South Austin Song Circles: David Beck, Landon Lloyd Miller, Kendall Potesta & Bartly
Reared in the Texas Hill Country, David Beck was raised by a musical family who continuously encouraged and reassured his fearless pursuit of creativity as a songwriter, noted bass player, and emerging producer. From his days as co-frontman of the dynamic and electrifying country outfit Sons of Fathers to his Tex-Mex border-blending Tejano crew David Beck’s Tejano Weekend, Beck’s diverse range and imaginative style have been prevailing characteristics. A gifted storyteller, Beck’s introspective lyrics and infectious melodies feel right at home on a burgeoning San Antonio boardwalk as they do a crowded honky tonk night, or riveting summer festival stage. Over the past decade, the multifaceted Beck has repeatedly delivered albums that have been praised by critics and a devout fanbase. Armed with a bold, organic, and rootsy brand of country music, Sons of Fathers saw Beck and company play at renowned establishments such as The Grand Ole Opry, Gruene Hall, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits. David Beck’s Tejano Weekend has garnered approval from acclaimed legends such as David Lee Garza for their authenticity and sincerity. As a budding producer and engineer, the Tall Texan has worked with the likes of Eric Burton of Black Pumas, The Droptines, and Pake Rossi. His latest solo efforts, the cosmic storyteller Bloom & Fade, mirrors his artistic mantra and spirit and honors the familial past with Texas singer-songwriter precision and a robust sonic palette that shimmers and radiates.
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Landon Lloyd Miller makes his own brand of American roots music. It's a southern sound inspired by folk songs, murder ballads, country classics, and everything in between, glued together by a biographical songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose career path is every bit as diverse as his music. From documentary film production to winemaking, Landon has left his unique mark in multiple areas, juggling a lifelong passion for music, he's a Renaissance man for the modern age, as adept with an acoustic guitar as he is with a movie camera. "I've always been nervous to say something was truly mine, in case someone doesn't like it," Landon admits, who pulls triple-duty as the album's songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and co-producer. “But ‘Light Shines Through’ isn't the work of a person who's hiding behind a band's moniker. It isn't fiction. It's me." That whirl of activity sets the stage for Light Shines Through, a wildly diverse record that makes room for confessional piano ballads, cinematic roots rockers, and plenty of troubadour twang. "We didn't throw the kitchen sink at every song," says Miller. "There was reserve. There was restraint. We asked ourselves what each song needed, and we didn't add much beyond that." Written and recorded by a man who's learned to embrace both the fear and freedom of a newly-launched solo career, these songs are about life, and when darkness creeps in, they're a reminder that the light will always shine through.
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Kendall Potesta is based in Austin, Texas. Her upcoming record, Saddest Girl in San Antonio, is a tilt of the hat to the nostalgia of her adolescence in the hill country and the love songs that defined it. The EP was recorded at Arlyn Studios tucked behind the vibrant cityscape of South Congress.
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Based out of Austin, TX; BARTLY is a multi-talented singer-songwriter. With a sound that's hard to place under a single genre, BARTLY intertwines elements of pop, indie, alternative, soul, blues, and more to create a powerful and enthralling sound that is delivered with an equally powerful performance. If you ask him where he's from, he'll tell you he isn't from anywhere. Having moved around all his life, BARTLY captures the essence of a man who has seen a thing or two and lived a life that gives him plenty to write about.
