10 Texan Artists to Support on Bandcamp
We’re bringing the Lone Star State to your earbuds with 10 handpicked Texan artists to check out during Bandcamp’s ongoing fundraiser.
Written by Annie Lyons and Carys Anderson
Bandcamp is waiving its revenue share on sales on Friday, March 20 to support artists facing financial losses due to the Coronavirus pandemic — 100% of profits will go directly to the artists for the 24-hour period. To help you discover new talent to support during the sale (and beyond), we’ve compiled a list of 10 of Afterglow’s homegrown favorites who sell music and merch on the site.
The Bralettes
Photo courtesy of Roger Gallegos
Dallas-based The Bralettes revel in their girl power on the bubblegum punk of their debut LP Cheers!. The trio sprinkles playful touches throughout the album as they bask in angst and awkwardness; there’s mentions of “baby pink Vans” and eating PB-J amongst the usual punkish discontent. Standout track “Scary Harry” is garage grunge coated in pink glitter, with lead singer Paulina Costilla punctuating her lines with a droll “Da-da-da-da” chant.
“Party,” another highlight, is anything but — Costilla bemoans a lover holding her back, singing, “When I’m with you, you always kill my buzz,” over catchy, slowed down guitar lines. The Bralettes exalt a Riot Grrrl rebelliousness that bears their heart on their cheeks. This blend of confidence and raw feeling gives an uninhibited exhilaration to every song that makes you want to take your shirt off — and bare the bralette underneath. — Annie Lyons
Discover more of The Bralettes on their Bandcamp.
Blushing
Photo courtesy of Blushing
Lush and Cocteau Twins comparisons aside, Blushing’s affinity for reverb pedals and the angelic voice of the classically trained Christina Carmona have made Blushing a standout of the so-called shoegaze revival of recent years. The Austin quartet’s 2019 self-titled debut is an exercise in dynamics, exploring all corners of the wall-of-sound genre.
“So Many” opens the album with a sense of foreboding, building slowly from the eerie guitar of Michelle Soto to the eventual explosion that reveals the band’s heavier side. Later, songs like “Sunshine” shift toward the light and airy. Amidst all the atmospherics, though, Blushing offers something tangible, throwing you a riff to hold onto before diving into their sea of fog. — Carys Anderson
Discover more of Blushing on their Bandcamp.
sleep well.
Photo courtesy of sleep well.
San Antonio’s sleep well. promises to mend your heart with the feel-good indie rock of their recent full-length release, Pictures of Dogs. The album’s memorable title track compares the excitement of a new relationship to the joy of receiving a dog picture; over sun-drenched guitars, vocalist Andrés Garcia fondly questions, “Have you ever lived in my heart?” Lustrous guitars form the backbone of the band’s catalog of pleasant, summer-infused melodies.
sleep well.’s latest offering is the currently Bandcamp exclusive Live & In Our Hearts, a live EP that features fan favorite tracks from Pictures of Dogs. The live EP includes a nearly eight minute extended version of the soaring “Airplane Song” and showcases sleep well. in their element, capturing the band’s easy-going charisma. — Annie Lyons
Discover more of sleep well. on their Bandcamp.
Christelle Bofale
Photo courtesy of John Bergin
Christelle Bofale’s dreamy mix of indie rock, soul, and jazz, inspired by her Congolese heritage, has made her one of Austin’s rising stars — and one of Afterglow’s eight Artists to Watch from this year’s SXSW line-up. The singer-songwriter has perfected her MO of distilling songs to their most essential parts. Bofale’s soulful voice is mixed high on new single “Miles,” with her crooning layered over a finger-picked guitar line that burrows into your brain. Elsewhere, “Origami Dreams,” from her 2019 debut EP Swim Team, nails the indie formula with shimmering guitar and a driving rhythm section. Bofale’s guitar soothes, even as her voice tells tales of pain. — Carys Anderson
Discover more of Christelle Bofale on her Bandcamp.
Sub-Sahara
Photo courtesy of Jesús Adrian Mireles
Sub-Sahara delivers biting post-punk that careens between the personal and political. Each track by the Dallas-area trio has a frenetic energy driven by pulsing guitars and intense drums. The wistful “Berry,” released last Valentine’s Day, opens with high octave chimes before exploding into a barrage of sound. Vocalist Aaron Mireles channels Robert Smith circa The Cure’s pop era, and his voice’s melancholic sheen suits the song’s narrative of a failed relationship.
“10-15” is Sub-Sahara’s impassioned call for immigration reform. (All the proceeds from the song go to nonprofit RAICES.) Shedding the pop sensibilities of “Berry,” Mireles wields a cutting inflection that erupts into a powerful, echoed final chant: “We're breaking out of our cage.” — Annie Lyons
Discover more of Sub-Sahara on their Bandcamp.
Why Bonnie
Photo courtesy of Why Bonnie
Austin bedroom pop quintet Why Bonnie has garnered national attention in recent years, from opening for Snail Mail on tour to signing to Fat Possum Records and being featured in The FADER. Their music is at times hazy and quietly biting — like “Voice Box,” their first Fat Possum release — and at others jangly and bouncing.
Last year’s Bandcamp-only cover of Silver Jews’ “Dallas” highlights the best of Why Bonnie’s dreaminess. The band recorded the cover following the tragic death of Silver Jews frontman and temporary Texan David Berman, and all proceeds from the song will be donated to Austin’s SIMS Foundation, which provides musicians in the city with mental health services. It’s a compelling track, with Why Bonnie slowing Berman’s love letter to the city to a melancholic simmer. — Carys Anderson
Discover more of Why Bonnie on their Bandcamp.
Eimaral Sol
Photo courtesy of Eimaral Sol
The sprawling Sol Soliloquies from Eimaral Sol melds Afrofuturistic and classic soul influences into an eclectic collection of positivity. The Austin-based R&B artist grounds her work in vulnerability as she focuses on the growth and healing she’s experienced. The album ends with a brief spoken monologue in “Greenthumb” that succinctly shows off Sol’s ethos when she says, “Make some friends who water your soul / and love somebody that helps you grow.”
Sol Soliloquies dabbles in different sounds. The infectiously joyful “Sunflower,” with its doo-wop backing vocals, contrasts the pulsing beat of “Time Travel” that’s nearly reminiscent of house music. Sol’s shining vocals tie it all together with a perceptible smile behind every note. — Annie Lyons
Discover more of Eimaral Sol on her Bandcamp.
Pollen RX
Photo courtesy of Pollen RX
Austin band Pollen Rx tempers political garage jams with snappy hooks and sweet harmonies. Their 2017 LP, Sunbelt Emptiness, jumps from math rock guitar lines (“Sand in the Well”) to crunchy power chords (“Apartment”), often within the same song. Singer-bassist Maud Morgan and singer-guitarist Ben Hirsch use the record to lament “Highways, neon, fracking, borders, plastic surgery, drought, sex, advertising, water,” and general emptiness, as their Bandcamp page says, but there’s always a beat to keep you dancing before things get too dark. — Carys Anderson
Discover more of Pollen Rx on their Bandcamp.
Sasha and the Valentines
Photo courtesy of Kindle Marie
Dream pop group Sasha and the Valentines crafts trancelike soundscapes that spotlight bright surf guitars and blooming synths. Originally hailing from Massachusetts, the quintet has set up shop in Austin since early 2018 — a move that certainly matches the group’s chilled out and summery vibe. Their EP Green is warm and lush; highlight track “Sucker” captivates with its hazy guitars and ever-present synth notes. On EP opener “Flower,” frontwoman Sarah Addi’s ethereal voice gently floats along the alternately sprightly and fuzzy guitar lines for a mesmerizing effect. — Annie Lyons
Discover more of Sasha and the Valentines on their Bandcamp.
Garden of Mary
Photo courtesy of Garden of Mary
Dallas’ Garden of Mary are working hard to keep the gloom of Pornography-era The Cure alive. With gothic vocals and sparkling synths, their music indulges in the best of post-punk. Guitars squall on “Sleepless Nights,” the dirge that opens their 2016 EP, The Agony in Memory, while the chugging bass of “Sleepless Nights” and “Graveflower” brings energy to their melancholy sound. As the band hints at an upcoming LP, the shimmer of these five tracks will warm your cold goth heart. — Carys Anderson
Discover more of Garden of Mary on their Bandcamp.
During these next few months, fan support for lesser known artists is crucial. Keep discovering and sharing the music you love. If you’re in a fortunate financial position, buy music and merch to help artists continue to create.