Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

August 28, 2023

Wendy Colonna: “Inspired”

By: Jack Anderson

Concerning attempts to beat the heat, we’re guessing all Texans are giving it their best shot right about now. And huge kudos to the creatives making content that at least invites a cool mindset, even if we’re physically still melting.

In that vein, we especially appreciate Louisiana native Wendy Colonna for returning a favor to her current HQ. See, Colonna moved here to Austin at the turn of the millennium pretty much immediately after soaking up the beloved Barton Springs ambiance. And since embracing our city limits as her home, Colonna’s become a staple of the local scene thanks to her luscious soul-informed vocals, eagerness to form new bonds, and undying enthusiasm to collaborate.

Speaking of the latter, for her next collection The Paradigm Project, Colonna recruited some of Austin’s finest both for the in-studio arrangements and live performances. The roster includes The Belle Sounds frontwoman Noelle Hampton, Willie Nelson collaborator Matt Hubbard, and horn section leader Kevin Flatt, all of which you can see share the stage for a double single release show 7-10PM this Thursday at The Pershing alongside Suzanna Choffel, whose also a contributor to this Central Texas supergroup. So while Barton Springs remains the only public pool with a price this summer, Colonna looks back at two decades-worth of memories filtered through Edward’s Aquifer with “Inspired”. The music video puts you right on the waterfront, availing the rest of your senses to cool down with this heartwarming, horn-driven, Hampton co-penned piece of blue-eyed disco, no hula hoop required.


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Rett Smith: “Sunsets”

In terms of musical association, at least outside the world of film soundtracks, U.S. southwestern scenery often gets associated with country. But there’s a certain psychedelic quality to our regional deserts that we just love to see artists embrace. Folks like Rett Smith, based here in Austin, but bred out of West Texas, so you […]

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Ruel Thomas: “I Am Today”

Any profession requires quotas…whether that’s how many tickets you write or how many kids pass your class. And when music is your source of income, the obvious metric to measure by is quantity of shows played. But as with any creative endeavor, there’s an opportunity to move the needle in many directions, which makes “success” […]

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April 22, 2024

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors: “Suffering”

The very nature of Americana is rooted in traditional music. But it also lies at the crossroads between folk, country, and rock. So if an Americana act decides to veer into new lanes, the choices are limited and somewhat predictable. And yet it’s still such a joy to hear an artist explore new sonic territory, […]

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When you have roommates, at least good ones you get along with, group activities naturally arise around the house. For most folks, it’s watching TV, recreational smoking and drinking, or maybe the occasional board game. For musicians, however, having a practice space within eyeshot of your bedroom door is too good of a scenario to […]

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April 17, 2024

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We won’t say that successful collaborations should mandate a solo artist’s trajectory. But if something built together leaves people wanting more, it’s not a bad idea to get back together and sate those desires, right? Because what’s unachievable on the individual level often just needs to get catalyzed by some good collabo chemistry. So let’s […]

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