Studio Tunes // Lord Huron

Music speaks to the soul and enables creativity. We are big music lovers at ARO, so enjoy listening to whats playing at our brick + mortar, 110 E Main, and inspiring us in our art studio...

At last year's ACL Fest we wandered in to Zilker park and over to listen to Lord Huron, a band that sounded really familiar but one I just couldn't place. As they played, we reailzed some of our favorite songs on the radio (Austin's KGSR 93.3) were all from this wonderfully indie-folk band. Our love affair with this mysterious band was realized there in the grasses. My personal obsession continued as I listened to their albums on repeat while screen printing tees. 

Lord Huron's creative mind and front man, Ben Schneider, is an art-school grad and talented illustrator as well. There is no doubt he is incredibly gifted in numerous art forms and his eye for telling stories is well translated in all of them. Lord Huron would be the perfect sound track for any road trip. 

On Lord Huron's 2012 album, Lonesome Dreams, frontman/songwriter Ben Schneider created a whole series of stories based on the fake Western fiction of George Ranger Johnson. His hero tumbled and tootled through windswept tales, searching high and low for a once-lost love. For the follow-up, Strange Trails, Schneider opened things up a bit, thematically, to seek out other treasures. Sonically, the layered vocals and unusual effects create a rather Lord Huron-specific soundscape. While Schneider's airy and dusty Western vibe is still very much intact, he expands his musical repertoire enough to keep things lively and fun.
Kelly McCartney, Blazing Strange Trails, thebluegrasssituation.com, 2015

The amazing sounds of this band are now the only thing we play at the brick & mortar. We have never gotten so many questions as to who it was we were playing. Lord Huron, our ears thank you and cannot wait for many more albums!

Leon Bridges and other Talented Texans Nominated for Music's Biggest Night

We recently saw George Ezra, Leon Bridges, and Of Monsters and Men perform one of the best concerts we've been too at Austin's KGSR's 25th Anniversary Soiree. That's when we first heard of Bridges' Grammy Nominee.
When his single Coming Home was released earlier this year we quickly joined the fan club of this Texas musician (see our earlier feature here.) We were eager to find out which other Texas talent made the list of nominees this year. 

“Leon Bridges’ Coming Home will compete in the 58th Grammy Awards’ Best R&B Album category against records by D’Angelo, Andra Day and more, it was announced this morning. The Fort Worth soul singer is coming off a banner weekend in which he made his Saturday Night Live debut.

Dallas native Liz Rose represents North Texas in the Grammys’ top categories for her role in co-writing the Song of the Year nominee “Girl Crush,” performed by Little Big Town. Rose goes up against her former collaborator Taylor Swift (“Blank Space”), an artist she had a huge part in developing. Rose’s contribution to “Girl Crush” also put her in contention in the Best Country Song category.

Burleson’s Kelly Clarkson also received nominations, including mentions for “Heartbeat Song” in the Best Solo Pop Performance Category and Piece by Piece in Best Pop Vocal Album. ”

— GuideLive.com // Grammy Nominations: Kelly Clarkson, Leon Bridges and More Locals... // Dec. 7, '15

Find the rest of the Texan nominees here. 

Check out past Texas-born or based Grammy winners here. 

Conversations // Taylor Rae Stearns

After hearing Taylor's lovely new music at a house concert hosted by close friends, we took some time with Taylor to ask her about her new album and the inspiration behind it. 

How long have you been playing and singing?
I have been playing piano for 17 years, guitar and cello for 12 years. I think I started really getting in to singing when I was about 11, so that makes 12 years for that too. 

Is there any specific meaning to the album title, Peaks&Arrows?
Yes. The meaning of "Peaks&Arrows" can be as complex or as simple as the listener wants it to be, but I was personally inspired to name the album that by a myriad of beautiful Scriptures found in the Bible. One of them being from Psalm 91, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge...you will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day." "He makes my feet like the feet of a dear; he enables me to stand on the heights...you broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."-Psalm 18. For me, Peaks and Arrows refers to the hardship that I was going through when I wrote the album. I felt like I was climbing these mountains that were impossible, and I was being attacked with the arrows of depression, anger, bitterness, etc. However, the flip side to Peaks and Arrows is that Love beckons us to these beautiful high places where we're able to look back on the journey we've traveled and know we survived. He leads us with His arrows as well. So you can see the double meaning of the title. 

If you could take the stage with any other artist, who would it be? What would you sing?
If I could take the stage with any other artist, it would have to hand down, right now in life at least, be Justin Timberlake. I can't help but get in a good mood when I listen to him. I'm sure it would be such a blast to just sing and dance with him.

What were the last three songs you listened to?
"Old Pine" by Ben Howard, "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman, and "Blank Pages" by The Album Leaf

When did you move to Texas?
I was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico. My family moved to Silver City for a couple years, and then when I was eight, my dad took a job in Austin. So I've been here for most of my life, thank goodness :) 

Being based in Austin, what is your favorite thing to do in the city? Do you have a favorite spot to write?
That's easy: my favorite thing to do in Austin is ride my bike to the local library on the east side, pick out an inspiring book, then ride to the nearest local coffee shop called Figure 8 and get a delicious latte, and read my free book :) My favorite spot to write in Austin would probably have to be Zilker Park.

Tell us a little more information about your project, Peaks&Arrows. 
Peaks&Arrows is an concept album from beginning to end about a girl walking alongside of Love, who beckons her to follow a perilous terrain that will test her trust in Him more than anything she's experienced so far. The songs on represent the different terrains she travels through, and the ways she processes through each of them. It's inspired by my personal walk with Jesus Christ, and the lessons that I learn by reading scripture as I go through the different terrains of life myself. My hopes for the record are that it would turn into something that many artists would be able to huddle around and use their creativity to edify...such as writers, painters, photographers, and videographers. I also hope that it encourages anyone who needs healing, or has been trekking on difficult terrains, wondering why or when it will end. 

Check out Taylor's website for more information and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Studio Tunes // Leon Bridges

Music speaks to the soul and enables creativity. We are big music lovers at ARO, so enjoy listening to whats playing at our brick + mortar, 110 E Main, and inspiring us in our art studio... 

Texas Native, Leon Bridges, has captured our hearts with his old soul sound. His music is so authentic, upon first hearing it, it feels as if you should already know the lyrics. Named Texas Monthly's Rookie of the Year, "The music industry's hottest new talent is a young soul singer from Fort Worth. Six months ago, he was a full-time dishwasher." Read the full TM article here.

Coming Home // Leon Bridges

Better Man // Leon Bridges

Watch more here. 
 Learn more here.

Conversations // Lainey Wright

After seeing Lainey perform in the historic LanTex theatre in Llano, Texas, we sat down with her for a conversation about finding inspiration, making music, touring on the road, and being in the great state of Texas.

What was your inspiration for this album? I was inspired for this album by looking deeper into different relationships.  There is a curious, inspiring depth in relationships... relationships with the world, with nature, with people, with God.  I wanted to explore some of those further, and I think that is what this album turned out to be.  It's my contemplation, my commentary on these things.  

We know you've toured internationally, what was your favorite city? Why? I'm so grateful to have visited some really beautiful places.  I think I have to give you two!  I visited British Columbia, Canada a couple years ago.  I enjoyed the whole of it, but I especially liked the city of Victoria.  The landscape is beautiful, and the city has such a nice, cozy feel.  Another favorite is Kristiansand, Norway... again, beautiful landscape, right on the southern coast of Norway.  I experienced this city during a few sunny days.  It was the perfect place to walk around and explore! 

What are some of the albums you listen to most while you're on the road? Jon Foreman is an old staple while on the road... his solo eps and his Fiction Family records.  I'm also currently loving London Grammar.  Put their music on for a long drive and you'll be set! 

Favorite on-the-road snack? A favorite part of any road trip: hummus, avocado, popcorn

If you could take the stage with any other artist, who would it be? What would you sing? Currently, I think it'd be a dream to take the stage with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and sing "I Can't Make You Love Me" 

Do you have any other projects in the works? I do!  In addition to my solo work, I've recently joined up with a band here in Austin called Grey Lakes.  We're a work in progress currently, with hopes to release music and start playing shows this fall.  It's quite a bit different than anything I've been a part of in the past -- I'm really loving it!  

Were you Born & Raised in Texas? If so, where? If not, when did you move to Texas? I was, and I have the t-shirt from A Rosy Outlook to prove it, haha!  I was born in Austin and moved out to the Hill Country early on.  I spent my years growing up in Llano, and made my way back to the city about 6 years ago.  

Being based in Austin, what is your favorite thing to do in the city? My favorite thing is that there are so many great things to do!  I love spending time in the different green belt areas... so great that there are ways to enjoy nature right in the middle of the city.  An ideal morning is grabbing a smoothie from Juiceland and heading to a hiking trail.  Also, with summer coming up, there are so many great things going on in the city.  One of my favorite things to do in the summer is Blues on the Green.  The city puts on free concerts in Zilker park -- a great time!  

Purchase Lainey's new album on itunes. Check out Lainey's website for tour dates and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!