For years now, we’ve been in a bit of a cuffing season with former KUTX Artist of the Month Skateland‘s synth-driven dream pop that’s as delectable and ethereal as the roller rink of his stage name origins. It’s cozy, groovy, and hypnotic all at the same time. After years of breadcrumbing us singles, he’s releasing his debut album Heavenly Bodies, and he’s celebrating the album release tonight at 3Ten ACL Live with Holy Wire and Somebody Somewhere before climbing out of the covers and from under the warm, soft lights and kicking off a 10-day tour next month.
Skateland
Skateland: “Postcards” (Recorded Live in Studio 1A)
As Love Austin Music Months enters the home stretch, let’s visit a recent Studio 1A from an old friend. Skateland played our Free Week Show in 2023, and the next month he was our Artist of the Month ahead of his debut EP New Wave Revivial. In the almost two years since, he’s played SXSW each year, made an impression on the LA music scene, enjoyed attention from national publications, and opened for Foster the People last October for ACL Nights. And all the while, he’s been a PhD candidate here at UT. I know, right?
Skateland returned to Studio 1A earlier this month to perform songs from his sophomore EP Joyce Howell, How Are You? And I’ll say this: he’s really mastered how to bring the bedroom sound to a full crowd. He brings his behavioral psychology expertise to “Postcards,” a reflection on screen-focused bad habits as experienced and empathized by the general human condition.
Joyce Howell, How Are You? is out now.
Skateland: “Wreck”
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.