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Singer/songwriter JON MUQ Has Given Us The Incredibly Soulful New Single “Hear My Voice”

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Photo by : by Morgan Wommack

We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the new single, “Hear My Voice” from Uganda born, Austin,Texas based singer- songwriter Jon Muq. You can listen to “Hear My Voice” on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here. You can watch the video below

We immediately fell for the incredibly soul sound of singer-songwriter Jon Muq and his beautifully crafted new single , “Hear My Voice.

Photo by Morgan Wommack

“These days the world is sad, so I wanted to make happy songs,” says singer/songwriter JON MUQ. “I wanted to write songs that connected with the listener in a very personal way. When someone listens to my music, it’s not just about me and what I’m singing… I think these songs can speak many languages, depending on what you want from them.”

Music is part of a larger conversation Jon Muq is engaging in with the world. Drawing from African as well as Western musical trends and traditions, he creates songs as offerings to the world, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience. Muq explains, “This song is about the appreciation of my voice being heard as a migrant moving to and navigating a fast-paced new culture. If you have an opportunity, let your voice be heard.”

With heartfelt lyrics and melody, captured brilliantly by producer Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) and his hand-picked session musicians (Jay Bellerose [drums], Tommy Brenneck [bass/guitar], Tom Bukovac [guitar], Mike Rojas [keys], and Sam Bacco [percussion]), “Hear My Voice” offers a bright, light guitar part and cheerful percussion with a tinge of melancholy in the melody. The song feels like sunlight and love and warmth, and Muq has a talent to create music that can speak to all equally. Auerbach is also behind the production of Muq’s upcoming album Flying Away, to be released later this year.

Hot on the heels of the “Hear My Voice” release, Muq will be embarking on a North America Tour this Spring and Summer, on which he’ll be able to share his universally uplifting craft. Being from such a different part of the world, Muq is looking forward to “discovering more” about the U.S. “It’s always a pleasure to tour with amazing musicians. I’m excited,” he says. Kicking off April 15th in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live with GRAMMY®-nominated Valerie June (who shares the first four dates with him) and wrapping up on August 16th at Steamboat Springs, CO’s Strings in the Mountain, Muq will play his soulful music all over the country, at many incredible venues and festivals, including: Bonnaroo, Smoky Hill River Festival, Woof Stock, Calgary Folk Festival, Red Ants Pants Festival, Rocky Mountain Folk Festival, and more.

Jon Muq, is an absolute musical treasure, whose musical stylings needs to be cherished and heard . We can’t wait for more.

Penny & Sparrow Deliver Absolute Magic with New Single “Country”

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We recently had the golden opportunity to check out the new single “Country” from critically acclaimed Austin, Texas indie folk duo, Penny & Sparrow.(Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke) “Country” is the third single following “Ketamine “ featuring Tobe Nwigwe and “Mattering Ram” all three tracks will be included on Penny & Sparrow’s upcoming album Lefty to be released January 31, 2025. Catch the band at Austin City Limits on October 4. 

You can listen to “Country” Here

Penny & Sparrow have a unique one of a kind sound that warms the soul.”Country” from Penny & Sparrow feels like absolute breath of fresh air.

Penny & Sparrow produced the entire record with  few songs co-produced by their dear friend, Jonathan Oliphant. 

The band says, “We made Lefty 20 tracks long and gave ourselves acreage of song space to experiment. We wanted to record a double album for the challenge of it, and also for the chance to be sonically rangy and eccentric. The idea of offering all sorts of sounds, structures, melodies, and lyrical approaches in 20 songs was creatively exciting to us, so we did it. We helped build a recording studio in a buddy’s old toolshed and we made most of the record inside it. There were a few field trips to bigger studios in Florence, AL (Portside & SunDrop) but most of Lefty came from that retrofitted garden shed. We wanted to hold genre lightly and take a less curated approach to Lefty, so we followed our noses and made every song we wanted to along the way.”

The album highlights the duo’s ability to craft a distinctive “indie acoustic” sound while seamlessly blending elements from various genres due to their and their exceptional songwriting skills.

Take the single “Country,” for example—it initially comes across as pure country. However, with Penny & Sparrow’s unique touch, it seamlessly merges with indie folk influences. This track is just a glimpse of what fans can anticipate from the full album when it’s released.

We have fallen deep for “Country” from Penny & Sparrow. We are awash in the big beautiful, sweeping melodies and we can’t get enough . Do yourself a favor and go to your favorite music listening spot and get lost in the beauty of “Country” from Penny&Sparrow

You can Check Out Penny&Sparrow on Instagram Here and on Facebook Here

Urban Heat Turns It Up With Latest Gem “You’ve Got That Edge”

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We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the new single “You’ve Got That Edge” from Urban Heat .

You can listen to “You’ve Got That Edge” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

Post-punk darkwave underground faves Urban Heat absolutely slay with their latest single “You’ve Got That Edge “ which is from their upcoming album “The Tower” due on August 16th .

Credit Cathlin McCullough

Urban Heat artfully fusion of electronic and post-punk styles with an uncanny ability to write undeniably universal drop intoxicating hooks, the Austin-based band gives incredible and rousing performance, too – they’re currently on an extensive US Summer tour, which will be followed by a European tour with Molchat Doma in the fall. 

Lead singer Jonathan Horstmann says of the upcoming single, “This track is for anyone who looks in the mirror and doesn’t feel like the reflection is a good representation of who they really are… We wanted to remind anyone who feels isolated that they are a force of nature. 

This was the first song written for The Tower (their upcoming album out August 16th), and sonically it gave us permission to go to so many places. The verse is very synthpop but we bring in big guitars with a halftime breakdown. It’s a damn anthem. So many of our songs are about anxiety and fear and pain and it seems right to have something that feels so supportive emotionally to get everyone ready for the rest of the record. ‘Cause the rest of it hurts, lol.”

Credit Cathlin McCullough

We absolutely love everything about Urban Heat and their latest single “You Got That Edge “ Urban Heat , is a prime example of a band who isn’t afraid to bring a fresh inventive style and sound to a somewhat mundane musical landscape.

Skateland Delivers Big Time With Turbo Charged New Single “Autobahn!”

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We recently checked out the amazing new single “Autobahn!” from Austin based bedroom pop artist Skateland .

You can listen to “Autobahn” Here

You can also check out the video below

We were instantly taken by the mysterious and mesmerizing sounds and tones of “Autobahn!”

Dorian Williams II, known professionally as Skateland, is an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Austin, TX. After moving from Las Vegas to pursue a degree at the University of Texas, Williams began writing songs and experimenting with various instruments in his bedroom and Skateland was born.

Drawing from a wide variety of musical influences, he combines melancholy lyricism and new wave instrumentation with pop production techniques to create a sound that is equal parts past, present, and future. With Skateland, he often writes about autobiographical experiences, confiding, “I take emotions or feelings that I’ve gathered from certain experiences and package them into a format that’s accessible to anyone who listens. I think that’s why I love writing and recording music in non-traditional places as opposed to a fancy studio, writing a guitar part on my porch, jotting down song lyrics at a bar or cafe, tracking vocals in my bedroom etc., it feels like returning to the scene of that major life event and there’s an emotional power in that!”

His single “Autobahn!” explores the hills and valleys of love and relationships. He confides, “The narrator begins the song with what he presumes is a breakup speech, but somehow along the way concedes that for better or worse he will always love this person, and that the tough parts of loving someone are what make it worth it in the end.”

Skateland is the true definition of an artist, the creative energy that surrounds “Autobahn!” Is absolutely off the charts . You owe it to your ears to give “Autobahn!” a listen, you won’t regret it .

We Found Your New Favorite Song: The Road From Cowboy Diplomacy

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We recently stumbled across an amazing band Cowboy Diplomacy from Austin,Texas and their amazing single “The Road”

You can listen to “The Road” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

We are not going to beat around the bush here… Cowboy Diplomacy are one of the best bands we have heard all year .Cowboy Diplomacy, have an honest and authentic sound that will leave the toughest of tough speechless.

“The Road” a powerful, emotional, well written track that cannot be ignored.

Led by Ian Cochran (vocals, guitar), Brad Bentley (bass), and Matt Leslie (drums).

If you want to listen to a band that is firing on all cylinders, then look no further than Cowboy Diplomacy and their gem “The Road “

Brian Tell And The LoveMakers And Their New Single Definitely “Stand Out”

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We recently had the distinct honor of checking out the latest single “Stand Out” from Austin based Brian Tell And The LoveMakers .

You can listen to “Stand Out” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

We absolutely love the sound and vibe of Brian Tell And The LoveMakers it’s a modern sound with a throwback vibe to the garage band era in the 60’s Based in Austin, Texas, they take a direct, uncomplicated approach to songwriting that’s influenced by decades of rock, blues, and punk history. The result is a searing, style-bending sound that’s modern yet old school.

“Stand Out “ is an absolutely electric song with an addictive melody that you just can’t refuse . The band as a whole are solid unit with world class musicianship.

The band says, “Stand Out was the first material we all wrote together – essentially becoming a band and finding our sound. Max came up with a bass line, and we all joined in. We had played for months with my solo material, but this was the start of a new direction – and will continue with our upcoming releases”.

All former New Yorkers, the current line-up formed in Austin. The band consists of Brian Tell on vocals and guitar, Jason Desiderio on drums, Max Marschark on bass, and Stan Spring on lead guitar. Together, they’ve written Warm Weather Woman, Watching the News, and Stand Out. Recorded at the Ice Cream Factory, these songs were mixed by Dan Duszynski.

Brian Tell And The LoveMakers are a band we can’t not wait to watch in 2023 and beyond. We have a feeling big things are in store for these guys