This Song Kutx

Local Natives Kelcey Ayer and Nik Ewing have been thinking a lot about how to balance darkness and light, art and activism. The post This Song: Local Natives appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Andrew Bird knew “For The Sake Of The Song” by Townes Van Zandt already, but when he re- listened to it recently he realized how much he related to the lyrics on a personal level. His conversation with Elizabeth touches on how much the song affected him, how it inspired him to write in a less encrypted manner and some of the downfalls of exposing his most intimate experiences in his work. The post This Song: Andrew Bird appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Ray describes how "My World" by Kid Cudi saved his life as a young teenager. The young artist then sends his own message of support and love to his hero, who has recently experienced some dark days. The post This Song: Raury appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Singer T0mar Williams from the Austin soul band Tomar and the FC's talk about how singing Michael Jackson's "Ben"as a kid started him on a lifelong musical path. The the FC's drummer Paul Kresowik explains how Al Jackson Jr's drumming on Sam and Dave's "Soul Man," helped him understand what soul drumming was all about. The post This Song: Tomar and the FCs appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jim James’ second solo record is his most lyrically direct and overtly political work to date. The post This Song: Jim James appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Chase Simpson and Josh Jove from the L.A. based rockers The Shelters describe how the simple yet dangerous feel of Link Wray's "Rumble," the live version of Tom Petty's "Learing to Fly" and the music of the Yardbirds shaped their sound. The post This Song: The Shelters appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Stephen Bruner aka Thundercat describes how Stanley Clarke's "School Days" and Jaco Pastorius' self titled album expanded his view of what it means to play bass. The post This Song: Thundercat appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Jenn Wasner of Flock of Dimes and Wye Oak takes you through why Joni Mitchell's "Amelia" both comforts and terrifies her. And Lucy Dacus explains how the Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is a friendly ghost in her life, and how Prince's "I Would Die 4 You," helped expand her idea of how cool a song about God could be. The post This Song: Flock of Dimes // Lucy Dacus appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Tegan and Sara give you insight into Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream, Phil Collins melodies, teenage bedrooms, finding self-identity, how to be the change and (for all of you songwriters) the secret to writing a hit pop song.

El-P and Killer Mike from Run the Jewels start out talking about early influences (Prince's "Beautiful Ones" and Ice-T's "6 In The Morning”) and end up expressing their love and respect for Southern Rock, The Clash, Outlaw Country and early hip hop and rap. Then Sarah Castro and Matt Parmenter of the Austin-based Belcurve explain how Kathleen Edwards, PJ Harvey and Tom Waits helped them create their shared musical vocabulary.

Alex Trimble of the Irish indie rock trio Two Door Cinema Club explains how Beck's “Midnight Vultures” album illustrated the concept of music-making without rules. Then Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek of the Brooklyn-based band Big Thief describe how “The Leanover” from Life Without Buildings and the work of Michael Hurley inspired them and lead them to approach their songwriting and musical performances from completely new directions. The post This Song: Alex Trimble of Two Door Cinema Club // Big Thief appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Paul Banks and RZA, aka Banks and Steelz, describe their shared love of the music of Leonard Cohen. Then Lizzo explains the powerful impact Lauryn Hill’s “Zion”, Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and the city of Minneapolis had on her music. The post This Song: Banks and Steelz // Lizzo appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The new season of This Song starts Wednesday, November 16th and it’s going to be a good one! Tegan and Sara, Andrew Bird, Paul Banks and RZA, Nathaniel Ratliff, Andrew WK and lots of other artists will talk about the songs that changed their lives and give you insight into their artistic process. The post This Song Season 2 Preview featuring Lizzo appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Early describes how his musical trajectory was permanently altered by R.E.M. and their breakout album “Out Of Time.” Then bandmate/drummer/actor Brian Koch tells a tale of his family who did very little to encourage his music and how he was inspired by hidden radios, friends with guitars and a young singer-songwriter with whom he now shares a stage. The post This Song: Eric Earley & Brian Koch of Blitzen Trapper appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Thor Harris takes Elizabeth on a brief tour of progressive rock and gives a shout out to Yes and other stalwarts of the genre and describes what music inspired his new, hypnotic project, Thor And Friends. Then Grace London and Zoe Czarnecki from the Austin band Misimplicity describe how Elliot Smith and a bass concerto by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf have helped them find their musical ways and climb musical mountains. The post This Song: Thor // Misimplicity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Lake Street Dive's Mark Olson found that Willie Nelson's version of "Song for You" helped him deal with these complexities of being a musician on the road and helped his art along the way. And Austin newcomer Jane Ellen Bryant describes how Shawn Colvin's "I Want It Back" is the perfect example of how to write, arrange and produce a song. The post This Song: Mike Olson of Lake Street Dive // Jane Ellen Bryant appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Kevin Morby expounds on how the raw beauty of the Mountain Goats made making folk music seem both accessible and punk. Then Margaret Glaspy explains how Vic Chestnut's unflinching take on life and and Elliot Smith's use of metaphor influence her as a writer. The post This Song: Kevin Morby // Margaret Glaspy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

American rock and roll icon Dion describes how he, one night, heard the soul and rhythm of Hank Williams drifting out of his family radio and was forever changed. Later, Austinite Amanda Cevallos talks country with Elizabeth (who can talk some country) and they bond over their love of Waylon Jennings and Texas dancehalls. The post This Song: Dion // Amanda Cevallos appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The members of The Octopus Project explain the impact of how the Guns n Roses' Appetite for Destruction, the theme song from 2001: A Space Oddysey and a live show by The Jesus Lizard. Along the way, the they end up talking about abandoning the trumpet, the connection between music and emotion and the difference between going to a show in 90’s versus today. Then Jane Weaver shares her experience of seeing Kate Bush performing Wuthering Heights on Top of the Pops when she was just five years old, and how Bush's look, dance and singing style still influence her work today. The post This Song: The Octopus Project // Jane Weaver appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Sean Bonnette from AJJ (formerly Andrew Jackson Jihad) talks Violent Femmes, naturally distorted acoustic guitars and literature as sources of his inspiration. Then Scott Taylor and Tripp Lamkins from Grifters have a little listening party starting with songs by Deep Purple and ranging through 80's alternative music from Skinny Puppy to Black Flag to the Cure. The post This Song: Sean Bonnette of AJJ // The Grifters appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.