Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

August 20, 2024

Magdalena Bay: “Image”

By: Jack Anderson

Buenos Aires. Miami. Los Angeles. All three coastal (or with the latter at least coast-adjacent) metropolises that perfectly embody the breezy, night drive-friendly feel of synth-pop. But no matter where contributions to that style get made, once they’re unleashed, they enter the subconscious for world’s internal ’80s-inspired electronic score, whether you’re attempting to court a provocateur, on the lam from the law, or crushing it on the dance floor.

So with roots in Buenos Aires and Miami plus a current HQ in L.A., Magdalena Bay are some of the most qualified international ambassadors and arbiters of the synth-pop sound. For nearly a decade now, these hyper-stylized partners in crime, music, and romance have soared upward to become a mainstay soundtrack for younger generations. And it makes sense. The duo deeply understands the intricacies of proper pop songwriting and production, and have curated a delightfully DIY visual brand that’s clearly clicked with the Tik Tok crowd.

This Friday Magdalena Bay shares their sophomore full-length Imaginal Disk, ahead of the Imaginal Mystery Tour, which includes a stop at Scoot Inn on September 28th. The official website gives you a vivid idea of the vibe on Imaginal Disk (especially with the interactive roadmap and early-internet aesthetic), as does the music video for the LP’s second of three lead singles, “Image”. Because between effects-drenched Minogue-esque vocals, Moroder-reminiscent instrumental tones, and the overall insanely catchy combo of chords and melody, “Image” showcases one the slickest implementations of synth pop formulas this side of the millennium, even by Magdalena Bay’s standards.


Episodes

November 13, 2026

Miguel St. Michael: “Cumbia Navideña”

It’s time to add a little Christmas spirit to our Song of the Day catalogue, as the holidays are just around the corner! Today, Austin-based cumbia artist Miguel St. Michael released his Christmas song “Cumbia Navideña.” This song acts as his love letter to Christmas in the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico, where cumbia is […]

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November 12, 2026

Yahtzee Brown: “One Good Reason”

Stick your hands out the car roof and bathe in the suns heat before it’s gone for the winter. Austin Naitive, Yahtzee Brown has made the perfect Americana song to cruise the interstate for those not quite ready to let go of the summer rays, because lets face it October this year still felt like […]

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November 11, 2026

May Sun: “So Sweet”

One might say that the beauty of Austin is the blending of cultures that takes place on its streets – and today’s Song of the Day, “So Sweet,” by May Sun, embodies that spirit. As part of a project supported by the Austin Live Music Fund, Sun, a classical pianist turned blues vocalist, teamed up […]

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November 9, 2026

Mari Fores: “Rio, Lua”

We’re off to Brazil! Rising singer-songwriter Mari Froes began sharing her passion for singing via a YouTube channel at 8 years old, uploading Brazilian covers of Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé. Fast forward to 2026: her debut album Esquino do Sol has garnered her international praise, an incredibly successful European tour, and a debut U.S. tour […]

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November 6, 2026

A Parent’s Project: “You’re Enough”

Children’s artists often walk a wobbly tightrope of producing songs that are attractive to children while remaining enjoyable to the parents who are also in the car. Today, we bring you a Song of the Day that we think checks both boxes: “You’re Enough” by A Parent’s Project. Landon Thompson from The Black and White […]

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November 5, 2026

Zoë Pete Ford: “Tattoo City”

If Chess Club and the Broken Spoke had a sonic baby, it would be Zoë Pete Ford. Splitting time between New York and Austin, Ford says she only needs a car and guitar, and everywhere is home, which manifests beautifully in her cross-country sound, something I’m calling “punky tonk.” Her new album Tattoo City comes […]

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November 4, 2026

Almost Heaven: “Fever Trying To Blow” [Live In Studio 1A]

Some songs can turn your day around, and “Fever Trying to Blow” by Austin’s Almost Heaven is one of them. This was the first song I heard from the band, and it’s stayed in heavy rotation ever since. I love how the song builds and moves between its sections without losing that infectious energy. It’s […]

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November 3, 2026

The Harms: “Tornado Row”

After more than a decade, Austin’s The Harms are releasing their sophomore album! Fronted by Austin music mainstay Chase Frank, the Beto Martinez-produced album is chock-full of earworms that splinter and showcase the wide world of psych rock. “Tornado Row” is a fun, hyped-up garage-surf tune with Frank’s harmonies adding an 80s Go-Gos like veneer. […]

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