table”, we’re expecting a generous batch of ripe originals for Blue Raspberry. But if you couldn’t make it out to Zilker and want a taste of the new LP, you can harvest its lead single “Cubic Zirconia” for the emotionally-authentic piece of soft rock that it is with Katy Kirby’s close knit backstage pop-up performance.


Episodes

October 22, 2026

Sophie Seng: “Marionette”

Halloween is 9 days away (but who’s counting?) and today’s Song of the Day, “Marionette,” will certainly put you in the mood. Sophie Seng, Austin-based singer and saxophonist, tells the story of the struggle for freedom and its subsequent constraints through the perspective of a marionette puppet. The vivid imagery of a marionette finding its […]

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October 21, 2026

Materializer: “Unwind”

Nashville duo Materializer take listeners on a seven-minute-plus journey with “Unwind,” a heavy, psychedelic track that knows when to pull back and when to hit hard. Built around shifting guitars, hypnotic drones, and melodic vocals, the song moves between brooding tension and explosive riffs without losing its sense of atmosphere.

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October 20, 2026

Chief Cleopatra: “Waves”

Former KUTX Artist of the Month Chief Cleopatra is back with their first single in two years. Following in the footsteps of 2024’s pop-forward “Cold Dancer,” the group continues to toss aside their laurels, instead pushing deeper into more experimental territory in their most collaborative song to date. “Waves” is a pinnacle of art-pop, evoking […]

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October 19, 2026

Late Wife: “Body”

Since we last touched base here with Austin’s Late Wife, the band have been riding that “cream rising to the top” high. They’ve opened for …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, performed at this year’s Tiny Desk Concert tour’s Austin stop, and they’ve been spinning around the KUTX airwaves, all leading-up […]

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October 15, 2026

LeTrainiump: “It’s Already Over”

“It’s Already Over” was inspired by LeTrainiump’s struggle to find his footing in Austin. After feeling like an outsider, his daughter reminded him to let go of the little things and to move forward. That simple moment became the heart of the song: Life moves minute by minute, and sometimes you just have to stop […]

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October 14, 2026

Houndmouth: “Heavy Eyes” [KUTX Live At ACL 2026]

Today’s Song of the Day comes from Indiana’s Houndmouth. “Heavy Eyes” is a rootsy, blues-soaked rocker that reflects on the people you meet and the stories they leave behind, with its easygoing groove and gritty vocals.

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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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