Browsing Tag

Austin Pop

Blake Robert served Southern-twanged high-octane soul in his country pop-rock single, On My Mind

Posted on 10 August 2023

The Austin sound resounds in the eponymous debut country pop-rock album from the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Blake Robert.

The heart-on-sleeve standout single, On My Mind, spills Southern-twanged high-octane soul by the smorgasbord as the radio-ready production lends itself effortlessly well to drunk-in-love euphoria. With over two decades of experience crafting Eagles-esque earwormy guitar hooks, the rhythmically sharp ones implanted in On My Mind effortlessly reel you into the romanticism, which is just as magnetically sticky-sweet as the affectionate escapism found in Taylor Swift’s upbeat hits.

If you’re a fellow TX native and you can’t get enough of the debut album, catch Blake on his 2024 live tour through Austin, and keep him on your radar for more addictively energetic releases.

Blake Robert’s self-titled LP is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Austin’s smoothest folk-pop songwriter Carl Scogland reached the pinaccle of soul in his sun-soaked latest single, You & Me

Posted on 12 October 2022

After spending most of his teenage years in rock bands, Austin-based singer-songwriter, Carl Scogland, has moved into sunnier folk-pop territory. His latest single, You & Me, transcends the usual sounds of Texas to immerse his staunch fanbase of 17k monthly Spotify listeners into a sonically sweet loved-up declaration which pops with reggae nuances within the organically warming soundscape around the playful xylophone textures and funky rhythm section. There’s absolutely no overstating the intensity of the soul in You & Me, which easily matches the affable panache of Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Ben Harper.

He’s the kind of artist that could easily give his listeners unrealistic romantic expectations with the saccharine sentiments and even sweeter instrumentals. With his third album, Identity, in the pipeline, set to drop this winter, place him on your playlists to get your quintessential soul fix.

You & Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Texan trio, Tough on Fridays take us through a tender transition in their indie pop track, Growing Pains

Posted on 26 August 2022

With hints of the Cranberries and other iconic 90s pop contemporaries, Tough on Fridays delivered nostalgia with a cinematic edge that could make their latest single, Growing Pains, the highlight of the OST for the next coming-of-age Hollywood blockbuster.

The momentously oceanic single is definitive proof that the Texan trio has come a long way from where they started five years ago as an angst-driven duo. Lauded for their energetic performances and acclaimed in their home state, it is only a matter of time before Tough on Fridays reach the heights they are destined for. Growing Pains is undoubtedly one of the finest testaments to their songwriting tenacity to date; getting carried away with the simple yet efficaciously magnetic chords is pretty much non-optional.

Tough on Fridays’ latest single, Growing Pains, is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast