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.

When you first hear of a genre called “heartland rock”…what do you think of? Well according to Austin outfit Buzzard Company, its inspirations lie in blues, garage rock, psychedelia, grunge, and of course, Americana. Buzzard Company got started as a duo in 2019, but rather than let a little global pandemic pick the meat off their project, they’ve since doubled their numbers, now performing as a quartet. That said, the uncertainty of COVID’s been a major factor in Buzzard Company’s “no fluff” approach to lyrics and arrangement.

Buzzard Company spent a good portion of 2021 recording their debut EP, due out later this year. They’ll be playing a free single release show this Friday at ABGB along with The Lewd Dudes and Rankin Fetzer, who celebrates the evening with his own album release. These rambunctious birds of prey shared that new track (“Ghost Town Livin’ Blues”) with us ahead of time, so if you’re looking for a rowdy re-frame of social distancing and quarantine conditions, look no further than Buzzard Company.

For people of my generation, the name “Fat Tony” immediately conjures an image of the tired-eye mafioso voiced by Joe Mantegna on The Simpsons. And although rapper Anthony Obi is something of a character himself, his passion and dedication to his craft is no joke. Raised in the historic Third Ward, Obi received the Houston Press Music Award for ‘Best Underground Hip Hop’ consecutively from 2008 to 2010, and made his studio debut as Fat Tony with the 2010 LP RABDARGAB. Fat Tony’s rapid-fire lyrical style, experimental ambitions, and disregard for genre restraints have earned Obi collaborations with the likes of Das Racist, A$AP Rocky, and fellow, legendary Houstonian Bun B.

Fat Tony’s latest full-length Exotica showed off a level of maturity that’s distinctly mid-thirties, priming Obi for his own 4:44 in the next decade. But the two biggest pieces of recent news from Fat Tony is his appearance on the latest episode of Song Confessional and an opening spot this Friday at Empire Control Room for Oblivion Access Festival, headlined by Danny Brown. So get your tickets while they last, and even if you’d prefer to stay home this weekend, check out the spasmodic rock and hypnotic flow of Song Confessional‘s “Sugar Daddy”!

What if you took the drummer for Gary Clark Jr., the bassist for David Bowie, and one of the ringleaders of Glorietta and put them together into a new band? Well it turns out you don’t have to use your imagination for this one. Introducing Branzino! For years David Bowie/Blackstar bass player Tim Lefebvre and Gary Clark Jr. percussionist JJ Johnson built a rapport within Tedeschi Trucks’ rhythm section, but the recent inclusion of Glorietta lyricist Jason Robert Blum into the mix isn’t so much adding a third wheel as it is an extra crucial ingredient in a carefully constructed cuisine.

Branzino is both roasted in ’90s-style rock and marinated with modern flavors, a sound that was refined by Arlyn Studios producer-engineer Jason Kingsland for the group’s upcoming full-length. They were set to perform tomorrow night at the 04 Center along with Blackillac, but the super trio’s now pushed the show back to July. That said you can still make the most of today’s clear Austin skies and enjoy the proto-punk-meets-’90s-indie heat on Branzino’s driving debut single, “Golden Days”.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! We’re commemorating the date with Veracruz-born songwriter Rafael Mesa Zamudio, better known by his stage and studio name Pehuenche. Be it with traditional Latin American rhythms, modern Mexican flavors, or the folk-pop-rock sonics of the ’60s and ’70s, Pehuenche puts it all together into something entirely new. On top of his status as a highly sought after session musician, this classically-trained singer-guitarist has performed all over Latin America in orchestras, choral ensembles, and fusion bands.

Pehuenche’s inaugural solo EP Vendaval came out in 2018, enticing international audiences with six genre-spanning arrangements and plenty of virtuosity on vocals and guitar. In just a couple weeks Pehuenche expands on Vendaval‘s sound with even more guest features and orchestral flourishes courtesy of his debut full-length, Vida Ventura; cinematic brass and strings elevate Vida Ventura‘s latest single, “Agua Bendita” from desert dirt straight into the sunny heavens, where Zaumdio is joined by Barcelona’s Carlos Sadness. So if you’re in need of some good fortune, pick up a copy of Vida Ventura on May 20th, and anoint yourself on the anniversary of a major military victory with a song that just oozes conquest.

A lot of anniversaries follow somewhat of a sequence along a rule of fives; after the first one’s done, you make sure the fifth year’s a big blowout…and by ten it’s typically amplified even more. For Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, their ten-year anniversary this past March was an absolute blast, thanks in no small part to an expansive, diverse lineup that included Shreveport soul-rock outfit Seratones.

Founded in 2013, this ferocious five-piece celebrates their first decade together next year, but with an abundance of inspiration and material, avoided a purely commemorative release in favor of their third full-length Love & Algorhythms. Love & Algorhythms dropped last Friday and includes the full-band studio rendition of the track below. But in a reversal of that one-to-five escalation, the acoustic pop-up version of “High” focuses solely on the quintet’s frontwoman A.J. Haynes, who’s accompanied only by a super slick Fort Lonesome suit. Its earnestness and intimacy will no doubt lift your spirits, and have you looking forward to another decade of great Seratones.

Upton Sinclair shocked the world with the harsh, humid realities of city life in his 1906 The Jungle. More than a century later, we understand there was a bit of muckraking embellishment in the novel, but you won’t find any unnecessary exaggeration with Urban Heat. Since 2019 this Austin trio’s captivated metropolitan crowds with their energetic-yet-eerie brand of industrial post-punk and synthwave, a timeless sound perfect for a modern-day version of The Jungle.

Urban Heat’s ability to keep things dark without being overly morose is a testament to their artistry, which has landed the three-piece spots at Levitation Fest, SXSW, and perhaps most appropriately, Seattle’s Freakout Fest. But since the ongoing pandemic’s drawn extra attention to self-care, Urban Heat’s had to confront their grim preferences and take on the duty of leaving listeners with an extra sense of comfort. The result is their upcoming EP Wellness, out July 26th. With their pulsating synths, weighty vocals, and retro-soundscapes these six new songs (including “Have You Ever”) will help in that continuous healing process as best they can. So when Urban Heat comes around for their Wellness check in late July (and even earlier on May 18th at Far Out Lounge), make sure you answer the call.

Indie, alt-rock, amplifiers and…apples? Yes, it’s all there for Austin quintet KONZI, who began harnessing their creative juices in early 2020 as COVID-19 triggered a global lockdown. And like countless other songwriters, the overwhelming precariousness that came with COVID convinced KONZI to pursue positivity through rock at all costs. That endearing energy is plenty evident on their upcoming self-titled debut and has already helped in the healing process following the loss of revered KONZI co-producer Daniel Sahad.

On top of the immeasurable talent and love that Sahad brought, this compelling record also received treatments from Charles Godfrey (who’s worked with Portugal. the Man and Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and The Bubble’s Chris “Frenchie” Smith. The ten daring tracks touch down in August, and today the band shares KONZI‘s second single, whose title evokes one of The Matrix‘s most beloved Morpheus-isms as well as Funkadelic’s 1970 sophomore LP. For lack of better terms, “Free Your Mind” is heavy as hell and quick to kick away any cynicism, so take it with your coffee and liberate yourself as best you can as we enter May and another work week.

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”!

Moving to a new city is hard enough as it is, but to do it in the middle of both a break up and a global pandemic? That’s some serous character building. On the other hand, relocation hasn’t been the biggest challenge for singer-songwriter Seth Walker, who recently left Nashville for Asheville but had spent time in NOLA and Austin as well. Those iconic Southern towns that Walker’s called home have all lent themselves in one way or another to the sense of wanderlust in his passionate, gospel-evocative Americana, even with each new move.

But as mentioned before, a combination of heartbreak and isolation deserves just as much credit as the power of movement for Walker’s eleventh studio album, I Hope I Know. The seven originals and three covers (courtesy of Bobby Charles, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison no less) will lead you on a reverent, rural, and emotional journey when I Hope I Know releases May 20th, the same evening Walker performs at the 04 Center along with Bonnie Bishop. So with hump day behind us and the weekend beckoning, go ahead and take that first step today with Seth Walker’s latest single, “Remember Me”.