Project Traction: Volume 2 Archives - KUT & KUTX Studios

For a lot of industry folks who have “made it”, they’re more than happy to use their powers “for good” by helping to boost the profile of “the little guy”…to pretty much whoever’s willing to pay their fee. On the other hand, while Public Hi-Fi headmaster Jim Eno retains a well-deserved rate for most clients, his decades of experience have led to a keen observation; in the world of production, his peers rarely identify as women.

Whether you think of it as philogyny or affirmative action (just don’t call it a DEI endeavor), Project Traction (in its still-young run) has continued to provide strong opportunities for women looking to get some time behind the board in a producer/engineer role. And after the success of the inaugural Volume 1 ATX class of collaborations, Eno’s casting the net further North to tap into the Centennial State.

Yep, Project Traction’s Volume 2: Colorado compilation is chugging along and gearing up to release in full next year. As always, Eno’s there to chime in and give guidance as needed, but by and large, he’s letting these talented ladies have free reign in shaping their recording partners’ sound. The latest example? Fort Collins’ Co-Stanza finding middle ground with Ecuador’s Neoma with “Bet On Love”. In her very first outing producing someone else’s work, Neoma did an outstanding job of finding an ’80s-inspired niche for Co-Stanza’s emotional, breakup-imbued indie pop original, almost like The Cure cozied up to something a little more downtempo and acoustic. All in all? Nicely done and an impressive team effort.

Save for those with seemingly disposable resources, often nonprofits get stuck in their original stomping grounds. So when a local endeavor expands enough to inspire, incorporate, and impact folks far beyond their initial reach, it’s cause for celebration.

That brings us back to Project Traction, spearheaded by our personal favorite philogynist audiophile – Spoon drummer/Public Hi Fi producer-engineer Jim Eno. Through Project Traction, female and gender-fluid musicians pair up, put fresh perspectives in the producer’s chair and find middle ground with all-women artists. And sure, Eno is present to provide technical expertise and a keen editorial ear during these sessions, but really, it’s the women who turn Project Traction into such magic. Sadly though, the depressing lack of women-on-women productions isn’t just limited to the creators of Central Texas.

Thankfully though, Project Traction’s already gained enough ground to grow past Austin’s city limits and all the way up to Colorado. And the forthcoming Project Traction: Volume Two kicks off today with a pairing of Producer Briana Harris (alto saxophonist of Greeley soul nonet The Burroughs) with Denver indie rock trio Barbara. Together alongside Eno, Briana and Baraba have mind melded the masterfully-mixed, super moody “For Good Measure”. It starts off as a pretty simple, straightforward indie rocker, but just past the halfway point, the dynamics shift, the arrangement gets more abstract, and the overall artistry goes off the wall all the way to its beautifully abrupt final chord. Well done, ladies. Well done.