Becca Murray & the Wildflowers melt the studio with stunning performance on Max Ink Radio

You found Wisconsin's local music authority. This is Magsink Radio. We are local music.

Welcome back to Magsink Radio. Everybody, it is time for live from the Mad City.

Beckham Murray is a Madison-based singer-songwriter whose heartfelt vocals and soulful indie pop sound

with a non-to-iconic female artist of the 70s with a big band grooves of the wildflowers.

Navigating ambition, love, loss, and self-discovery. Beckham Murray and the wildflowers are set to

release a new EP and are here tonight live from the Mad City presented by the Aaron Weber group.

Beckham, Justin, Andy, Daniel, and Matt. Welcome to Magsink Radio.

Thanks for having us. Yeah. We're back. Oh, you know, okay. I made the non-to-iconic

female artist of the 70s. I made that up, but I felt a little bit that's in your songwriting.

Do you have any inspirations from that era? Like, you know, Linda Ronstag, Carol King, or

Carly Simon? Definitely. I'd say my biggest influence in a lot of my writing is Fleetwood Mac.

I love Stevie Nicks and lots of 70s music, not only just the female vocalists,

Love, Led Zeppelin, and CCR, and just lots of music from the 70s.

Oh, yeah. Awesome. Beckham, before we get to your band, the wildflowers, let's get a little backstory.

Who is Beckham Murray and how did you get started playing music?

So I'm really kind of the first musician of my family. Yeah, I started singing in choir

throughout middle school and high school. I actually, my parents heard me sing for the first time

ever when I was in fifth grade at a talent show. And from there, just kind of always had a love

for music. Started teaching myself different instruments and then started teaching myself guitar

right after graduating high school. What other instruments do you play?

I first taught myself keys a little bit, but never really stuck with it long enough to be that good at it.

But ukulele was kind of my gateway instrument to like playing and singing at the same time.

How did your parents support your musical upbringing? Did you listen to their album collection?

Like, what roles did they play? Well, they loved 80s pop and 80s rock. So I definitely

listened to a lot of that, although when I was first learning guitar, that's when I more fell in

love with the 70s. But they've just always been really supportive, always coming to my choir shows

as a kid and all my gigs now that I'm doing this more often. Well, now you were in some bands,

90 proof, ultra key and recently Atomic Blonde. Tell us about the bands that you were in before

the wildflowers. Yeah, so I'm currently in Atomic Blonde and that was the project I wanted to join.

As you know, keep keep rock and roll going. You play a lot of covers in that paper.

Yeah, just exclusively covers in that one. And that's been super fun. Just been with them since the fall.

And then 90 proof, that's that's the project I've been in the longest. And we got together in college.

I ended up living on the same street as the drummer in that band. Put together something to do a battle

of the bands at the UW Madison. Nice. And yeah, we started out just doing kind of covers and

started solely writing originals and ended up producing two albums and just kind of wrapped up as a

group last summer just focusing on everyone having different careers and trying different styles

out in music. Now you've played an important role in your previous bands, but you decided to strike

out on your own and release music in your own name. Tell us about making that decision and what

obstacles you had to overcome. I mean, I'd really just been writing a lot of music over the years

and found that a lot of what I was writing didn't really fit the vibe for 90 proof. It wasn't really

fitting the same rock and roll vibe. And Justin, who had played bass for us in 90 proof for a while,

he produced our second album. And you know, after after that, he was saying, you know, if you ever

want to produce some of your own stuff, like, let's do it. And we started doing it and our work styles

worked super well together. And that's how skating by came to be.

Kids men. Let's get to some live music from the man city with Beckham Murray and the wildflowers

presented by the Aaron Weber group. The first song that you have for us tonight is called Bestie.

Everybody has at least one. Tell us about this song before you play.

So actually, Justin and I, we had a double date one night and we just ended up

going in his studio and kind of jamming it out. And he had kind of a guitar riff that

that he came up with a while ago and hadn't really done anything with. And we were really

vibing with that. And his wife actually was like, you know, people are always writing songs.

I love songs about their partner. What about a love song about your best friend? And I was like,

oh yeah, let's roll with that. And the lyrics just really came and it like, yeah, it came together

really well. And I love the song. Well, very good. Let's hear it right now live from the man city

with Beckham Murray and the wildflowers. This is Bestie.

She makes me smile when I see her. Oh, you should be my best friend. That girl, she's a keeper.

She walks like a diva. Makes me feel free. I don't know what I would do without her.

Oh, she makes me feel heard like I'm never about before.

Oh, it makes me lie. If it were there, stop that funny.

About the moment, but we still make it all.

Always keeping things happy. Never too happy. My best friend, that girl, she makes me happy.

She tells me how it ends. And sometimes you're gonna call it. Cause she thinks that's what you want to hear.

She makes me feel seen like I'm never been seen before.

She tells me, follow your dreams. And hold them up if they were her own.

Oh, why would I do it without her?

I'm always there in her corner. Yeah, I support her.

I support her, I want her to fulfill all her desire.

If she would leave, I would miss her. Yeah, that's my sister. Love, I'm at least moment spent together.

Oh, she makes me feel heard like I'm never about before.

I love how I can be myself with her. And she can be the girl she wants to be.

Wow, that was bestie. Live from the mad city on maxing radio with Becca Murray and the wildflowers. That was a, that was really cool.

I really love that. Becca, after deciding to strike out on your own, you put the wildflowers together to bring your music to life.

We're gonna hear their story in a minute, but we want to hear it from you first. Tell us about putting together this special band of yours.

It really happened intentionally. So after 90 proof kind of ended, I joined another group for a little bit and had auditioned Dan, our drummer, for that one.

And right when we were gonna bring them on, that band kind of felt a little bit.

I was kind of open to other opportunities. I went to an open mic and that's where I met Matt, heard him playing keys and singing. I was like, I gotta talk to that guy.

And started jamming together. I brought in Andy, who played bass more recently with 90 proof. And then of course Justin produced skating by and played with 90 proof in the past.

And just kind of brought everyone together to jam. And the chemistry was just amazing. And the grooves were there. And yeah, it just, it made sense.

How long has this line up been together?

God, it was like fall.

Fall? Just this past year?

Yeah, pretty recent. We've only been together for a few months, yeah.

Nice. Wow, it sounds really tight so far.

Thank you.

Okay, well, let's actually hear from bassist Andy Brott.

How did you get started playing music? And what's your backstory?

So I grew up in a pretty musical family. Started on piano lessons. This and that, both my sisters played.

One day my dad came home with a bass for Christmas. He's a drummer. So he needed a bass player. And I picked it up. Music degree later. Here I am.

Where did you get your degree? I studied at University of Northern Iowa and Cedar Falls. Okay, great school.

Met Becca through 90 proof, obviously. I saw a Facebook post in need of the bass player. And I reached out.

Did you say are you from Madison?

No, I grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa. Just kind of moved here on a whim a couple years ago.

That's what I was going to see. Look right here. Yeah, just what about Madison? Really stuck out. Why did you pick Madison?

I don't know, honestly. I had one friend from high school who lives here.

Okay. And I was like, yeah, sure. Why not?

I thought you would say because we have such a great music scene here.

Yes, absolutely. That's it.

Wow. Well, let's get back to live music from the man city with Becca Murray and the wildflowers presented by the Aaron Weber group.

The next song that you have for us tonight. It's called Cartwheels. Is this why you get a W tattooed on each but cheek?

You certainly could.

Tell us about this song before you play.

So this song kind of came to me. I was going camping with some friends.

And we were by this little teeny beach had a tiny sand area.

We were just hanging out. I have a lot of energy and sometimes my friends just want to chill.

So I was doing cartwheels in the sand and it just kind of brought me back to being a kid in those carefree days.

And kind of how you grow up so fast, you don't even like realize how special and valuable that time is when everything was simple and fun and exciting.

And I mean, it's still fun and exciting. But you know, when you're a kid, the world is new.

Special.

Yeah.

All right. Well, let's hear it. This is Cartwheels. You're listening to Maxing Radio.

This is live from the man city with Becca Murray and the wildflowers.

It's so different now. The life we thought we knew.

Looking through what tired eyes to see a world brand new.

Never would have taken for granted the things we thought would stay.

Older reflect on all those times to miss the good old days.

Doing cartwheels in the sand are dirty little hands. Wish I could go back again to the filter memory of how it used to be.

Back when we were young and free, the world has changed. It's not the same.

So you ever think it's strange.

Yes, we got the best of curiosity. Well, the whimsy on the slaves, a distant memory.

Just a garden full of dreams. We grew too fast, it seemed. But nothing yet to read.

Now miss playing in the grass, we catch up after class. Wish I knew it wouldn't last that bait in memory of how it used to be.

Back when we were young and free, but the world has changed. It's not the same.

Do you ever think it's strange?

Doing cartwheels in the sand are dirty little hands. Wish I could go back again to the filter memory of how it used to be.

Back when we were young and free, but the world has changed. It's not the same.

Do you ever think it's strange?

Heart Wheels, Becca Murray in the wildflowers, that was a great song.

It does take you back.

Great saxophone there, Justin. I think we're going to hear some more.

On the guitar and saxophone tonight is Justin Graham. Let's get to know him. Justin, what is your backstory and how did you get started playing music?

Can you hear me?

Yeah.

Oh, perfect. Yeah, I got started playing music. I'd say six grades. My middle school I went to.

We had to be in band or extra choir. We had a saxophone in the house, so that was what I chose.

My parents wanted me to do it for all three years in middle school.

I can't say it was my favorite thing, but I made a lot of friends doing it, and then they were all going on into high school doing it.

I was like, well, I can't stop now. My friends are going to be there, so I kept doing it.

And around that time, when I started high school, I got really into guitar.

I remember my parents got me a guitar for my birthday because they're very supportive.

They saw I was taking a liking to it and got me some lessons as well, and I did that pretty much all through high school.

And that was just a really awesome experience.

Loved that so much, ended up going to college for music, studied saxophone, and music.

I had a university of Oregon, so I grew up in Bend, Oregon. I'm from the West Coast.

What brought you to Madison?

Well, my wife and I were living out in bands, and we were looking to change things up.

I go somewhere else, and she's actually from the area.

Lived in Verona and Fitchburg growing up. Her family's still out here.

So it's like, okay, we have a connection out here. Let's go try it.

We had been out here to visit together, and I absolutely love the area.

So it was kind of a no-brainer for me.

Just we've been out here for like three years now, and just absolutely loving it. It's so good.

And you're into production as well.

I am, yeah. That's been over the last few years. I've been kind of building up my production chops and building up my studio.

And we moved into a house when we got out here, and I finally had enough space to kind of expand and collect more toys and things.

So now I kind of have a little bit more of an operation than I can do stuff with.

And it's been an absolute joy.

I'm very cool. We're glad you're in Madison.

Let's get back to live music from the Mad City with Becker Murray and the Wildflowers, presented by the Erin Weber Group.

The next song that you have for us tonight is called Lost.

And tell us about what can't be found.

Well, I couldn't be found. It was probably myself at the time that this song was written.

Yeah.

You know, it's of course a breakup song. You always got to have one of those.

Always.

Yeah. And I just, it was a weird point in my time or point in my life.

Just feeling kind of not really sure what I was doing with my life and big picture wise.

And the breakup just kind of put everything into perspective and yeah.

All right. Well, let's check it out. This is Lost.

Becker Murray and the Wildflowers live from the Mad City on Maxing Radio.

I was lost, but you found me. I was tossed to the sea. I was drowning.

We grew close, breaking boundaries. I was feeling the way that I thought I should feel.

Every promise in me that you're saying you would keep where you're sleeping away.

Falling in line through your feet. I was hollowed and I'd hope long as I could see.

And I wish you could be who I thought you would be.

Now I'm losing you, my life. I'll be fine on my own. I just hope it's enough.

Try to see it through my life. But my heart is breaking again and it's over now.

I feel broken once again. It's the promise that you pay when you open your heart.

Words I'm spoken to my head. Though I said it would I could.

It's never enough all the times in your arms. I surely will miss.

I will never forget the last time that we kissed. And I'll try to let go.

I know it's for the best, but I'll always hang on to a part of the past.

And I'm leaving you, my life. I thought you would be the one, but you prove.

I hope to make it through my life. But some moments I made for you then.

No, no, no.

Somethings just can't change. No matter how hard you try.

Wish I could still feel the same. But there's nothing you could say to make me stay.

Now I'm losing you, my life. I'll be fine on my own. I just hope it's enough.

Try to see it through my life. But my heart is breaking again and it's over now.

I'm losing you, my life. I'll be fine on my own. I just hope it's enough.

Try to see it through my life. But my heart is breaking again and it's over now.

Wow, that was lost. Beckham Murray in the wildflowers right here live from the Man City on Maxing Gradio.

We'll be right back after this break.

Shop local, eat local, listen local. This is Maxing Gradio. We are local music.

Maxing Gradio, I am rocker here in the studio with Jane in the control room.

We are here with Beckham Murray in the wildflowers live from the Man City on Maxing Gradio.

Beckham, we just met your producer Justin. Now tell us about your new album, Skating Buy.

Skating Buy, it's a six-song EP. It's kind of a collection of songs that really represent a lot of the really big feelings I felt in my young adulthood.

A lot of problems that people see in their 20s are just feelings that people have in their 20s.

You don't have to be 20, but yeah.

How long go are these songs written?

It's kind of a mixed bag. The oldest one home. That one was written right before I was going to be moving back to Madison.

That was 2022. Most of them were written in 2024 though.

Okay, and where was this recorded in the production? You said it was this in a studio?

Yep, yep. You guys have your own.

It was in Justin's studio and his basement. He's got a pretty nice set up.

I'm really happy how it turned out. We did most of the instrumentals ourselves.

It was before the band got together. He had a buddy track drums on it.

Yeah, I brought these songs to Justin. He really helped me bring them to life and helped me put some tasty chords in there.

It wouldn't be what it is today without him.

Wow, where can we find skating by online?

You can find it everywhere. You can find it Spotify, Apple Music, Title, Bandcamp, everywhere.

And you have a website too, right?

I do, yeah, BeckhamMurrayMusic.com. And I got some CDs too.

So people on my CDs, are you going to put out vinyl?

We might, maybe not for this project, but as we start building up our, our discography, probably will.

Well, let's give the drummer some from Kankaki to New Orleans to Madison.

Daniel Bishop, what is your backstory? And how did you start and find your way to the man city?

Hey, rocker, my drumming brother. I have to correct your pronunciation. It's Kankaki.

Okay, I was wondering. I was looking at that one. I'm like, I'm going to put you this.

It's all right. No problem.

I'm the newest Madison resident in the band.

Yeah.

I'm, I met Becca within a month of moving here.

So I came here in, in August, so brand new and coming from New Orleans.

It's been a while since I've had a Midwestern winter.

Yeah, it has been a winter.

Well, now you're getting a snow tan.

Exactly.

What brought you to Madison?

Well, my, my wife, shout out, Chardonnay Ready, decided to join UW.

Oh, nice.

I'm coming from Kankaki, which is a suburb of Chicago.

She's a student or working, working at the hospital.

Nice.

And her family is from Cedar Rapids.

So Madison was eco-distant from the two of them and it's such a rad place.

We all in love with it immediately.

Oh, that's so fun.

Now, how did you get started playing drums?

I started when I was 11 years old and my dad was a drummer.

Yeah.

And he had a drum set in the attic.

And I, on my own accord, drug it down from the attic without asking permission.

Was he not playing it at the time?

No, it was like in mothballs or what?

Yeah, I remember it being set up periodically throughout my childhood.

And I don't know.

I just got the gumption one day to, to bring it down and convince him to teach me how to play.

Nice.

Wow, that's so cool.

Well, let's get back to live music from the Mad City with Becka Murray and the Wildflowers

presented by the Aaron Weber group.

The next song that you have for us tonight, it is from your new album Skating Buy.

And it's called Ameless.

Is this song about wandering or just not having good aim?

I guess not having good aim in life, kind of feeling a little lost in what path you're going down.

And I wrote it kind of in a bit of a darker place where I felt like I was going down a path

or with people where I was not going to meet the same goals and opportunities that I wanted to.

And I was afraid that it was too late to correct the course.

So it's a little less of a little more of a pessimistic song, but the funky vibes bring the energy up.

A funky-bibed pessimistic song called Ameless.

Right here on live from the Mad City, you're listening to Becka Murray and the Wildflowers.

I'm Maxing Gradio.

I'm Maxing Gradio.

Follow Amelessly the trail that leads you no place else at all.

Wash away the days and take away the graces till you fall.

Find yourself clean and surprise.

Hold it up and see what your new eyes, the world is changing.

Rearrange the angled frame of mind.

There's nowhere else to go.

There's no one left to be.

Cause you drove away your choices, you were chasing ecstasy.

Slide it down the road.

Never seem to see that you was spinning out.

Now I've got a glimpse of where you would be.

Laps and I'm the same.

I'm running from the dreams and I unleash your fear.

Just drive the fear, but you refuse to see.

Cornering your mind.

Threatened by the weight of time, but it keeps pulling on and on.

Who are you pulling down?

Find yourself clean and surprise.

Couldn't know that I'm your eyes to see you're left behind.

You're out of time and no one's here to seek.

Trap them through the teeth.

Couldn't help them make you thought, but you were born.

Somehow you lost who you thought you should be.

You're out of time and no one's here to seek.

You're out of time and no one's here to seek.

Now I've got a glimpse of where you're going.

I'm running from the dreams and I unleash your fear.

I'm running from the dreams and I unleash your fear.

You're out of time and no one's here to seek.

There's nowhere else to go, there's no one left to be.

Cause you threw away your choices, you were chasing ecstasy.

There's nothing left to get, there's no one here to seek.

Some how you lost to you, but you should be.

Nice, aimless Becca Murray in the wildflowers right here live from the Man City on Maxine Gradyo.

Back in the wildflowers are performing around Manuson in February March.

First up is the Cardinal Bar in the Cavital East neighborhood on February 1st.

That's tomorrow with friend of Maxine Gradyo, Bear in the Forest.

Tell us about this show at this historic bar and venue.

Actually, I got a message from the local band Dolt asking if we wanted to play a bill with them at Cardinal Bar.

I've seen lots of shows, played some shows there with 90 proof and definitely love the vibe there.

I messaged Bear in the Forest because I actually overheard him talking in the crowd with another band at this Chicago band Holly's show at Gamma Ray.

I was like, oh, I'm going to DM them.

I want to hear their music and listen to their stuff and really incredible.

Super excited to play with both bands tomorrow.

That's going to be a great show.

You two are a perfect pair and Dolt, I haven't heard them yet, so I'll have to be on the lookout for them.

Let's get back to live music from the Man City with Becca Murray in the wildflowers presented by the Aaron Weber group.

The next song that you have for us tonight is also on your new album Skating By and it's called Fly Trap.

Is this song like one of those bug zappers or the hanging tape variety?

It's one of the metaphorical variety.

This song is kind of about the trap of what people consider normal life.

Going down a path, getting married, having kids, having a career, doing what you're expected to do and having this fear that you're not going to accomplish.

The goals that you feel really passionate about.

But this one is kind of similar to aimless but different because it takes a more optimistic approach and the course of the song is saying, you know, it's okay.

You don't have to quit your job and move to Nashville or move to LA and do all these things to make your dreams come true.

You can take things at your own pace and not worry and stress as much about it because it'll be worth it at the end of the day.

Wow, that sounds incredible. Let's check it out. Becca Murray and the Wildflowers.

This is Fly Trap live from the Man City on Maxine Gradio.

This is a song that you thought they said rather hold your grip don't want to end up dead.

Though it's too much simpler and day better just to die than disagree.

Rather shackled here than lost at sea.

And you found your going no place so sit on.

And it feels like a whole bed on your downfall.

Never thought you could feel so damn small but you found yourself stuck in war.

You're too weak to leave behind.

It's alright to push your dreams back one more day and take some time to find some better words to say.

I know it's hard to give yourself a break you'll find it's worth it at the end of the day.

Drinking from the well it takes so sweet.

Couldn't tell there's poison in the stream paying back what you thought was for free.

I thought you'd get away ignoring signs only was a sure matter of time till you left your real plans all behind.

And you found your going no place so sit on.

And it feels like a whole bed on your downfall.

Never thought you could feel so damn small but you found yourself stuck in war.

You're too weak to leave behind.

It's alright to push your dreams back one more day and take some time to find some better words to say.

I know it's hard to give yourself a break you'll find it's worth it at the end of the day.

And you found your going no place so sit on.

And it feels like a whole bed on your downfall.

Never thought you could feel so damn small but you found yourself stuck in a war.

You're too weak to leave behind.

It's alright to push your dreams back one more day and take some time to find some better words to say.

I know it's hard to give yourself a break you'll find it's worth it at the end of the day.

It's alright to push your dreams back one more day and take some time to find some better words to say.

I know it's hard to give yourself a break you'll find it's worth it at the end of the day.

It's worth it at the end of the day.

Flytrap, that is Beckham Murray and the wildflowers here on Life from the Man City on Maxing Radio.

That was totally incredible.

I love that song and I love the flytrap part.

Thank you.

Got to love it.

From Austin, Texas to Madison on Road's electric piano tonight, Matt McCarthy.

Matt, how did you get started playing music and how did you end up in the Man City?

Okay, music is a little bit of a longer story, but I suppose I started on drums.

Yeah.

Then I moved to guitar, naturally, or music camp, kind of being born and raised in Austin, Texas.

You need to learn guitar.

Yep.

To live there.

Oh my SRB.

Yep.

And then mom bought a really nice baby grand piano when we moved to the nice house.

Shout out mom.

And that kind of changed the whole deal.

Good instrument.

And so then pursued it, went to college, even had a short little career in it.

And yeah, it was great.

It was great.

The reason I'm in Madison.

Yeah.

In 2019, so I went to Boston, came back to Austin, Texas, my hometown.

And it always kind of fantasized about seeing the wider United States.

Got a teardrop, trailer.

Oh yeah.

Well, with my girlfriend at the time and her little chweeney dog named Bruce, shout out Bruce.

And we kind of checked out the United States.

And we just kept coming back to Madison.

And yeah, it was one of those things where we came back to Madison maybe four or five times.

And then just fell in love with the place.

And so the rest is history.

Well, that's awesome.

Well, you guys have more shows coming up, including the Harmony Bar was a trio on February 5th.

The Moon Bar Solo on February 12th.

The Gamma Ray with Maringo on March 1st.

And you can keep up with all the show dates at Beckham Murray music.com.

And we just have a few minutes.

And when we have one more song, so I'd really like to get to it.

So we don't miss it this song.

Let's get back to live music from the man city with Beckham Murray and the wildflowers.

This is the title song to your new album.

Let's hear it.

I guess the song's kind of about just going through adulthood and, you know, feeling like you're not doing things perfectly, not doing things right.

And, you know, just skating by and life until you find your broader purpose.

And I feel like over the past couple years, I'm kind of finding my place in life and find what it's all about.

Well, let's hear it. This is skating by Beckham Murray and the wildflowers.

They always say another day, another dollar.

I should probably see my mom, maybe I'll call her one more day in paradise.

I'm petrified to walk this road alone.

Nobody told me that a heart of life would find me.

I always thought that I would find someone to guide me valid.

I'm living on my own inside a home I'm borrowing from now.

At least I can say I've gotten myself to get through.

But I'd feel like if I said I wasn't holding out for a moment.

Will I ever feel like there's a reason why I'm here?

I guess until then I'm skating by.

Don't want to come in second place in a rap race.

I've always come between a rock and a hard place.

Nothing less than pure perfection.

Will I ever find a piece of mine?

I know that no one ever told me you would see his day.

But they never seemed to see the world as I see everyone who came before.

I'm coming on before I close my eyes.

But still I can say I've gotten myself to get through.

But deep inside I know my world keeps on letting down.

Will I ever feel like there's a reason why I'm here?

Until that day I know I'm skating by.

But still I can say I've gotten myself to get through.

At least on the surface it seems like I've been doing fine.

I know I'm fine by but someday if I try.

So until then I'm skating by.

Wow Beckham Murray in the wildflowers live from the mad city right here on Maxine Credio.

Thanks so much for coming down to play for us tonight.

It was really awesome.

Thank you so much for having us.

You can catch Beckham Murray in the wildflowers at the Cardinal Bar tomorrow night.

And February 12th at the Gamma Ray Bar March 1st at the Gamma Ray Bar with Marango.

Right now we are done. We'll see you next week.

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