The Americana duo Desert Folk is set to release their new single, “Little Love,” at midnight on Friday, August 21. This marks the sixth single from the group, comprised of local singer-songwriter Austin Clay Cox and drummer Sawyer McGee, in just three years. While the song is expected to resonate with listeners, it raises questions about the definition of “Americana,” as “Little Love” draws more parallels to The War on Drugs than to artists like Tyler Childers or Uncle Tupelo. The term “Americana” itself can often feel as ambiguous as “indie rock,” as highlighted in a recent article discussing essential Americana albums, which even includes blues-rock artist Samantha Fish, who may not traditionally fit the genre. Nevertheless, “Little Love” boasts emotive choruses and captivating country-rock guitar riffs, promising to stick in listeners’ minds.
Cox shared that he penned the song nearly a decade ago, reflecting on a tumultuous relationship at the time. “In hindsight, I was obviously being very melodramatic,” he admitted. While reviewing unrecorded and unfinished tracks with McGee, they were drawn to the catchy chorus of “Little Love.” Around that period, Cox was experiencing strong feelings about another challenging relationship, prompting him to finally bring the song to life as part of Desert Folk’s repertoire.
The duo recorded the track at Sunland Sound in East Dallas, collaborating with engineer Michael Smith, known for his work with artists like Nelly Furtado and the Taylor Young Band, with mastering handled by Kevin Butler from Austin’s Test Tube Audio.
Regarding the band’s influences and their interpretation of Americana, Cox explained that their sound is shaped by a diverse array of musical backgrounds. “Sawyer and I started making music in church during our youth. I gravitated towards post-hardcore, punk, and metal, while Sawyer toured with Texas country and Americana acts. Desert Folk has become an artistic endeavor for us, blending our appreciation for ambient indie rock and alternative pop rock,” he noted.
So, is “Americana” an appropriate label for their music? “Sure, why not,” Cox concluded.
In other musical news, Stem Afternoon recently released their album “Bonsai Lumberjack” in April, which I regrettably overlooked in a previous column. Drummer Mike Garcia described the album as their densest and most cinematic work to date, likening the title to an imaginary film. He explained, “We touch on vibes from spy films, Italian horror, and getaway themes, intertwined with our usual psychedelic influences. The last two songs were largely improvised, and we switched instruments, but it all came together surprisingly well.”
Listeners can explore “Bonsai Lumberjack” along with Stem Afternoon’s entire back catalog on their Bandcamp page.
