A Band Called Ma Archives - KUT & KUTX Studios

Austin-based shoegaze duo ‘A Band Called Ma’ is back and better than ever with the premiere of their latest single ‘Walker’, coming out on streaming platforms on September 27th. The unique two-piece comprises Austin Barker and Domonic Sena, who have been making music together under the project ‘A Band Called Ma’ since the beginning of 2023.

They are known around the Austin-scene for bringing a unique perspective to their songs; drawing inspiration from physical surroundings. We see this firsthand in their 2023 single, “Mountaintop” which bridges the relationship between natural environments and self-identity. Nonetheless, they are known to connect the gap between actuality and nature, as their Spotify bio says, “The project is heavily inspired by the vast alien landscape of Big Bend.” With their metaphor-filled lyrics and unique music-making process, this new project is a force to be reckoned with.

Influenced by Alex G, Radiohead, and other Alternative-Rock icons, ‘Walker’ does a phenomenal job of honoring the important aspects of the genre while paving their own eccentric path. With divine harmonizing and a strong instrument presence, A Band Called Ma knows exactly what direction the new music is going in, and “Walker” is nothing short of inspiring.

Be sure to stream ‘Walker’ on 9/27 and don’t miss their single release show tonight (9/26) at Hotel Vegas! They will be on at 11, following Lookalike at 9:30, Hanover at 10:15, and Futon Blonde at 11:45.

The days of flipping through the dictionary to help decide on a new band name are long gone, and not just due to digitization. No, even amidst exponential artist multiplicity, a good chunk of modern music makers have a penchant for near banal minimalism when it comes to titling their projects, even if it makes them nigh-unfindable at first. But of course, for every Q there’s a …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, and just some great sweet spots in between. Like earlier this year, Austinites Dominic Sena and Austin Barker wheeled out their Big Bend-inspired two-piece MA with “CALL”. But they quickly discovered that even with modifiers like “band” “music” and “Austin”, that MA was virtually unsearchable online. Since then they’ve wisely rebranded themselves as A Band Called Ma, and yes, it’s like A Tribe Called Quest, you say the whole thing. Don’t worry though, Barker and Sena still nurture future-nature sounds in the ilk of Alex G, Radiohead, and Brian Eno in their Daytime Moon home studio. And there’s plenty of proof in the pair’s third recording of the year “Mountaintop”, which just dropped this morning; sultry acoustic riffs softly expand against spacious percussion, ethereal electric guitar, and multi-tracked vocals for a real triumph that peaks with poignant spoken word and soaring saxophone before a splendidly steady descent.