Walker Lukens

Katherion: “Roses and Daisies”

Song of the Day is finally back from a much-needed break! And as a token of appreciation for everyone’s patience in the interim, we’ve got some great new picks to catch y’all up on, one of which made an inaugural streaming appearance just last weekend.

We’re talking about Katherine Yuna, also known as Rion Reed, but best recognized by their stage name amalgamation Katherion. This Houston native with growing Austin exposure has been singing their whole life and penning tunes for the past decade, but didn’t unlock and realize their true form as Katherion until a semi-recent, life-changing experience in guided psychoactive therapy.

True to their handle (pronounced “Kath-e-Ryan”), this project provides a healthy balance of masculine and feminine, spiritual and emotional, and sonically speaking…indie and alt-rock. In fact, ahead of their upcoming debut album 33, Katherion teamed up with indie-alt-rock innovator and Song of the Day favorite Walker Lukens to co-produce the record’s lead single, “Roses and Daisies”. So before we’re blessed with the full bouquet of unbridled acceptance on 33 later this Fall, which’ll also include the sophomore single “Thank You” in about a month’s time, bask in the refreshing fragrance of “Roses and Daisies”, whose authentic aromas alternate between vulnerable solo verses and defiant double-tracked choruses. By the time you get across the bridge and into the final hook, you’ll better understand Katherion’s admirable mission of empathy, uplift, and humanity’s mutual bonds, no matter how you identify.

Walker Lukens: “Man & Wife”

As a commemoration of factory personnel, harsh conditions, and tumultuous union strikes, Labor Day often loses its meaning for all the folks just enjoying a Monday off. But a century-plus later, we can still take a moment to appreciate some less-industrial aspects of life that often get taken for granted. For example keeping up a clean, appealing appearance usually takes a continued concerted effort, and once those looks help you land a partner for life, the work doesn’t stop; it’s a real labor of love to keep a marriage going strong past the initial honeymoon phase. Keep those in mind as we commend all the hard work Walker Lukens has done over the years. He’s elevated himself from mere multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter to a monolithic must-have producer-for-hire here in Austin, not to mention a concept-driven creator who’s helped mastermind the Song Confessional podcast and the vast Texas Wild collaboration. Still, seems like Walker’s got an undying hunger (and somehow enough time) to make great tunes on his own accord. On that note, this Friday Walker Lukens finally unleashes his fourth full-length Accessible Beauty, self-produced and recorded at Lukens’ Paradise Lunch recording studio. He’ll be taking these eight mellow originals on the road for a week-long East Coast tour in October ahead of three Central Texas shows in mid-December, including “The Last Walt” December 15th at The Paramount as part of KUTX’s 10th Birthday Concert Series. But even though the locals will have to wait a while to catch the new Walker live, Lukens was kind enough to toss us some early access to Accessible Beauty with the LP’s latest and final lead single. A spiritual sequel-of-sorts to this April’s “The One Who Loves You”, “Man & Wife” keeps the affection flowing with shimmering synths, vocal harmonies that weep with reverb, and a hard-rocking hook that gives this multi-coupling of sounds some tasteful dynamic range. So consider celebrating Labor Day with a spell of spontaneous romantic gestures that’ll reaffirm the work you’re willing to put into a relationship (be it currently in existence or a dream for the future). And even if you’re single by choice and plan on keeping it that way, the soft, mature sensuality of “Man & Wife” will make your inner beauty feel sexier and more readily available then it’s ever been on a Monday.

Sen. Roland Gutierrez on Uvalde, one year later

On the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Uvalde that left 19 fourth-graders and two teachers dead, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez says he’s still pushing for gun reform. Meanwhile, trust in police remains frail in Uvalde.

A report from Matamoros on migrants in limbo after the end of Title 42.

As Austin firefighters rack up millions in overtime, the department is working to address mental health needs.

And state officials team up with a Texas producer for a walk on the wild side: a musical celebration of Texas parks.

Artist Interview: The Tender Things – “One Like You”

The Tender Things cooked up a classic song based on reckless decision gone wrong. In Part 1, you heard the confession and The Tender Things’ live recording of “One Like You”. In this episode, when Walker talks with Jessie about the confession, how it inspired the song, self care, and a whole host of other fun stuff.

Got a story you want to confess and maybe have it turned into a song? Join the Song Confessional mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest episode, news, and the whereabouts of our confessional booth: https://songconfessional.com/connect.

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Confession & Song: The Tender Things – “One Like You”

The Tender Things cooked up a classic song based on reckless decision gone wrong. In Part 1, you’ll hear the confession and The Tender Things’ live recording of “One Like You”. Tune in for the next edition, when Walker talks with Jessie about the confession, how it inspired the song, self care, and a whole host of other fun stuff.

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Confession Response #2: Omg you drank my…

We’re back with the premiere of a new song that was submitted in response to our latest open confession call, in which a woman unknowingly drinks a container of…idk you’ll have to find out. This episode features the song “Wild at Heart” by Kelly Dugan. Walker and Zac break down the song and how it aligns so well with the confession.

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Walker Lukens: “The One Who Loves You”

If you weren’t already well aware, we here at KUTX love Walker Lukens; we shined our Artist of the Month spotlight on this perfectionist performer back in January 2015, right when Walker Lukens and (his backing band) The Side Arms released their Jim Eno-produced single “Every Night”, a tune that now totes more than two million streams on Spotify. Since then Walker’s sort of mimicked the mysterious monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, touching down to intrigue the masses and revolutionize listener experiences, but only when the moment is just right.

That’s not to say that Walker hasn’t kept busy since 2019’s ADULT, his final pre-pandemic piece of output. On top of dropping two more full-lengths and an EP, Lukens has been helping to interpolate flirty little secrets as one of the two masterminds behind The Song Confessional podcast. Walker’s also been graciously offering up his production prowess and fine-tuned formulas as a noble service for his fellow Texas creatives.

But as seductive as Walker’s sonic sorcery is in-studio, if you’ve seen him play live, you know how whetting it is to witness the carefully-crafted studio magic replicated almost identically onstage, expertly-cut a capella loops and all. So imagine our excitement this morning when Lukens announced his fourth studio full-length Accessible Beauty for release in August alongside plans for a promotional tour.

That welcome news arrived alongside Accessible Beauty‘s lead single, “The One Who Loves You”, a re-introduction to Walker’s retro-pop tastes. Between invigorating reverse guitar, sexy synth squelches, and processed vocals that soar through a torrid chorus, “The One Who Loves You” boasts an enormous sense of space that easily towers over most of Tame Impala’s less-intense installations. Wish you could express your feelings as fiery as Walker does? Just forward this one to whomever you carry a torch for and get ready for romance.

Artist Interview: Matthew Logan Vasquez – “Untouchable”

Matthew Logan Vasquez creates a song about a rich boy in west Texas who seems to get away with everything…including homicide. In Part 1, you heard the confession and the song. In this episode, Walker chats with Matthew about his work, the confession, and how it inspired his song “Untouchable”.

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Artist Interview: Ley Line – “The Call”

Ley Line – the multilingual folk band from Austin, Texas – creates a song based on a compelling and complex love story. In Part 1, you heard the confession and the song. In this part, Walker talks with Ley Line about the confession and how it inspired their song “The Call”.

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Coy O Té: “Never Enough”

As much as I miss seeing Walker Lukens & The Side Arms dominate marquees and show bills across town year-round, it’s been really neat watching Walker evolve from a frontman of many hats to a straight-up behind-the-scenes producer. In doing so, Walker’s been able to lend his idiosyncratic sense of sonics and production techniques to artists who might not necessarily have the ear to take their own tunes to the next level. Case in point: Austin’s Brett Hammann, better known by his stage name Coy O Té.

Like the eponymous critter sniffing out and snatching a nestled egg from the coop, Coy O Té started creeping up once Hammann dug up a set of demos he recorded in Nashville back in 2015. Rather than let them slip away into the aether, Hammann took those tracks straight to Walker Lukens and engineer Adam Mason to help groom Coy O Te’s coat in 2021, a process that’s led to Coy O Te’s debut EP, Chapter One: Randy’s Tavern, out tomorrow.

True to its title, Chapter One: Randy’s Tavern is an awesome first round of Coy O Té’s groovy western originals. And ahead of a trio performance next Tuesday at Hotel Vegas, today Coy O Te’s extended an invitation to join the pack early with Randy’s Tavern‘s final lead single. Following Walker’ Lukens’s signature formula of noncomplex vocal harmonies, reverb across the board, tasteful auxiliary percussion, and striking effects-drenched solo guitar, Hammann channels Division Bell-era David Gilmour as he questions a seemingly-insatiable canine appetite on “Never Enough”.

Confession Response #1: HS Queer Baiter

We’re ending 2022 with the premiere of 4 new songs that were submitted after our previous episode.

Songs from Caelin, Roman Kuebler, Steel Gemini, and M. Walker were inspired by last week’s episode about a queer baiter. Walker and Zac break down each song and how everyone had a different take on the confession itself.

After you give this a listen, give us a rating and review, and look for these artists wherever you listen to music.

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Confession Call #1: HS Queer Baiter

We’re trying something new here at Song Confessional and are calling on YOU to help us out.

If you’ve been following along and thinking to yourself, “I could have totally written a song for this confession!”, well now’s your chance!

We’re asking you to listen to this confession (taken at Red River Revel), write and record an original song inspired by it, and send it to us. If we like it, we’ll feature our favorites on the next episode of the show!

Your song doesn’t have to be studio quality. Record it on your phone, and produce it on an MPC, whatever your method is will work for us. Just make sure you follow the information and submission requirements in the google doc here. Submit your song no later than December 13th.

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Capyac – EarthMemory part 2

In this weeks’ episode of the Song Confessional, Walker sits down with Eric of Capyac to discuss last week’s crooked doctor’s confession.

They also discuss Capyac’s history and evolution as a band, how they manage song writing when living across the world from one another and how they booked their first national tour.

Check it out and if you like what you hear, give us 5 stars and a review!

Capyac – EarthMemory part 1

This week’s episode, features Capyac and the debut of their new song “EarthMemory”.

“EarthMemory” was inspired by a crooked doctor who gives out prescription drugs to his patients that are addicts as well as sleeps with them.

And keep your eyes to your podcast feed for next week when Walker sits down with Capyac to hear how they channeled this confession into their latest tune.

Pom Pom Squad – River part 2

This week Walker sat down with the brainchild of Pom Pom Squad, Mia Barren.

They discuss how crazy Pom Pom Squad’s 2022 has been including, touring across the globe, how Mia is taking care of herself amidst the chaos of touring, how she and her band have grown, and what parts of last week’s confession inspired her to write “River”.

If you haven’t heard part 1 before this, go back and listen to the confession as well as Zac and Walker’s thoughts on last week’s confession.

Pom Pom Squad – River part 1

This week’s episode features the confession that inspired Pom Pom Squad’s latest tune “River”.

In this episode, you’ll hear our confessor talk about how his father’s death led to his divorce. You’ll also hear Walker and Zac discuss this confession in-depth and share how they relate to our confessor. And you’ll hear “River” by Pom Pom Squad.

Be on the lookout for part 2 of our episode next week when Walker chats with Pom Pom Squad directly.

Superfónicos – Tu Voz

This week launches the first episode in our new season!

For the first time, we’re pulling an unreleased track from the vault inspired by the 2018 midterms.

Austin-based, Columbian fusion outfit, Superfónicos, wrote and live recorded a groovy track encouraging us all to get out and vote.

Full Fat Tony Interview Unedited

This is our last offering in our unedited interview series from the Hotel Magdalena season.

It features Fat Tony chopping it up with Walker about all things Houston and how beautiful it is to fall in love.

If you like our show, please rate and review us down below!