Ruthie Craft

2023 Sonic Guild Artist
2019 AMERICAN IDOL contestant

Seattle-born, Austin-based singer/songwriter Ruthie Craft is a powerhouse singer with a story to tell. Capturing audiences with her soulful, emotive voice, honest and clever lyrics, and energetic onstage persona, her vocal style has been compared to the likes of Adele, Hayley Williams, and Amy Winehouse.

In Fall of 2015, she was selected to perform with Keith Urban at the Washington State Fair for an audience of 10,000, and the experience brought her thousands of local fans. In July of 2018, Ruthie was selected as a contestant for Season 2 of American Idol on ABC. Her episodes began airing in March of 2019, providing her with an entirely new group of national fans. Since then, she has collaborated with producers and artists across the country, and has shared the stage with the likes of Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Shakey Graves, Die Spitz, and Raelyn Nelson.

As a writer, Ruthie seamlessly blends elements of soul, rock, and pop; aiming to create impassioned, relatable music. She has released six singles as well as multiple collaborative projects, including a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (2020) with pianist Jason Lux and vocalist Craymer, garnering them nearly 3 million streams on Spotify. Ruthie is currently wrapping up her debut EP, set to release spring 2024.

Brother Thunder

Brother Thunder is a rock & soul outfit from Austin, TX founded by Chrs Pena and Keith Sanders. Together with Angelo Dulang, Jacob Rapp, Justin Malone, and John Cherry they imbue bits and bobbles of soul, rock, and psychedelia into tunes that make you want to get up and move.

McKenna Michels

Meet McKenna Michels. Hailing from the vibrant city of Austin, where creativity lives on every corner, McKenna Michels is a singer-songwriter whose melodies and lyrics resonate deep within the soul. Her heart driven songs give voice not only to the traumas she endured, but to countless nameless survivors who have faced similar challenges in their own lives.

Drawing inspiration from Adele, Florence + the Machine, Lady Gaga, Muse, Gorillaz and a variety of Vocaloid artists, Michels values artists whose passion for music is matched by their inner strength. Channeling emotion through music and connecting with an audience, that is what gets her out of bed each morning.

Beneath the surface of Michels' melodies lies a story of profound resilience and strength. Her journey through a tumultuous and often abusive childhood relationship with her mother imbues her music with an empowering salve, soothing not only her own wounds but also those who found comfort in her artistry. She says that “music has helped me to forgive and writing has helped me heal.” Taking in the perspectives of others, a skill she gained from moving around frequently as a child, allows her to write from a universal perspective and invites listeners into a place of healing and forgiveness.

2022 saw the release of Michels' debut album, "Enlightenment,” released on Arching Dog. The poignant singles "Survivor," "Running," and "Born To Die," reached impressive positions on the Billboard Hot AC charts and resonated with listeners of all ages. "Enlightenment" stands as a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft, and is available on all streaming platforms.

Michels’ passion for music can be traced back to her early childhood - a memory of driving with her grandmother, listening to "The Phantom of the Opera." At the tender age of 10, she wrote her first song. In middle school she joined the choir and musical theater productions, and then challenged herself further with opera. During her freshman year of college, she performed at the venerable Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Yet it would take two more years for Michels to fully commit to chasing a career in music. Craving an outlet for her self-expression, she gave herself an ultimatum when she walked into a coffee shop (aptly named Mozart’s) and said if she could secure a spot there, she’d go after a life in music. After submitting three songs, she locked in the gig that very day.nt to get up and move.