Traveling Band, The Watters, Settles in Austin With Album Release

Guest article by Lauren Lyman

The Watters began their story outside of Austin, Texas. Married couple Jenna and Daniel Watters were originally in The Oak Creek Band, beginning in 2009. They toured the country, keeping a home base in Denver for about four and a half years, then in Nashville for about two years. In 2015, they moved their band to Austin, where they changed their group name to The Watters.

This Americana/Soul group was specifically attracted to our city, due to its welcoming nature and supportive environment for the arts. This past Saturday, the band celebrated their debut album release of “The Great Unknown” with an Austin crowd at The Parish.

“We feel so welcome here, and it’s a good feeling,” Jenna Watters shared. “We’re not going to be leaving anytime soon. We just love it!”

Name Change, New Identity

Watters said the band members wanted to change their name to The Watters after previous members went their separate ways. The original name also gave the impression of a folk or bluegrass combo. Instead, the group wanted to recognize the louder, more energetic sound they create when performing live as a nine-piece ensemble. At their CD release event, the band definitely had more a rock feel when they included a horn section and covered a mad version of Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should Never Be.”

“I think, live, we just love that energy of rocking out,” Jenna Watters explained. “It’s just so much more fun, and we’re able to master the sound that we’ve been wanting, finally.”

While this is a debut release under The Watters name, Jenna and Daniel Watters have previous experience with albums under The Oak Creek Band. Their prior collaborations have shaped their music into what it is now. Some of the best Austin musicians are featured on “The Great Unknown” album, including Joe Woullard of Golden Dawn Arkestra and Hardproof, Zumbi Richards of Golden Dawn Arkestra, Trevor Nealon of Band of Heathens, and Erik Hokkanan.

“The whole album is about diving into the unknown in life,” Jenna Watters added, “whether it be the kind of job you’re going to have, the people you’re going to surround yourself with, trusting your guts, following your instinct and speaking truth. A lot of those songs are about speaking truth, what’s right and what is real in the world.”

The 10-song LP is available in CD and digital formats. For more information, visit wearethewatters.com.

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

What new Austin band have you discovered recently?

 

Lauren Lyman is a freelance writer, flutist, and singer. She is a graduate of Texas State University, where she attained a Master of Music in music history. She wrote her master’s thesis on the sisters of Heart, as well as Fiona Apple, Madonna and Janis Joplin.