Song of the Day

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June 28, 2024

Ray Prim: “The Joker”

By: Jack Anderson

You can be a valedictorian classically trained vocalist. You can work with the best producers. You can run circles around your songwriting contemporaries. But one thing you can’t fake, no matter how much work you put into it, is a natural sense of soul.

That’s why Ray Prim is such an Austin treasure. Heck, he even prefers to call himself a “soulwriter”. Ray may have had gray hair since he first started dropping music, yet like a fine wine he’s only gotten better with age and the window on “prime Prim” seems to update with each new release. Now nearing a dozen albums under his belt, it’s safe to say this Black Fret recipient’s not slowing down his sonic life lessons anytime soon.

And we can easily confirm that with the recent announcement of Ray Prim’s upcoming eleventh LP Through it All, out September 7th corresponding with a release show at 3Ten alongside The Belle Sounds and Suzanna Choffel. As already hinted at by the direction of early June’s “Mr. Midlife”, there’s somewhat of a Black Pumas-esque backdrop to Through it All. But where “Mr. Midlife” shines in a sanguine, slower, orchestral spirit, Through it All‘s latest lead single “The Joker” is more like a manic and sinister piece of soul rock seduction, which Prim will be performing for the very first time on stage 8PM tomorrow night at The Saxon Pub. Prim’s similarities to his progressive soul predecessors like Al Green and Bill Withers is more prevalent than ever on this one, vocal performance, clavinet, bongos, strings and all, albeit a little less “Grandma’s Hands” and more like a twisted take on “Use Me”.


Episodes

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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