Here's a Song I Wrote: Recent Episodes
Haute Media
The power of storytelling through music can be transformative. On Here’s a Song I Wrote, we invite a mix of established and new singer-songwriters to share the stories behind their songs. Recorded live at the Haute Studios in Cedar Park, Texas, each episode features an artist sharing their musical journey or personal story with the listener. No interviewer, just a story and a song. That's it.
We've proudly partnered with Warm Audio to provide the best possible sound in our studio. If you like what you hear, be sure to rate/review the show! Thanks for listening!
Adrian Bautista is a Dallas/Fort Worth based artist who came to us shortly after being recognized with a songwriting award from the Dallas Coalition for Live Music. On this episode, Adrian shares his journey and his superb songwriting talents with two songs, "Between Two Rivers" and "Coffee Song." We think you’ll be just as amazed as we were by Adrian’s incredible talents.
Follow Adrian on Instagram: @lyricalsoma
If you like this episode, please rate and review the podcast. It helps us bring in more incredible musicians!
With all the new Here's a Song I Wrote listeners and for those who may of missed our bonus episode featuring Graham Weber and Graham Wilkinson, we wanted to share the stories and songs from a couple of Grahams. Musicians Graham Weber & Graham Wilkinson take the stage to benefit three local charitable organizations in a “Grahams Give Back” music series by connecting the community through the power of live music. Be sure to check out what the two Graham's are putting together at https://www.grahamsgiveback.com/ The next Grahams Give Back show is August 27 at Sholz Beer Garden in Austin. An amazing venue with with great talent(and beer) on tap!
Two from Bomethius. Tornados in Dallas and Liquor and Blood
So, how to describe Bomethius... Start with his About page at bomethius.com:
"Bomethius is the solo project of Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Jonathan Hodges. A capable pianist, guitarist, and vocalist, Hodges has also studied the violin since he was 3 years old. With Bomethius, he draws from his classical training for a mischievous brand of baroque pop that echoes the sounds of Andrew Bird, Elliott Smith, and Randy Newman. Developing the character of the songwriter’s complicated alter ego, Bomethius doubles as a vehicle for channeling the frank, existential audits of a disenchanted young man plagued by alienation and shame."
Bomethius is representative of the amazing talent that we've been blessed to have on our little show. Not only do we get to share amazing artists but we get to work with some genuinely great people. For that privilege, we say a huge Thank You.
Join us on Instagram @heresasongiwrote to see what we have in the works.
When we reached out Curtis McMurtry, he mentioned another artist that would be interested in performing on the show, Diana Burgess. In fact, many of our artists are sent to us by other artists who've performed on the show. Having Curtis and Diana in studio on the same day was like winning the lottery!
Diana Burgess is a cellist, educator and composer based in Austin, TX. Diana holds a Bachelor's of Music in Cello Performance at UT Austin and focuses primarily on writing, performing, touring and collaborating with artists in a variety of genres.
Since 2010 Diana has been a member of Austin orchestral pop band Mother Falcon, and with the group has toured throughout the United States and Canada, performed for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and collaborated with artists including Ben Sollee, Kaki King, Amanda Palmer, Todd Reynolds, and Gina Chavez. In addition to performing, Diana contributes to the writing process in Mother Falcon, most notably in the creation of an original score for their collaboration with Glass Half Full Theater in a production of Petra and the Wolf, a Texas-based adaptation of Peter and the Wolf, which began touring the US in 2017.
Diana is the co-founder, outreach director and cello teacher for the Mother Falcon Music Lab, a unique music education program encouraging young musicians to discover their creative voice through collaborative songwriting.
As a solo artist, Diana has just completed her debut album You Run, released in summer 2020. Diana is the sole performer on You Run’s twelve original songs, creating lush, haunting worlds of layered vocals, cellos, tenor guitars, and more.
Learn more about Diana.
We're always on the hunt for amazing talent to perform on the Here's a Song I Wrote podcast but none of us can remember how we first stumbled onto Curtis McMurtry. We can agree that we got incredibly lucky to book Curtis and his incredibly talented band on our little show.
Curtis McMurtry is a singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, TX. Influenced by Fiona Apple, Billy Strayhorn and Tom Waits, Curtis' songs combine sinister lyrics with sophisticated orchestration. His most recent release, Toothless Messiah (February 2021) is a multifaceted indictment of authoritarianism, a dark and dystopian concept album that continues to garner critical acclaim. Curtis' music has been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, and his song "Wrong Inflection" was included in the soundtrack for comedian Tig Notaro's Amazon Prime series One Mississippi.
Curtis was born and raised in Austin, Texas and grew up surrounded by local musicians. He studied music composition and ethnomusicology in college, primarily writing contemporary chamber works for banjo and strings. After graduation, Curtis moved to Nashville to sharpen his songwriting by co-writing with elder statesmen including Fred Koller and Guy Clark. He has since moved back to Austin where he performs as a trio with cellist Diana Burgess (of Mother Falcon) and upright bassist Taylor Turner. Curtis' goal in songwriting and composition has been to integrate the Classical and Jazz orchestration techniques he learned in college with the lyric-driven, Texas singer-songwriter style he absorbed growing up.
Learn more about Curtis McMurtry.
Katrina Cain's music has been described as everything from melancholy pop, to country, to electro folk. She is most well known for her standout performances on Season 15 of NBC's The Voice, beginning with her haunting arrangement of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon". Her audition prompted Adam Levine to declare that she "should have been a four-chair turn" had half the teams not already filled.
Katrina’s music brings the listener on a journey that breaks the barriers of genre. Sweetened pop sounds and luscious dreamscapes, swinging between soul breaking singer-songwriter ballads, and dance pop anthems. In her quietest moments, Katrina’s pop sensibilities make room for her authentic tales of Americana. Never one to skimp on lyric, Katrina's artful storytelling bears more of the human experience than just a heartbreak like the one before.
Based in Austin, Texas, Katrina is a full-time performer and studio vocalist working in LA and Austin. Katrina plays live frequently in LA, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Louisiana, and has received notable press in Pop Sugar, Huffington Post, Paste Magazine, and radio stations across the country. Katrina was an official SXSW 2018 and 2019 performer, and has opened for bands such as Phantogram, Sarah Jaffe, Com Truise, and Beth//James.
In this Episode, Cory Reinisch shares his musical journey and a tells us about his move to Austin, Texas. Cory fronts Harvest Thieves, a wildly popular Austin band born from an eclectic mix of musicians seeking, and finding a home in Austin music. Alt-county, Americana, Folk - sure. Maybe we'll let the folks at the Austin American Statesman tell you about Harvest Thieves, "“Alternative-country has largely blended into the broader Americana landscape in recent years, but here’s a band that harkens back to the dead-center focus of the genre.” Or, as the Austin Chronicle says, “Harvest Thieves… comes from the Jackson Browne school of alt-country, where durable melodies and chunky guitars abound… demonstrating roots and smarts.”
You'll recognize that sound on this Track from Cory! Cory came to my us courtesy of Lightstream!
There’s a line in Natalie Price’s bio that really stands out, “Intoxicatingly authentic and wholly original – you’ll never forget the first time you stepped into Natalie Price’s world.”
Just before leaving on a tour of venues across Louisiana and here in Texas, we got to spend time with Natalie at the @heresasongiwrote studios. It didn’t take long for us to realize how fortunate we were to be able to record with her. To classify Natalie’s session would take all the words but we can start with honest, amazing, personal, emotional, incredible, delightful, and, of course, authentic, and wholly original.
Natalie came to us through a couple of great artists who’ve been on the show, @tommeny and @rayprim. As the show grows, we get to witness the amazing and supportive music community here in Austin and beyond. To be a small part of that community is truly a blessing. With certainty, we can say that we will never forget the time that we first stepped into Natalie’s world.
To learn more about Natalie: https://natpricemusic.com/ or follow her on Instagram @natpricemusic
Erica Michelle is doing the thing she loves to do. Simple as that. She started playing guitar and writing songs at 14 in her hometown of Austin, Texas. Listen to her debut EP "Cry About It" and you'll hear the guts, grace and guitar licks that only the Live Music Capital of the World can teach you growing up. The singer-songwriter is influenced by the soul and blues greats, too — truth-telling women like Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone and fellow Texan Norah Jones. But the stories on the four-track "Cry About It" are all Erica's own. Sometimes in her memories, she's tasting the cigarettes on someone else's lips, like on "Be There Soon." She's haunted on "Dreams" — "I'm just trying to sleep through the night, but you're always there," she sings in her unmistakable, smoky-smooth tone. Really, dreams are what it's about for Erica. After years of playing original songs around the city that raised her, she's following her soul into the spectacular.
Award winning songwriter Tom Meny currently calls Buda, TX home. Stationed near the live music mecca of Austin, it can be difficult to stand out in a vast sea of great musicians. But Tom Meny is a voice apart from the rest. With influences ranging from Glen Hansard to John Mayer, Tom uses non-standard guitar tuning, a soulful voice, memorable melodies and direct lyrics that set himself apart and connect with his audiences. Among his accolades are numerous songwriting awards including winning efforts at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Competition (2015), the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival's Performing Songwriter Competition (2017), The Recording Conservatory of Austin's Singer Songwriter Competition (2013), and many others. Meny has performed for audiences around the country including recent tours through Texas, North Carolina and New England, and has played legendary venues such as Austin's Cactus Cafe, The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, The Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Lincoln Center in New York City. Tom Meny has appeared on albums by Billy Crockett, Ray Prim, and Laura Marie.
Meeting Caleb De Casper was an amazing experience for us at Here's a Song I Wrote. The moment he started playing, we were hooked. Then he sang. Wow.
From Caleb De Casper's website:
From the horror cabaret and glam rock of his past, to his current dark synth-pop sound, Austin performer Caleb De Casper always brings a stunning in-your-face theatricality to his music and live shows. The classically trained pianist and vocalist stalks the stage in evening gowns, bondage wear, Victorian collars and the ever-present fishnets and heels, confidently declaring that masculinity comes in many different forms. The performance art aspect of this “Rocky Horror-Esque piano dramatist and vocal contortionist” (Austin Chronicle) is the bleeding heart of De Casper’s music, which has been performed all over the US, since being invited out to the Live Music Capital by ATX punk band XETAS, who were mesmerized by his work when they were billed together in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
In Austin, De Casper found the space to flourish as a queer artist that he never found in North Carolina and immediately set to work proving wrong the former NC piano teacher who once told him, "As a gay songwriter, the world will never accept your voice or point of view". That voice and point of view was warmly received with 2019’s De Casper, which brought a glam rock feel (think Hedwig And The Angry Inch meets The Dresden Dolls with guitars) and the single “Good Boy” was named one of OVRLD’s top 25 songs of the year, was a featured Studio 1A performance at KUTX and was a favorite Tiny Desk performance of 2018.
We first learned of Cassandra Elese from our friends at Warm Audio and once we listened, we knew we had to have her on the show. Her vocals, and Abe's guitar, AMAZING!
As we discussed her musical style prior to the recording date, we couldn't quite place Cassandra Elese into any one category. Early Joss Stone-esque? Certainly funky, R&B, poppy, and fun! In fact, her about-me section on Facebook helps explain who she is as an artist, "Cassandra Elese is a singer from Austin, Texas with R&B music centered around Soulful vocals and a splash of Funk. Her performances are a power-packed punch of energetic dancing, astronomical high notes, and incredible instrumentation from her band".
Our visit with Cassandra Elese could have gone on for hours and we suspect she's never met a stranger! We look forward to more of her stories and songs on Here's a Song I Wrote!
At Here's a Song I Wrote, we bring you amazing artists telling stories about their amazing music. We also want to use this platform to spotlight artists who are using their talents to raise awareness and give back in their communities. Today's Bonus episode does just that. Executive Producer, Lee Kirgan, visits with two Grahams, Weber and Wilkinson, about an incredible fundraising series of events in the Austin, Texas area. Of course, they'll also share the stories behind some incredible songs.
Grahams Give Back will benefit three Austin nonprofits: The Other Ones Foundation, Free Lunch Austin, and the DAWA Fund.
Learn more about Grahams Give Back or find them on Instagram or Facebook using @grahamsgiveback
Special thanks to Warm Audio for opening their studio for this episode and for supporting our show.
Jackson Hatch comes to us from Abilene, Texas. His songwriting skills shine on Backwood Lullaby and his story reminds us that inspiration for art or music are right in front of us. In a recent Abilene Reporter News article by Greg Jaklewicz, “…his songs are collection of stories. Songs about people and circumstances.” Hatch goes on to say that at times the words come first but that he does occasionally write to a catchy chord projection.
Jackson’s musical career is off to an amazing start! Don’t be surprised to see him at a local venue soon!
Special thanks to Warm Audio for supplying the gear that makes our studio sound amazing. Warm Audio Gear used on this recording: WA-67 for vocal, WA-84 Stereo Pair on guitar, WA273-EQ and WA-2A for vocals.
Follow Jackson Hatch on Facebook!
If you liked this episode, please rate and review, Here’s a Song I Wrote.
A fixture on the Austin music scene, Ray Prim performs his single, Too Much to Lose.
Peter Blackstock, writing for Austin 360, provides a great description of Ray, “Austin musician Ray Prim likes to call himself a "singer-soulwriter." It's a fitting description, as his songs tend toward folk-based acoustic instrumentation but carry the vocal sound and feel of classic soul music.”
Our time with Ray was way too short. We could have listened and laughed at his banter and his incredible musicianship for hours. Every song he shared with us brought a new and unique glimpse into the Ray’s songwriting skills. He was generous with his time and with his incredible knowledge of the Austin music scene.
The song, Too Much to Lose, is testament to Ray’s ability to wrap a powerful story into a musical journey. While we recorded several stories and songs during his recording session, this song actually brought us to tears during mix-down. The message, enveloped in the beauty of Ray’s guitar, gives the listener reason to pause.
Get to know Ray!
Follow Ray on Facebook and check out @rayprimdotcom on Instagram.
Special thanks to Warm Audio for supplying the gear that makes our studio sound amazing. Warm Audio Gear used on this recording: WA-47 for guitar and vocal, WA-84 Stereo Pair on guitar, WA273-EQ and WA-2A for vocals.
If you liked this episode, please rate and review, Here’s a Song I Wrote.
What is Haute?
In this episode, Evan Crowley as Saint Loretto, gives a stripped-down performance of his single, Manchester 1984! As Evan shares in his story, we learn that inspiration for writing new material can come from anywhere and the genesis of Manchester 1984 may surprise you! Saint Loretto’s influences include post punk and new wave artists like New Order and The Cure. His early fascination with pop music is evident through catchy melodies and hooks found throughout his work but the music maintains an edge and insight that reaches beyond mainstream.
Crowley has shared the stage with globally renowned acts such as Marianas Trench, All American Rejects, Blue October, 3OH!3, and toured with ‘80s hair metal legends, Stryper. Saint Loretto has performed at regional music festivals, Center of the Universe, Norman Music Festival, and Metro Music Festival in Oklahoma City and continues to book regional shows. Crowds can expect unforgettable energetic and dramatic performances with no two shows playing out the same. Hear the plugged-in version of Manchester 1984! Great write-up about Evan by the Oklahoma Gazette!
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians.
Evan appeared courtesy of Love and Lightstream.
Episode 7, Ty and Jules – Bridge on Fire
In this episode, Ty and Jules Morlet share how they met opportunity at crossroads that defined their work, their faith, and their family. In January 2021, they decided to walk away from everything they knew so that they could better understand their own truth over what had become a highly manufactured image. Their first single, Bridge on Fire, is testament to that change.
Get to know Ty and Jules: https://www.tyjulesmorlet.com/
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/
Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Episode 6, Matt the Electrician – Big Changes
First, we must say that having Matt the Electrician in studio will be a highlight for our producing team for years to come. We look forward to sharing more of his songs on future episodes.
From his latest album, We Imagined an Ending, Matt the Electrician (Matt Sever) performs Big Changes. Music reviewer Maeri Ferguson writes, “It is a joy to hear Sever being playful with sonic textures, not shying away from a big pop moment in favor of a quiet acoustic one. With producer Tucker Martine at the helm, We Imagined an Ending feels big and alive. Whether it be the strings on “Big Changes” or the dreamy harmonies that sneak up on “What If You Needed Me,” the album plays like a living, breathing being, all heart and full of hope.” And, we agree.
See the complete review at: https://bit.ly/3ugYEpP
Learn more about Matt: https://matttheelectrician.com/
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/
Warm Audio Gear used on this recording: WA-84 Stereo Pair on guitar, WA273-EQand WA-2A for vocals.
Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Welcome to the Here's a Song I Wrote Podcast! A story. A song. That's it.
Graham Weber is a singer/songwriter from Austin, Texas. He performs solo, plays Rock & Roll with Western Youth, and occasionally moonlights performing jazz standards in a suit. When you visit Graham's website, take special note of the headline that reads, "Folk Troubadour Crooning Balladeer Country Drifter," and you'll begin to understand Graham. We'd like to add that Graham is not only incredibly talented but he's one of the nicest people you could ever meet.
Get to know Graham: https://grahamweber.com/home
Graham came to our show courtesy of our partners at Love and Lightstream: https://loveandlightstream.com/
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/
Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Welcome to the Here's a Song I Wrote Podcast! A story. A song. That's it.
Episode 4 features Jason Shepherd of the Austin Band, Belldiver. At its core, Belldiver’s identity is in the clever and insightful lyrics penned by frontman Jason Shepherd. Jason crafts compelling stories of every mood and character, full of word play and often delivered with a wink and a nod. His stories are brought to life by the collaborative efforts of the six-member band through rich textures of guitars, keys, saxophone, melodica, and electric and upright bass. Whatever it takes to tell the tale.
Get to know Belldiver: https://www.belldiver.com/
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/
Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Welcome to the Here's a Song I Wrote Podcast! A story. A song. That's it.
Episode 3 features Deer Fellow. Deer Fellow is an indie folk-pop duo with a “keen sense of song craft.” Based out of Austin, bandmates Matt Salois (guitar, vocals) and Alyssa Kelly (violin, vocals, piano) met at an open mic and were quick to collaborate. Fast forward to present day and coupledom, the two have built a cross-genre sound that “pulls you in right away, stirring romance and broken hearts.”
Get to know Deer Fellow: https://www.deerfellow.com/
Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and the incredible gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/
Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Welcome to the Here's a Song I Wrote Podcast! A story. A song. That's it. Episode 2 features Lewis Christian. And no, he doesn't sound like the typical singer songwriter. But this podcast isn’t the typical singer songwriter podcast! Sure you'll hear acoustic sets but you'll also hear a wide range of new music that will include pop, Country, Indie, Rock, Blues and more. Sometimes the whole band shows up and we hit record! Lewis shares the origin story of his song, Curly Sue, and once the band joins you want to put this episode on repeat. SPECIAL NOTE: This episode was recorded by Marty Lester of Everywhere Audio. https://www.everywhereaudio.com/ Get to know Lewis Christian: https://www.lewischristian.com/ Special thanks to Warm Audio! Serious Gear, Seriously Affordable. Visit Warm Audio to learn about their new studio and all the fantastic gear they have for musicians. https://warmaudio.com/ Looking for Live Music? Check out our venue: https://www.hautespotvenue.com/
Welcome to the Here's a Song I Wrote podcast. A story. A Song. That's it.
Episode 1 features Chris Beall, who also happens to be a Warm Audio artist. His deep Texas roots are clearly evident as Chris shares a story that takes us back in time to the dusty streets of Abilene, Texas.
Learn more about Chris Beall: https://chrisbeallmusic.com/
Special thanks to our friends at Warm Audio! Check out their incredible gear and amazing new studio at https://warmaudio.com/