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News

Dec 23, 2023

Here we go again, racing to December’s finish line, eager to put another chaotic year in the rearview and nervous about what the next 12 months have in store for us. More

11 Best Songs of the Week: Squid, Jess Williamson, Lindstrøm, Anjimile, Foo Fighters, and More

Plus The Mary Onettes, Clark and Thom Yorke, M. Ward, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

May 26, 2023

Welcome to the 19th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week we lost the Queen of Rock. Tina Turner’s death was the kind of passing that makes the world pause and garners comments from world leaders. More

Jess Williamson Shares Video for New Song “Time Ain’t Accidental”

Time Ain’t Accidental Due Out June 9 via Mexican Summer

May 23, 2023

Texas-born/Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing a new album, Time Ain’t Accidental, on June 9 via Mexican Summer. Now she has shared its third single, title track “Time Ain’t Accidental,” via a music video. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Jessie Ware, Palehound, Thundercat and Tame Impala, and More

Plus The Clientele, Julie Byrne, Beach House, Protomartyr, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Apr 28, 2023

Welcome to the fifteenth Songs of the Week of 2023. There were a few notable album announcements this week that provided some fodder for this list, but there was also an album out today that we love and pulled two songs from. More

Jess Williamson Shares Video for New Song “Chasing Spirits”

Time Ain’t Accidental Due Out June 9 via Mexican Summer

Apr 25, 2023

Texas-born/Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing a new album, Time Ain’t Accidental, on June 9 via Mexican Summer. Now she has shared its second single, “Chasing Spirits,” via a music video. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Alex Lahey, boygenius, Jess Williamson, Hand Habits, and More

Plus The Beths, Jenny Lewis, Lightning Dust, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Mar 31, 2023

Welcome to the twelfth Songs of the Week of 2023. The pickings were a little slimmer this week, but we found enough singles (and one album track) to come up with a solid Top 10. More

Jess Williamson Announces New Album and Tour, Shares Video for New Song “Hunter”

Time Ain’t Accidental Due Out June 9 via Mexican Summer

Mar 28, 2023

Texas-born/Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson has announced a new album, Time Ain’t Accidental, and shared its first single, “Hunter,” via a music video. She’s also announced some spring tour dates. More

Peter Bjorn and John’s Peter Morén Announces Album as SunYears, Shares New Song with Jess Williamson

Come Fetch My Soul! Due Out June 16 via Yep Roc; Watch the Video for the Title Track Now

Feb 17, 2023

Peter Morén of Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John has announced a new project, SunYears, and also announced its debut album, Come Fetch My Soul!. He has also shared the album’s first single, title track “Come Fetch My Soul!,” which features guest vocals from American singer/songwriter Jess Williamson and was shared via a music video. More

Oct 14, 2022

Plains, a new duo consisting of Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) and Jess Williamson, have released their debut collaborative album, I Walked With You A Ways, today via ANTI-. More

Plains (Waxahatchee & Jess Williamson) Share Video For New Single “Hurricane”

I Walked With You A Ways Due Out This Friday via ANTI-

Oct 12, 2022

Plains, a new duo consisting of Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) and Jess Williamson, have shared a video for their new single, “Hurricane.” It is the latest release from their forthcoming debut album, I Walked With You A Ways, which will be out this Friday (October 14) via ANTI-. More

12 Best Songs of the Week: Arctic Monkeys, Fujiya & Miyagi, The Orielles, Plains, and More

Plus Gorillaz and Tame Impala, Crack Cloud, Francis Lung, Alex Lahey, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Sep 02, 2022

Welcome to the 33rd Songs of the Week of 2022. Lots of British artists this week! Including the entire Top 3. This week after much inner-dialogue, we settled on a Top 12. More

Plains (Waxahatchee & Jess Williamson) Share Video For New Single “Abilene”

I Walked With You A Ways Due Out October 14 via ANTI-

Aug 30, 2022

Plains, a new duo consisting of Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) and Jess Williamson, have shared a video for their new single, “Abilene.” It is the latest release from their forthcoming debut album, I Walked With You A Ways, which will be out on October 14 via ANTI-. More

12 Best Songs of the Week: Wild Pink, Dry Cleaning, Plains, Built to Spill, and More

Plus Guerilla Toss, Brian Eno, Andy Clockwise, The Soft Pink Truth, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jul 29, 2022

Welcome to the 29th Songs of the Week of 2022. This week saw the return of a 1970s icon and a new joint project from two of our favorite modern singer/songwriters. This week we liked enough tracks to settle on a Top 12. More

Plains (Waxahatchee & Jess Williamson) Announce Debut Album and Tour, Share Lead Single

I Walked With You A Ways Due Out October 14 via ANTI-, Watch the Video for "Problem With It"

Jul 27, 2022

Plains, a new duo consisting of Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) and Jess Williamson, have announced the release of their debut album, I Walked With You A Ways, which will be out on October 14 via ANTI-. They have also announced a tour in support of the album and have shared a video for the album’s lead single, “Problem With It.” More

Under the Radar Announces The Protest Issue with Japanese Breakfast and HAIM on the Covers

Issue 68 Out Now and Also Includes Julien Baker, Wolf Alice, Tegan and Sara, Arlo Parks, Fleet Foxes, Jessie Ware, Shamir, Lucy Dacus, Valerie June, David Byrne, Julian Casablancas, and Much More

Apr 21, 2021

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, which is out now nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere) and available to buy directly from us here. The issue features Japanese Breakfast and HAIM on the two covers and is another edition of The Protest Issue, which examines the intersection of music and politics and features musicians photographed with protest signs of their own making. More

Jess Williamson Shares New Song “Pictures of Flowers” (Feat. Hand Habits)

Sorceress and Looking Glass Series Both Out Now via Mexican Summer

Jun 25, 2020

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson released a new album, Sorceress, last month via Mexican Summer. Williamson has shared a new song, “Pictures of Flowers,” which features Hand Habits and is not found on Sorceress. Instead it’s taken from Mexican Summer’s new Looking Glass singles series on Bandcamp. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Silverbacks, The Dears, Jess Williamson, Gayngs, and More

Plus Nick Hakim, The 1975, Moses Sumney, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

May 15, 2020

Welcome to the nineteenth Songs of the Week of 2020. It’s another week under quarantine, the same as the last week. Not much has changed, except that more and more people seem to think it’s a good idea to get back to normal, but a return to anything close to the pre-pandemic society seems a long way off. More

Jess Williamson – Stream the New Album

Sorceress Out Now via Mexican Summer

May 15, 2020

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson has released a new album, Sorceress, today via Mexican Summer. Now that the album’s out you can stream the whole thing below. More

9 Best Songs of the Week: Braids, The Dears, Jess Williamson, Hinds, and More

Plus HAIM, Khruangbin, Protomartyr, Glass Animals, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

May 01, 2020

Welcome to the seventeenth Songs of the Week of 2020. It’s another week under quarantine, the same as the last week. Some states, most notably Georgia, are starting to open up again, even though most experts say it’s too soon. More

Jess Williamson Shares Self-Directed Video for New Song “Smoke”

Sorceress Due Out May 15 via Mexican Summer

Apr 30, 2020

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing a new album, Sorceress, on May 15 via Mexican Summer. Now she has shared another song from it, album opener “Smoke,” via a self-directed video for the track. The video was shot under quarantine on her iPhone. More

11 Best Songs of the Week: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Andrew Bird, Nick Hakim, and More

Plus Jess Williamson, EOB, The 1975 and Phoebe Bridgers, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Apr 03, 2020

Welcome to the thirteenth Songs of the Week of 2020. While more album release dates were pushed back due to COVID-19 and it seems we haven’t reached the peak number of coronavirus cases in America yet, none of that stopped artists from sharing a whole lot of new songs this week. More

Jess Williamson Shares Video for New Song “Infinite Scroll”

Sorceress Due Out May 15 via Mexican Summer

Mar 31, 2020

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing a new album, Sorceress, on May 15 via Mexican Summer. Now she has shared another song from it, “Infinite Scroll,” via a video for the track. In the video she plays a runaway bride, but then there’s a sci-fi twist. More

12 Best Songs of the Week: Phoebe Bridgers, Jessie Ware, Jess Williamson, and More

Plus Real Estate, Perfume Genius, Christine and the Queens, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Feb 28, 2020

Welcome to the eighth Songs of the Week of 2020. It was busy week of new album announcements and surprise EPs. That led to another super-sized edition. More

Feb 26, 2020

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson has announced a new album, Sorceress, and shared its first single, “Wind on Tin,” via a video for the track. She has also announced some tour dates. More

Marfa Myths 2019 Initial Lineup Announced: Deerhunter, Cass McCombs, and More

Plus Woodworker in Residence Cate Le Bon and Painter in Residence Connan Mockasin

Nov 14, 2018

Marfa Myths have announced their initial 2019 lineup. The festival goes down April 25 - 28 in Marfa, Texas and is put together by Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa. The lineup includes Deerhunter, Cass McCombs, Jess Williamson, and more. More

Jess Williamson Shares Video for New Song “Wild Rain”

Cosmic Wink Due Out May 11 via Mexican Summer

May 08, 2018

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing her new album, Cosmic Wink, on May 11 (this Friday) via Mexican Summer. It’s her first for the label and finds her expanding her sound a bit. Now she has shared a video for another new song from the album, “Wild Rain.” Watch it below, followed by her upcoming tour dates. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Beach House, Friendly Fires, Hatchie, Say Sue Me, Jon Hassell, and More

Plus Daniel Rossen, Eleanor Friedberger, Ryley Walker, Jess Williamson, Melody's Echo Chamber, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Apr 06, 2018

Songs of the Week is fairly easy to put together, there are obviously standout tracks and it’s just a case of working out the order. Other weeks there are few great tracks and it’s a real struggle. This week there was an obvious #1 in Beach House and then there were so, so many other tracks to decide between to come up with a Top 10. More

Jess Williamson Shares New Song “Mama Proud”

Cosmic Wink Due Out May 11 via Mexican Summer

Apr 06, 2018

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jess Williamson is releasing her new album, Cosmic Wink, on May 11 via Mexican Summer. It’s her first for the label and finds her expanding her sound a bit (in fact the album’s opening single, “I See White,” sounds a bit like former Mexican Summer artist Weyes Blood). More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Parquet Courts, Neko Case, Beach House, and More

Plus The Beat Escape, The Decemberists, Simian Mobile Disco, JB Dunckel, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Mar 09, 2018

After a couple of strong weeks for Songs of the Week, it was more much more of a challenge this week to come up with 10 songs we were truly excited about. But we’re really fully passionate about this week’s Top 5 and stand behind the rest of the Top 10. More

Check Out Photos from SXSW 2015 of The War on Drugs, Courtney Barnett, Laura Marling, and More

Plus Shots of The Twilight Sad, Twin Peaks, Only Real, Ibeyi, Tom Brosseau, Jess Williamson, and Seoul

Mar 27, 2015

Under the Radar‘s own Wendy Lynch Redfern was down in Austin for SXSW last week. Here’s a selection of her live photos from non-Under the Radar events. More

Premiere: Jess Williamson Mixtape

Native State is Out Now on Brutal Honest

Dec 19, 2014

Before we all take off for all matter of Christmas/winter activities, we figured we’d leave you with one last mixtape. This one comes from Austin-based musician Jess Williamson. It’s a tribute to both her home state and time of year called December in Texas. More



Interviews

Jun 09, 2023

“I’m kind of like a trucker,” Jess Williamson muses from her perfectly appointed and self-proclaimed “hobbit house” in Los Angeles. The Texas born and bred singer/songwriter splits her time between her cozy SoCal abode and the more expansive horizons of the western most region of her home state. More

Mar 30, 2021

Phoning from the adopted comfort of her Los Angeles home in early May, Texas native Jess Williamson speaks with disarming candor about the trials and rewards of the rapidly shifting world around us. More

Jess Williamson

Decisive Moments

Feb 13, 2014

There’s a cinematic quality to the music of Austin folk singer/songwriter Jess Williamson that makes the seven tracks on the 26-year-old’s debut LP, Native State, feel pivotal, whether she’s singing in a gently aching voice over hypnotic instrumentation or howling in a falsetto during dramatic pauses. The ominous guitar notes that open the first track, “Blood Song,” bring to mind a widescreen shot of a barren landscape in a western. More


Reviews

May 09, 2018

On a bustling night in Philadelphia, Jess Williamson brought love to Johnny Brenda’s. More