Otis Wilkins - “Sundaze (I Still Don’t Shine The Same Way)”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Father John Misty, The Flaming Lips, Otis the Destroyer

Austin’s Otis Wilkins continues to hone his solo catalog while gigging with local rock act Otis the Destroyer, striking a psych-pop tone on his latest EP City Pop. Slices of soul and blues inform Wilkins’ songwriting, a style that finds easy balance between garage rock and cinematic pop influences. The result is loose and grounded in classic rock jams, though more on the dreamy than grimy side. Wilkins’ nicely lets his songs trip out rather freely, ambient-rock leaning efforts that broaden instead of relying on noise layers to build tension. (Kevin McStravick)

2022 Review: Otis Wilkins of Otis the Destroyer embraces piano pop romanticism across his latest three singles, upbeat indie rock numbers with tongue-in-cheek flair. Charming and full, Wilkins lets psych-rock influences weave into his songs, tripping out the classic pop songwriting that births the song structures of tunes like “Joni Mitchell Was Punk” and “Charlene”. Balancing smooth and jangly phrasing, Wilkins’ songs are equally accessible and weird, pleasantly dense instead of just going full dream pop.