MOTENKO: On Your Level

Austin-based rockers MOTENKO released their first single this Friday. The crew runs a singer/songwriter residency, Wednesdays at Stay Gold, and blends 60s and 70s soul tropes with New Orleans boogie to make their own kind of sound. We talked to frontman Micah Motenko, who lends his voice, piano and last name to the act, about the band and new track. He swears it’s a full on four-piece and “not just my thing.” Listen to “On Your Level” and check out the interview below.

BAND

MICAH: It’s not just my thing. We met gigging. I was touring with Whiskey Shivers selling their merch and I met their drummer (James Gwyn). He said he’d play rockabilly and country gigs then go back home and play funk and neo-soul to himself.

I love DeAngelo, I’m a Voodoo guy. That struck a chord with me and we started coming together to play something different than we typically gig.

We’re a four piece with drum (Gwyn), Bass (Josh Flowers), Guitar (Cat Clemons III) and I’m on piano/vocals.

INFLUENCES

MICAH: Lee Dorsey. Professor Longhair. The Meters. Ray Charles. This particular song I wrote like Ain’t Misbehavin’, kind of telling a story.

NEW SINGLE

MICAH: When I wrote On Your Level I was living in Cleveland. I had just been broken up with and I was sitting next to the window in my room just going stir crazy. I didn’t really have friends up there and felt cooped up and lame, but the fantasy in the song is ‘tonight, I’m on your level’. If you listen to the song, it tells a changing story and the last chorus is new.

Check out Motenko’s new single and go check out their active singer/songwriter residency, Wednesdays at Stay Gold.