Middle Sattre (SAT-tree) is an Austin-based folk band with an experimental edge. Originating in Salt Lake City as a solo home-recording project, frontman Hunter Prueger started songwriting as a way to confront his internalized homophobia leftover from growing up gay in the Mormon church. Converging in Austin with Mitch Stevens (electric guitar, banjo, piano) and S. Wallace (vocals, keyboard/sampler), the band further grew into an eight person ensemble, including Jordan Walsh (prepared guitar, drums), Juniper Card (guitar, drums), Kai Jasmin (viola, guitar), Sophie Mathieu (cello), and James Tabata (bass).

Lyrically, their compositions are both mournful and hopeful. In both intent and narrative, the band’s work is composed of vulnerable introspections on the agonies of repression and the ecstasies of slipping loose from those bonds. Sonically, that abstract of breaking free from constraint carries over into the band’s unconventional use of instruments, experimenting by playing banjos with fidget spinners or strapping metal chains across guitar strings.