SAN ANTONIO – The second episode of SA Vibes features Caroline Hale, who is actually a new find for yours truly.
Hale is a singer-songwriter from San Antonio who is currently based in Austin. She’s been playing guitar since she was eight and was discovered by Martin Strayer - sound engineer, musician, and songwriter who’s worked with multi-platinum artists like Ariana Grande, Madonna, The Chicks, Soundgarden, and many others, at a local rock showcase. He became her musical mentor and helped her learn the ways of the music industry.
My first time seeing Caroline perform was in the KSAT Garden for this segment! She was recommended to me by a musician friend of mine and I couldn’t stop listening to this set after I was done editing it.
She recently released her debut album BFF “Best Friend’s Funeral” and gave us a preview with three songs.
For this SA Vibes set, Caroline Hale performs “We Both Do,” “Best Friend’s Funeral,” and “Know It All.”
Hale’s next show is on April 22 where she’ll be playing the National Anthem on electric guitar to kick off the San Antonio River Parade at the Arneson River Theater during Fiesta.
After that, she’ll be playing with Thrower and Sam Hodgson in College Station on April 27.
We asked a few questions about her music influences and more - see her answers below.
How do you think growing up in San Antonio influenced your music?
San Antonio is a city of music, a melting pot of cultures and genres. From country to Tejano to heavy metal, I experienced it all growing up there. My music taste is just like the city – diverse and open-minded. I create music that speaks to my heart, a sound that’s a mix of different genres. San Antonio will always hold a special place in my heart, as it has inspired musicians like myself and individuals who dare to go outside the lines.
What’s been your favorite show you’ve performed and why?
My favorite show I’ve played up to this point was Gruene Hall opening for The Band of Heathens in May of 2023. Everyone who has ever played Gruene Hall says it’s special for a reason. That stage has a certain feel you can’t find anywhere else. It was so hot and humid; my band and I came down drenched in sweat from head to toe, and it was awesome. We played our hearts out and left everything we had on that stage and I hope one day, not so far in the future, I’ll get to go back and do it all over again.
Your set included “We Both Do”, “Best Friend’s Funeral” and “Know It All.” Can you tellus the backstory about one of those songs?
I wrote ‘We Both Do’ when I was going through a long-distance relationship. Being so young at the time, neither of us knew how to navigate it properly without someone getting hurt. We missed each other a lot, to the extent that it ended up hurting us more than anything else. It’s an indescribable feeling, being so consumed by love that it feels as if the entire world is crumbling around you, yet lacking the maturity to mend it. We both loved each other, we both missed each other, we both were confused, we both hurt. We both do...
You can find more information and music from Caroline Hale on her Instagram or Spotify.
About SA Vibes
San Antonio is well-known for its culture, but the local music scene has always seemed a bit hidden.
Unless someone takes you to a local show — at venues like The Lonesome Rose, Hi-Tones, The Mix, Paper Tiger, 502 Bar — chances are you’ll never even know our music scene even exists. That’s what made me decide to launch this passion project that we’re calling “SA Vibes.”
My name is Valerie and I’m a video editor at KSAT. I’ve been attending local shows for over a decade, and I want to put a spotlight on the great talent that San Antonio has to offer.
Each month we’ll be releasing a new “SA Vibes” video across all KSAT digital platforms and our YouTube channel showcasing a local musician performing live versions of their songs from the KSAT garden.
If you’re a San Antonio musician and would like to be a part of this project, please send information about your next show to our SA Vibes email.