Inspired by the creative freedom of modern home recording, where he thrives in a state of constant play—repurposing sounds as instruments and embracing liberal vocal layering—Motenko’s recordings have grown increasingly experimental. A longtime devotee of ‘70s R&B icons like The Meters and the legendary recordings from Muscle Shoals, Motenko has expanded his influences to include artists as diverse as Steve Lacy and Mac DeMarco.

Years of honing his craft while supporting other artists and producing his own material have paid dividends: in 2021, music patronage non-profit Sonic Guild awarded Motenko an artist grant, leading to official status at SXSW, placements on a CBS series, and nearly half a million streams. His appearances on ACL Live with Jade Bird and Pat Byrne also helped earn him Best Keyboardist nominations at the Austin Music Awards in both 2020 and 2022.

His side work has fostered a greater focus on intentional arrangement. Where the limitless possibilities of the studio once led to distracting anxiety—hours lost chasing the perfect compression setting or sound—Motenko now approaches recording with the confidence of a seasoned stage and studio veteran. He’s learned to venture off the beaten path without losing sight of the music’s core identity, letting the arrangement serve the song rather than overshadow it.

“Carefully-constructed compositions, head-bobbing grooves, and of course, Micah’s knack for knocking it out of the park with his crystalline vocals” –KUTX

“Motenko excels at a vein of Americana music that combines elements of jazz, pop and soul. –Austin American-Statesman

“This is a nostalgic sound. This is a sexy sound… all I can say is listen for yourself. Fall in love, be it with this band, or with someone special. Just make sure it’s to this song.” –Gas Mask Magazine