For several years, I was asked all the time who the next big band would be out of Austin. Despite being the “Live Music Capital of the World,” it seemed that Austin hadn’t produced many bands that moved beyond the local clubs and labels and on to wider audiences in a while. And then, within the past year, we’ve had a string of breakouts — and not just in one genre. A Giant Dog signed to Merge, Adam Torres will release an album on Fat Possum next week, and Cross Record’s latest album received big buzz.
Add to that list, songwriter Molly Burch, who has just announced her signing to Captured Tracks along with the release of a gorgeous and sprawling track, “Downhearted.” As her smoky voice floats over dark, electric guitar lines, Burch occupies a space somewhere between Patsy Cline and Françoise Hardy. The songs feels at once classic and timeless. I already can’t wait for a full-length. This will be the kind of album you need to own — one that lives on the turntable for months at a time. Until then, We’ll have “Downhearted” on repeat. Below you can watch the simple and intimate video, created and filmed by Jordan Moser. If you’re a lucky Austinite, see Burch at Stay Gold this Saturday, September 3.
