R&B

A Love Letter to Austin Blogs

Confucius and Fresh discuss Dez Bryant’s statement that Drake made Houston rap famous, and talk about how excited they are about the new batch of hip-hop platforms in Austin, TX.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how Gerald Levert got Cam’ron to leave the streets alone, how DJ Quik helped on 50 Cents’ song “In Da Club,” how Aaliyah made it on a Kriss Kross song, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that record labels don’t owe anything to artists who’ve broken the law.

Confucius talks about the recently recovered documents at President Biden’s house, TCU’s recent loss, Dre Dre’s showdown with Marjorie Taylor Greene, and more in Confucius Reads the News.

We’re still only in the first handful of days for 2023, and in the Live Music Capital of the World…you know what that means. It’s Free Week! And if you haven’t heard yet, KUTX has a locally-curated showcase coming up in a couple days. It’ll kick off 8PM this Friday at Cheer Up Charlie’s with a bill that includes Como Las Movies, Redbud, 10pmtoclose and Skateland. Born Dorian Williams II, this multi-instrumentalist/singer/producer came to Austin from Las Vegas in pursuit of a degree at UT. But as with many other young creatives, Austin’s artistic aura helped sway Williams to also cement a musical project of his own, Skateland. Skateland’s trucks balance between moody alt-pop and tranquil indie-shoegaze, like if St. Vincent and Weyes Blood were grinding rails and transferring pipes alongside Beach House and Alvvays in the same park. Sure, Skateland’s only got a couple studio singles out as of now, but both of ’em are sensationally mellow cross-genre bops. As such, Skateland put his formula right there in the title of his upcoming debut EP: New Wave Revival. We’re looking forward to more lyrical gloom, retro instrumentation, and proven pop production methods when New Wave Revival drops on February 16th, and during Skateland’s set 9:40PM on Friday. Just don’t let his latest Weeknd-esque earworm (and music video) “Wreck” wipe out your productivity this Wednesday.

Texas’ top musical moments of the year

From the highlights to the blue notes, what happened in the world of Texas music in 2022. A Texas country music legend says goodbye to the road that goes on forever; our conversation with Robert Earl Keene. Also a renaissance for one of the best know Texas artists of all time: the impact of Beyonce’s 7th album, an homage to house and disco music. And Adrian Quesada turns up the volume on a rediscovered musical genre with his Boleros Psicodélicos. A lonestar-studded review of the year, today on the Texas Standard:

Let’s Hear it for the Ladies of ATX

Confucius and Fresh talk about why women are ruling Austin’s R&B scene, and discuss why Spotify is winning the streaming wars.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about TLC’s original name, the album Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest never made, Dr. Dre’s favorite album, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Deion Sanders’ leaving Jackson State University is a bad move, mostly because his time at the HBCU did nothing to improve the standing of HBCU football long-term.

Confucius talks about Brittney Griner’s release, the NC blackout caused by a woman who wanted to stop a drag show, Raphael Warnock’s win in Georgia, and more.

David Shabani: “Holiday Blues”

It’s the final five features for Song of the Day‘s 2022 season. We’re taking a vacation for a couple weeks, but don’t fret; we’ll be back bright and early next year. Until then we’re hanging some of the very best musical mistletoe of the past months, starting off with Austin’s own David Shabani. Born in Paris and raised in Canada, Shabani’s blessed the Live Music Capital with gripping alternative hip-hop in the vein of Lupe Fiasco, Childish Gambino, Kaytranada, and Kid Cudi. Shabani’s outstanding verbal skills, butter-smooth singing, and brilliant taste in beats have earned him supporting spots for international icons like Ashanti and Trinidad James, local legends Black Joe Lewis and Blackillac, and consistent placement as an airwave heavyweight on our Hip-Hop/R&B specialty show The Breaks. After nearly thirty live appearances since January, Shabani, along with his backing group The Nu Leopards, have had a pretty good year for themselves. Considering Shabani’s motto (“I feel good right now”), being in the moment is a gift available to anyone, anywhere. So even if you’ve got a stocking full of “Holiday Blues”, the sleigh bells, slick instrumentation, and modern Dickensian storytelling of Shabani’s latest single ought to keep your heart warm for the winter.

waverly: “overcomplicated” (feat. mHart)

Trap-pop. It’s decidedly a young person’s game. I mean sure, you’ve got “older” folks like Drake and Doja Cat purveying it on the Billboard charts but really, the target demographic and the generation who’s going to take it to the next level are people in their teens and twenties. Which brings us to Wil Brookhart. Born in Cambodia and now based right here in Austin, Brookhart’s been no stranger to collaborations in recent years; a continuing contributor and Artist Instructor for Mother Falcon Music Lab, this multi-instrumentalist/producer has also helped shape the sound of Carley Bearden, fruit collective, and most recently Casie Luong. Throughout all those endeavors, Brookhar balanced guitar-driven indie with MIDI-textured R&B, but his jump from producer to solo songwriter is really what propelled Brookhart into the big top of pop trapeze within the past year. That shift coincided with the adoption of a new handle, waverly, and the release of four standalone singles since April. Electric guitar is still the central instrument, but beats, bass, synth pads, and now, Brookhart’s processed-yet-velvety vocals complement these otherwise-spacious arrangements. Today, on Brookhart’s 24th birthday, waverly stirs a little bit of Juice WRLD into a three-minute sonic smoothie. Unmarred by complex techniques or convoluted chord changes, the simplicity of “overcomplicated” (compared with its emotional weight) is what guarantees it to be an enduring, widely-accessible earworm.

Arya: “i’d rather lose you”

No matter the kind of creative, a hard pivot takes a lot of guts. Be it George Carlin dropping “straight” in favor of “straight up” or Danielle Ponder leaving her legal firm to focus on her pipes, those risky shifts can end up being unique, life-changing gifts. Among the more recent entries into that roster? Serbian national Arya.

You see, Arya spent about a decade and a half back in Belgrade behind a Baby Grand; ten-plus years of classical piano coupled with a Bachelor’s in Jazz. Yet despite becoming a certified ace on the ivories, the fulfillment of contemporary innovation wasn’t exactly there.

Now, as Austinites, we won’t claim that it was the Live Music Capital that turned Arya into the rising star she is today. However, it was Arya’s move to Texas that coincided with her 2019 debut EP it wasn’t love. That record introduced the world to a daring, new, and authentically-emotional pop-R&B voice, no doubt well-informed by her mastery of jazz and classical theory. On top of all that talent, she seems like an outstanding human being as well! Arya’s last single, “Bed”, came alongside her “Better Every Day” merch line, which donates proceeds directly to Austin’s beloved SIMS Foundation.

Arya’s been plugging away at her debut visual EP Insides, but with 2022 quickly coming to a close, she’d be remiss if she didn’t go out in full R&B-stunner style. At 7:30PM tonight at Pedernales Station, Arya unfurls the live rendition of her latest single “i’d rather lose you”, with tattoos by Slowpoke Marfa, free drinks, and more. Can’t make it? No problem. The heavenly piano chords, angelic vocals, and soaring synth bass of “i’d rather lose you” are enough to make you pray for more right away.

WhooKilledKenny: “Teach Her the Game”

Our Saturday night specialty program The Breaks does a great job of highlighting hip-hop from the heart of Texas. But with an increasing number of émigrés ditching the Lone Star State for greener pastures out West and elsewhere, The Breaks simply can’t catch everything. Because of that, today we’re spinnin’ some new stuff from native Austinite WhooKilledKenny, who currently calls Los Angeles home.

As a die-hard South Park fanatic, it’s hard not to react, “you know…they; they’re…they’re bastards…” when you see that handle. So when you hear the militant discipline within this mid-twenties vocalist (and learn that his namesake actually stems from a potential lawsuit on behalf of Kenny G), you can tell WKK’s flow is no joke. Following up his 2021 debut No Refunds, WhooKilledKenny coasted in halfway through October with his sophomore five-track Strictly Business. Sonically it’s a far cry from EPMD’s ’88 debut, but its consistent themes and production style provide for a similar, seminal experience.

Hot off Strictly Business, WhooKilledKenny has been popping up on Spotify advertisements around Austin, almost as a sort of homecoming. If you want to show some love for a fellow Austin native (wherever you may be), toss a like onto one of Strictly Business‘ centerpieces (and music videos), the R&B-rap winner “Teach Her the Game”!

Torre Blake: “Back To You” (prod. Megz Kelli & Jim Eno)

Way back in March we helped to introduce Project Traction, a mentorship program from engineer extraordinaire Jim Eno designed to level the playing field for women and non-binary creatives in the world of production. Well, Project Traction’s got a new batch of tracks, the first of which is a real groove seducer.

About-town Austinites (and loyal fans of The Breaks worldwide) can vouch for the powerhouse passion bestowed in R&B stunner Torre Blake, while local hip-hop connoisseurs will testify to Megz Kelli (of Magna Carda)’s polymath magnificence. But can you imagine what it’d be like if they put in time together at Public Hi-Fi?

It’s not just the stuff of dreams; today Project Traction proudly unveils the latest Jim Eno co-production. Entitled “Back To You”, this one-of-a-kind collaboration captivates straight from the first drum fill. The ensuing synth-guitar sensuality, reverb’d up vocals, coquettish keys, and guest rap verse could easily make high-collaboration stalwarts like Quincy Jones quiver in joy.

Danielle Ponder: “Someone Like You” (ACL Fest Pop-Up)

It’s the first day of our Fall Membership Drive and the final day of sharing our ACL Fest Pop-Up performances…so we saved the best for last. True to her surname, Danielle Ponder has no holds spending time deep in thought. In fact, that introspection somewhat recently led her to an objectively risky shift – leaving the financial security of life as a lawyer to pursue her dreams of becoming an R&B-soul “songstress”. From where we’re standing, seems like that decision’s paid off plentifully. Ponder put her potent vocals on display with her mid-September debut full-length Some Of Us Are Brave before blowing the top off the T-Mobile Stage last Sunday at ACL. Danielle kept the momentum barreling with a broken-down six-string-and-singer arrangement of “Someone Like You” for our multi-media team…an intimate gift we now extend to you.

Jake Lloyd: “Sweat”

Weekend Two of ACL, baby! Those gates are wide open and ready to receive fest-goers of all kinds. For those who’ll be out at Zilker early tomorrow, you shouldn’t have a lot of trouble getting close up to the T-Mobile stage for a favorite of The Breaks and beyond, R&B vocalist-songwriter-producer Jake Lloyd. Along with our August 2022 Artist of the Month Deezie Brown Jake Lloyd makes up one half of Geto Gala, and be he paired up or strictly solo, you can always tell how much pure passion is stored in his pores.

The temps don’t look terrible for this weekend, but knowing Jake’s work and performance ethic, he’s sure to work up something 12:45PM this Saturday, whatever the weather. We’ve included a couple pop-ups from the past below to get a sense of what to expect. However, if you’re the type to lock into an artist and learn all the lyrics so you can impress your festy-bestie by singing along in concert, check out the full video and animated short for Jake’s latest banger. Wonder what ’80s-era Stevie Wonder would sound like if he’d ever teamed up with Sir Mix-a-Lot in his prime? Simply press start on “Sweat”, another outstanding entry into Jake Lloyd’s already-resplendent discography.

J Soulja: “BUTTA” (prod. Cush With A C)

The dust may still be settling from Weekend One of ACL, but if the past three days of festin’ just weren’t enough for you, we’ve got a whole new batch of recommendations. Big fans of The Breaks ought to recognize the name J Soulja as one of the specialty show’s longest heavy rotation mainstays, and this Saturday you can catch the official Swisher Sweet endorser 12pm on the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage.

With a creative appetite that’s as voracious as his verses, J Soulja’s creamy blend of hip-hop and R&B makes for a great appetizer to start your Saturday at ACL. We’re a little bummed his performance is scheduled at the same time as fellow Breaks favorite Jake Lloyd, but given the close proximity between the Tito’s and T-Mobile Stages, you can probably squeeze in both locals with just a quick jaunt. Regardless, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that J Soulja cuts into his latest Cush With A C-produced blunt-ready bop, “BUTTA”.

THEBROSFRESH: “Consequence Remains”

Well folks, it’s finally that time of year; Austin City Limits Music Festival is upon us, so for the next couple weeks we’ll be highlighting acts you ought not miss. And today we start off strong with a six-string sibling escapade. Since their 2018 EP Hereditary, Baton Rouge brothers Thurman and Torrence Thomas have balanced their instrumental, vocal, and production talents as THEBROSFRESH. Lately the Austin duo’s been describing their Shea butter-smooth sound as “GuitaR&B” (like a truncated two-man version of D’Angelo and the Vanguard), but a quick listen to their evolving discography reveals earlier elements of upbeat ’80s-esque synth-pop and unhurried, ’90s-style melody-driven hip-hop.

Even in light of an oft-coordinated wardrobe, THEBROSFRESH manage to breathe freely across a variety of subgenres both in-person and in-studio. And hot off a recent appearance out at El Cosmico in Marfa, they’ll be taking the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage 1:30PM this Friday at ACL Fest. So prepare yourself for a forty-five minute set of handsome harmonies, pristine pipes, perfectly polished arrangements, and heart-rattling beats with old and new bangers like the nuanced, chillingly-catchy “Consequence Remains”.

Azurah Vibez: “Headbanger” (prod. D-Madness)

Austin’s R&B scene…it’s out there; you just gotta know where to look. Now, we’ve kept a close watch on Mélat, Anastasia Hera & The Heroes, and Daniel Fears…but another Texas native has you’ll want to keep on your R&B radar is Azurah Vibez. There’s a chance you recognize the name from a feature we did a couple years back on Brighton Beach’s DVMA/Dama Nilz, but much more likely you’ve seen her name on bills opening for Justin Timberlake, P-Funk, Stevie Wonder, and Black Puma’s Jaron Marshall. In the pre-pandemic days, Azurah also curated the Soapbox Sessions Open Mic series alongside her Musical Director/House Band Leader D-Madness. And yet, in the eyes of the public, her immaculate set of pipes have yet to appear within Azurah Vibez’ azimuth. However, this past year, that all changed.

At the tail end of February, Azurah Vibez dropped her debut studio single, the reggae-R&B foot-rocker “Lover’s Paradise”, following it up with her sophomore “Headbanger” in mid-August. Once again produced by D-Madness, “Headbanger” immediately begs comparison to Dangerously In Love-era Beyoncé and’ll leave you eager for AZ’s first full-length (due out next year). With D-Madness’ MIDI flutes, live drums, and sensational six-string skills, Azurah Vibez received an ideal backdrop to go all out on “Headbanger”. And as tantalizing as “Headbanger” is on its own, it’s nothing compared to the song’s visual counterpart, which voraciously gyrates its way into the ever-growing collection of greatest twerk videos (from Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Lizzo, and more).

Wes Denzel: “Zodiac Killer”

Astrology. It’s a one-of-a-kind litmus test in casual conversation; either people will scoff at you for believing that gobbledegook or chastise you for not knowing your ascendant. But if there’s one demographic who seems to get a unanimous pass, it’s lyricists. From Deep Purple’s “Maybe I’m a Leo” to Des’ree’s “What’s Your Sign?” and Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” to The Supremes’ “No Matter What Sign You Are”, perusing the daily horoscope appears to do pretty well. And as you can tell from that grocery list of greats, genre constraints have no place in the world of celestial phenomena. Which brings us to hip-hop/R&B renaissance man Wes Denzel. To say this San Antonio vocalist/producer is a beast on the mic and a scholar in his rhyme book…well that’s just a criminal understatement. I mean, he’s opened for both Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. As a matter of fact, we even named Wes Denzel our February 2021 Artist of the Month surrounding his LP I Was Almost Happy. And with the recent release of his fifth single of 2022, the elements seem to be aligning in Denzel’s favor. The latest track pays tribute to Tyrese’s 2002 baby-maker “Signs of Love Makin'” with a steaming, astrologically-sprawling piece of funk-soul sensuality, “Zodiac Killer”.

9m88: “Love Is So Cruel”

Ranging from Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA & GZA to Austin’s own Slothrust, the first step to truly appreciating an artist is knowing how to say their name correctly. So even though 9m88 may sound more like a robotic bounty hunter to a Native English speaker, when we loosely translate from phonetic Taiwanese, the actual pronunciation rolls off the tongue much more easily, “Jo-m-Baba” or “Joanne Baba”. With a voice like a Taiwanese Alina Baraz, 9m88’s jazzy spin on pop-R&B jostled listener expectations in the best way possible on her 2019 debut LP Beyond Mediocrity.

In the two formative years since then, 9m88’s entered her thirties and jettisoned some of Beyond Mediocrity‘s playful juvenescence in favor of a more mature mindset. To match that elevation, 9m88 recruited producers from across the globe to contribute to her sophomore full-length 9m88 Radio, which just came out yesterday. And just like a good station, it’s tough to pick only one bop off 9m88 Radio as a personal favorite, but the accompanying music video makes it easy enough to nominate the lush, Arthur Moon-produced banger “Love Is So Cruel”.

Casie Luong & waverly: “blessing”

There’s an adage that’s true for many things, but especially applicable to high-caliber collaborations; “you can’t rush greatness.” In the case of queer, second generation Vietnamese-American songwriter Casie Luong and Cambodian-born producer Wil Brookhart (who recently rebranded himself as waverly), they’ve actually known each other for quite some time, thanks to the Mother Falcon Music Lab, of which both are faculty members. Their mutual interest in the modern pop-R&B sound has overlapped their personal friendship for awhile, but it’s only been within the past year or two that they’ve actually made music together.

Inspired by the flirty, mischievous tones of Ariana Grande’s 2020 LP Positions, Casie Luong crafted the first draft of “blessing” at home over pastries and coffee last Fall. And while we’re sure that initial version was more than just a morsel, with the implementation of slick drum programming, vocal effects, and synthetically plucked strings (almost a call back to Mother Falcon), waverly has helped turn “blessing” into an absolute trap-R&B treat. Fingers crossed that this the first of many collaborations between waverly and Luong, and the best of luck to them on their journey to increase Southeast Asian representation down here in the Lone Star State and impact the demographics of mainstream music culture.

Daniel Fears: “Keep On”

It’s been a little under a year since we named Daniel Fears as our July 2021 Artist of the Month, right around the time he shared his debut EP Canopy. Since then this multi-instrumentalist-producer has had no problem selling out shows, thanks to his velvety vocals, intimate lyrics, and surreal R&B soundscapes. And although Fears’ style has been compared most frequently to that of Frank Ocean, it’s the endearing magic of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On that’s inspired Fears’ songwriting more recently.

That same sense of socially-conscious progressive-soul is present throughout Daniel Fears’ upcoming sophomore EP. His already-impeccable singing skills are somehow even stronger than on Canopy, giving Samm Henshaw and Daniel Caesar a genuine run for their money. Today Daniel Fears released the first single from that upcoming album, whose title, “Keep On”, immediately recalls the colloquial naming conventions of What’s Going On standout “Right On”. This poignant champion of pandemic-era perseverance is Fears’ most personal track to date, and staying true to the multi-media approach taken on Canopy, “Keep On” is accompanied by a gorgeous music video that features longtime KUT contributor Nadia Hamdan.

waverly: “every little thing”

Wil Brookhart’s neo-classical background has given him a leg-up on his contemporaries, but it certainly hasn’t defined his sound. Now based in Austin, this Cambodian-born multi-instrumentalist first popped on the radar with his eponymously-released 2019 debut “Warden”, then dove head-first into synth-and-guitar-driven-R&B as producer for Denton’s Carley Bearden, and co-founded the national collaboration Fruit Collective last summer. This year Brookhart’s production and songwriting talents collide once again and emerge under a new handle, waverly. With waverly, Brookhart maintains a indie-pop-R&B sensibility but has complete control over melody, lyrics, and arrangement. His keen ear and masterful mixing have both in the three brief years since “Warden”, allowing his already-subdued sonics to sink in in an even more understated way. The first sultry entry into waverly’s budding, all-lowercase discography dropped today, so back off the passionate voicemails and instead soak up “every little thing”!

Traetwothree: “Stuck In My Ways” (feat. Blueface)

Everyone’s referencing “four twenty” on this Wednesday, but if you’re sick of all the pot talk, you may want to shift your focus to another set of symbolic numbers: 323. That’s the area code for South Central, Los Angeles, which is the handle inspiration and home base for rising R&B star Traetwothree. And as opposed to the 40 oz-guzzling, blunt-passing braggadocio of ’90s West Coast hip-hop, Traetwothree tries to recreate the nighttime aesthetic of South Central – somewhere between sensual, introspective, and vulnerable. His half-rapped/half-sung style is plenty confident without being egregiously arrogant, and his use of auto-tune is more of a stylistic choice rather than a pitch-correcting necessity.

So far we’ve only had singles from Traetwothree, going back to 2019’s “Natural” but next Friday he’ll be releasing his debut mixtape, Out The District. At just shy of a dozen tracks, Out The District ushers in a new era of urban R&B for the 2020s, with crystal clear production, jazz-inspired chord progressions, and Traetwothree’s liquid vocals. Each track packs an infectious groove and relatable imagery, most notably on “Stuck In My Ways”, where Traetwothree’s in-the-pocket singing is balanced out by bars from fellow Los Angeleno Blueface.