Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

May 12, 2023

Wilson Marks: “Mother’s Day”

By: Jack Anderson

When it comes to songs about holidays (at least here in the U.S.), the most popular is of course Christmas, followed by Halloween, and perhaps…St. Patrick’s Day coming in at third? Either way, it’s a rarity to hear a “holiday” song that doesn’t lean into the Hallmark hokeyness.

But if there’s one thing that Wilson Marks does on any day of the calendar, it’s subvert expectations. On top of his life as an enthusiastic music educator and prolific sideman, this Austin singer-pianist-guitarist brought us two dozen genre-bending tunes through his first full-lengths, 2015’s What Was Made for Weathering and 2018’s Peregrine. By the time Wilson’s third dozen arrived in October 2020 with True Beauty Is in the Random, he’d established his own set of hallmarks: slick witticisms and lighthearted reflections on the flaws that unite us, instrumentation that’s carefully modified to capture a unique timbre, and an accessible style of pop that’s informed by folk and Crescent City jazz.

Marks and his backing band plan on releasing yet another full-length closer to the turn of Winter, padding out the inter-seasons with a more stripped-down EP. So with what may be your final reminder for Mother’s Day before the weekend, Wilson Marks shares one of his slinkiest singles to date. Rooted as always in true storytelling that doesn’t skimp on emotion, the simplicity and sincerity of “Mother’s Day” is shoe-in to mom’s heart, especially if she’s a fan of Graceland. And if you really want to wow her with a belated Mother’s Day date, consider taking her out to see Wilson Marks Trio live next Wednesday at the Elephant Room.


Episodes

May 21, 2025

Murry Hammond: “Take This Heart And Lock It Up”

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May 20, 2025

Eric Hilton- “Beautiful Moment”

For three decades, Eric Hilton and his groundbreaking electronic duo Thievery Corporation have been household names considered required listening for new electronic fans and general music enthusiasts alike. Their signature downtempo blend of dub, bossa nova, lounge, and club music finds its way in Hilton’s solo work as well. On his new compilation-like album Midnight […]

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May 19, 2025

Sydney Raneé: “Main Girl”

L.A. native Sydney Raneé is a tour de force. In the decade she’s been releasing music, her songs have been heard in several Lifetime movies and TV shows, including Tyler Perry’s Sistas, the Dynasty reboot, and MTV’s the Real World. She’s performed at the Daytime Emmys and has even garnered regular airplay in the UK. […]

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May 15, 2025

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Sometimes we need to revel in the melancholy to understand it and pick ourselves up, and sometimes we have to combat darkness with warm sunshine, finding growth and therapy in a catchy earworm. Such is the case for L.A. producer Jordan Topf AKA Windser, who mulls over and emotes on his mix of sadness and […]

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May 14, 2025

Britny Lobas: “You Can Have It” [PREMIERE]

Austin’s Britny Lobas is a pop rock powerhouse. Originally a member of the pop rock group Corbella, Lobas broke out on her own. But her volume of output is the opposite of her volume of talent and vocal power, preserving her song coins like the Four of Pentacles and methodically doling out one banger after […]

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May 13, 2025

Felt Out: “Fruit Cart”

Austin duo Felt Out (FKA “Emme” for you fellow 2010’s Austin music scenesters) mesmerize and catch audiences off-guard with their signature blend of kitchen-sink alt-pop — no sound or notion is off-the-table, one song can be metallic and the next quite earthy, with maybe a guitar as a shared element. But the infinitely-instrumentalist duo are […]

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May 12, 2025

Soccer Mommy: “Abigail” [Live In Studio 1A]

Nashville’s Sophie Allison has been releasing music as Soccer Mommy for almost a decade. Historically her albums are story-based outputs and we, the listener, are invited to have a sit and listen. Her latest album Evergreen however is simply a collection of great songs with some really great little surprises. “Abigail” is about the purple-haired, […]

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May 9, 2025

e. artifact: “Rightly Timed”

Songwriter and instrumentalist David Alvarez walks among the echelon of Austin musicians whose personal musical and production diversity has afforded them space in nearly every corner of the city’s music scene. Blackchyl, Sun June, and Dorio make up some of their repertoire, but now Alvarez has turned to focus on their own project, e. artifact. […]

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