Song of the Day

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August 17, 2021

Ruel Thomas: “Waited to Say”

By: Jack Anderson

Like many who hadn’t quite yet tapped into their full potential, Austin native Ruel Thomas didn’t flesh out his inner musician until he spent some time away from home. While living in Australia, Thomas soaked up the folky formulas of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney while shaping his own indie-adjacent sound on guitar (both electric and acoustic), vocals, and harmonica.

Now that Thomas is back in the Live Music Capital and playing gigs when he can (including one on the 28th at Fitzhugh Brewing), he’s been masterminding his debut album, due out this winter. But you don’t even hold off til the first day of fall to check out Ruel Thomas’ haunting vocals and accessible-yet-unique rock on with his most confident composition (and music video) yet, “Waited to Say”!


Episodes

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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May 4, 2026

Son Rompe Pera: “Reptilo”

Mexico City’s Son Rompe Pera, widely considered to be part of the impetus behind the cumbia-punk movement, have spread that gospel across 20 countries since 2019 (including a set at our SXSW Scholz Garten show in 2023 and a stop by Studio 1A last year). The group is currently on tour (their show last weekend […]

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