Artist of the Month

Chaparelle: “Devil’s Music” [Live In Studio 1A]

KUTX’s Artist of the Month program is powered by PNC Bank.

Texas band Chaparelle harkens back to a golden era of country with modern lyrics. What started as a mind-meld between Zella Day and Jesse Woods in 2023 not only evolved into a match on its way towards matrimony, but also into a trio, originally working with Beau Bedford in a producer role before he became part of the band full time. And it’s the magic among the three that puts Chaparelle on-track to be in the same discussions as Paul Cauthen, Leon Bridges, and Orville Peck (all artists Beauford has done production for).

The melodies, storytelling, and twangy vocals of Day and Woods set the group solidly in the modern era of golden country, and that power will be on full display this New Year’s Eve at Auditorium Shores with the Head & the Heart, The Point., and Tameca Jones. The show is free, all ages, and open to the public.

Teethe: “Holy Water” [Live In Studio 1A]

KUTX’s Artist of the Month program is powered by PNC Bank.

Our October Artist of the Month. Teethe was formed up in the DIY music enclave of Denton, all students of the University of North Texas. Now, with streaming numbers on their side, a move to Austin, and a European and east coast tour under their belt, the quartet is champing at the bit to keep their incisors sharp and their momentum growing.

While their debut album was an amalgamation of their individual songs synthesized together, their new album Magic of the Sale is wholly Teethe: a little no-wave; a little dark, dream pop; and a bit of that classic Denton DIY energy.

J’cuuzi: Fame by Death [Live in Studio 1A]

Today, we’re thrilled to highlight our July Artist of the Month, J’cuuzi. The Austin-by-way-of Atlanta punk duo, made up of Gorge Bones and Trey Razeldazl, have an insatiable appetite for the stage and pushing the boundaries of how they use it. They released their debut EP, SLUDGEcontent, in July, with their style that they’ve dubbed “pop-vantgarde.”

They brought their brand of indulgence with a live performance of “Fame By Death” in Studio 1A ahead of their July release, and we’re bringing it back to warm up the winter months!

If you want to see them command the stage live, they’ll be performing at the Holiday Hootenanny at Radio/East this weekend, alongside Shannon & The Clams, tUnE-yArDs, Rubblebucket, and many more. Learn more and get your tickets here.

Blue Cross policyholders could lose in-network care at Ascension

Austinites and many others across Texas insured through Blue Cross Blue Shield could lose in-network access to Ascension Seton facilities on Jan. 1 unless the two sides can agree on a new contract.

Austin has been a testing ground for autonomous vehicles: Zoox, Texla’s Robotaxi, Waymo. However, Waymo has now issued a software recall after videos showed some vehicles passing stopped Austin ISD buses.

Plus: 2025 is nearing its end, and what a year it’s been for the Austin music scene. We take a listen back to some of this year’s KUTX artists of the month.

Variety: “Subtropical” [Live In Studio 1A]

Rhys Woodruff has been a sterling songwriter throughout his adult life, with the single caveat that he has had very little interest in singing his own songs. Sure, his oscillations between art punk and post punk have led to some of the coolest songs heard in Austin clubs for years, but it took more than a tad of cajoling for him to take the mic into his own hand. His fellow bandmates in the trio Borzoi played a little friendly hardball (you know how guys show love and support of each other), and now with his own group Variety, Woodruff is reaping the benefits of getting out of your own way and embracing the full monty.

Variety’s debut album, Subtropical, is Woodruff turning inward and tying precious, intimate details and broad strokes of his life to parts of Texas’s natural beauty. The manifestation of this conduit is an album that, on its head, is an interesting, if not sometimes meditative, listen, but also an invitation to his soul. And as the band name implies, this has been the start of something new, but not necessarily static. What comes next is sure to be just as enticing, regardless of the pivot.

Variety plays arguably the biggest show of their career to date this Saturday at Radio/East for the annual Holiday Hootenany, sharing the stage with Shannon & the Clams, tUnE-yArDs, Rubblebucket, and a swath of local gems.

Anastasia Hera: “Ambitions” [Live In Studio 1A]

Austin R&B and hip-hop artist Anastasia Hera is busy lady. This year alone, she released her album Way Outside; played our Scholz Garten show during SXSW; and her deft lyrics, sultry vocals, and smooth, earwormy beats led her to become our February Artist of the Month. All while running her non-profit CAKE (Creativity, Abundance, Knowledge, Education), a non-profit empowering and educating women pursuing music careers.

To pair nicely with the cloudy wintery weather outside, we’re revisiting her Studio 1A from February to cuddle with you all cozy like.

Next of Kin: “Jekyll & Hyde” [Live in Studio 1A]

To say Next of Kin have had a successful year would be an understatement. After almost two years of anticipation, our April Artist of the Month released their debut Ep Homemaker in May, punctuated by two sold-out shows at the Continental Club. Since then, they’ve made their ACL Fest debut, modeled for Austin FC’s Live from ATX capsule collection, and were invited to dig through the archives of Texas Monthly.

Next of Kin is rounding out their triumphant year with a New Year’s Eve show at Antone’s joined by Nane, TC Superstar, and Quentin Aspire, presented by KUTX.

Gus Baldwin & The Sketch: “Itch” (Live in Studio 1A)

Every December, we celebrate the year’s class of 11 Artists of the Month by filling your airwaves, throwing back to Studio 1A’s and My KUTX DJ sets, and giving the year a proper Austin music sendoff. We’ll also be revisiting some of the Studio 1A songs here on Song of the Day, which means you get another chance to grab a free download of these live tracks.

We’re kicking off December with our March Artist of the Month Gus Baldwin & the Sketch, who released their debut album, The Sketch, at the beginning of 2025. After playing shows with Frankie & the Witch Fingers and Hinds during SXSW, the quartet hit the road twice, including their November stint opening for Mississippi band Bass Drum of Death on the southwest and west coast leg of their tour and frontman Gus Baldwin releasing his debut solo album in October.

Ahead of their next show next Saturday, December 13th at Chess Club, we’re revisiting their raucous, high-octane Studio 1A session.

This Song: The Bishops on “Soundtrack to My Life” by Kid Cudi

Our May Artist of the Month- The Bishops explain that hearing “Soundtrack to My Life” by Kid Cudi for the first time as middle schoolers changed what they thought hip-hop music could be. Kid Cudi spends the song highlighting his negative mental health, an idea that Cara and Troy Bishop hadn’t heard before in the artists they were listening to at the time like Lil’ Wayne and 50 Cent. It led them to write songs that have an emphasis on being lyrically vulnerable, a mission that they hope to continue with each new release. Explains Cara “I’ll always want to be vulnerable in songs because I know other people are too and the fact that they are means we can connect to each other.”

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Listen to to the Bishops My KUTX Guest DJ Set

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This Song: Bayonne (rerun)

The Beach Boys song “God Only Knows” isn’t just one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, it’s one of the most heartfelt expressions of loss and grief ever recorded. For Bayonne, the song taught him the power of vulnerability and openness and how to embrace it in his own music. As Bayonne says, it allows the listener to get a “crystal clear understanding of things” and while this moment is “fleeting”, it is worthwhile. Bayonne is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for February.

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Listen to Bayonne’s new record Drastic Measures

Check out Bayonne’s Tour Dates

Check out Bayonne’s performance in Studio 1A

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This Song: Shy Beast

Shy Beast front woman Mariclaire Glaeser describes how the music of the Cardigans helped her navigate a difficult childhood, bond with her older brother and find her musical way.

Shy Beast is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for January

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Watch the video for “Leave Me/Let Me”

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Watch Shy Beast’s Perform “Leave Me/Let Me” in Studio 1A

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This Song: Zettajoule

On this episode of This Song, Meggan Carney and Matt Sheffer of Austin’s Zettajoule tell us how Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God)” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” helped them expand their ideas about the possibilities of pop music and explain what inspired them to record their new low-fi electronic EP, Always Looking Up, on an iPhone.

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Zettajoule is our KUTX Artist of the Month

Watch Zettajoule’s video for “No Thank You”

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This Song: Mélat

Austin based R&B artist Mélat just released her latest record Move Me II: The Present. Listen as she explains how two very different songs –Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “Misty” and Mariah Carey’s version of “Always Be My Baby” — helped her understand the deep connection between music and emotion.

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Mélat is playing KUTX’s Live at the Four Seasons during SXSW. See the full lineup here

See Mélat live at Stubb’s Austin on Friday April 6th

Listen to Songs from Episode 119 of This Song