Biography
Motel Radio is an indie rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, known for warm harmonies, melodic guitar work, and an easygoing, sun‑washed sound that blends indie rock, folk, and retro‑soul inflections.[1][3][5] The group formed in 2014 at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, when Texas natives and college roommates Ian Wellman and Winston Triolo began writing songs together and singing close harmonies at campus parties.[2][4][8] Their relaxed, beachy vocal style and early folk‑leaning material quickly resonated with fellow students, and the pair soon expanded into a full band with Andrew Pancamo on bass and Eric Lloyd on drums, relocating activity to nearby New Orleans, where the city’s eclectic musical culture helped shape their developing sound.[1][2][3][4]
The band generated early buzz with their debut EP Days & Nights (2015), which established their reputation in New Orleans and landed them support slots for national acts such as Kurt Vile and Drive‑By Truckers, as well as appearances at major festivals including Firefly, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Voodoo.[2][3][5][7] They followed with Desert Surf Films (2016), recorded at Dockside Studios in Lafayette, Louisiana, where experienced engineers helped the band refine their sonic identity, and in 2016 they were named “Best Emerging Artist” at New Orleans’ Big Easy Awards, cementing their status on the regional scene.[2][3][5] Their first full‑length album, Siesta Del Sol (2019), inspired in part by a trip to Marfa, Texas, broadened their palette with more expansive, hypnotic textures and supported a 31‑city U.S. tour that grew their national following.[2][5]
In the years that followed, Motel Radio increasingly focused on self‑production and sonic experimentation, aiming to become more self‑sufficient in the studio.[5] Their sophomore LP The Garden was recorded partly at a fishing camp south of New Orleans with engineer Ross Farbe (Video Age, Esther Rose) and partly through remote sessions the band engineered themselves, embracing synths, samples, and modern production tools to expand beyond their original folk‑centric roots while retaining their melodic core.[4][5] As adult life pulled members across different states—Wellman moving to San Francisco and Triolo to Portland—the band learned to balance personal growth with creative collaboration, channeling these experiences into introspective songwriting that often meditates on change, distance, and resilience.[4][5] Though still a relatively young act, Motel Radio has carved out a distinct place within contemporary indie rock through consistent touring, thoughtful lyricism, and a quietly evolving sound that continues to attract a devoted, grassroots audience.[2][3][4][5]
Fun Facts
- Motel Radio originally formed at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge not as a formal band, but as a casual songwriting and harmony project between college roommates Ian Wellman and Winston Triolo, playing songs for friends at campus parties before ever hitting a proper venue.[2][4]
- The band’s transition from local college shows to the national stage was catalyzed when manager Ron Richard "discovered" them and began securing slots at major festivals like SXSW, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Firefly, and Voodoo, dramatically accelerating their exposure.[2]
- Their debut EP Days & Nights grew out of a period when the members were in a "deep folk phase," learning songcraft from classic folk standards before later pushing themselves toward more distinctive, experimental arrangements.[3][5]
- To record their sophomore LP The Garden, Motel Radio tracked part of the album in an old fishing camp south of New Orleans and finished the rest remotely, teaching themselves engineering and embracing synths, samples, and plug‑ins to expand their sound beyond their original folk‑rock roots.[4][5]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Ron Richard - Manager who "discovered" Motel Radio, guided their early career, and booked them for major festivals, helping move them from college gigs into the national touring circuit. (Festival bookings including SXSW, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Firefly Festival, Voodoo; early career management during the Days & Nights and Desert Surf Films era.) [c. 2015–late 2010s]
- Dockside Studios engineering team - Studio engineers in Lafayette, Louisiana, whom the band credit with helping them shape their songs and cultivate their sound while recording their second release. (Recording and production guidance on Desert Surf Films (2016).) [2016]
- Ross Farbe - New Orleans engineer and musician who helped the band track part of The Garden and supported their transition toward more self‑recording and expanded sonic experimentation. (Engineering work on The Garden sessions at a fishing camp south of New Orleans.) [c. 2020–2021]
Key Collaborators
- Ian Wellman - Co‑founder, co‑lead vocalist and guitarist, and one of the primary songwriters; central to the band’s melodic and lyrical direction from its inception. (Co‑writing and performing on Days & Nights (2015), Desert Surf Films (2016), Siesta Del Sol (2019), The Garden (sophomore LP).) [2014–present]
- Winston Triolo - Co‑founder, co‑lead vocalist and guitarist, and primary songwriter whose harmonies and guitar work define the group’s core sound; later also plays bass for indie band Summer Salt. (Co‑writing and performing on Days & Nights, Desert Surf Films, Siesta Del Sol, The Garden.) [2014–present]
- Andrew Pancamo - Bassist who joined as the band expanded beyond its original duo, anchoring the rhythm section and contributing to the band’s live and recorded sound. (Bass on Days & Nights, Desert Surf Films, Siesta Del Sol, The Garden and extensive touring.) [c. 2014–present]
- Eric Lloyd - Drummer who completed the core lineup as Motel Radio grew from a songwriting project into a full band, shaping the group’s groove and dynamic range. (Drums on Days & Nights, Desert Surf Films, Siesta Del Sol, The Garden and national tours.) [c. 2014–present]
- Summer Salt - Indie band with whom Motel Radio have toured; Winston Triolo also collaborates as Summer Salt’s bassist, creating ongoing musical interplay between the two projects. (U.S. tour where Motel Radio supported Summer Salt following the release of Siesta Del Sol; Triolo’s continuing performance work with Summer Salt.) [c. late 2010s–early 2020s]
- Kurt Vile - Established indie artist for whom Motel Radio opened, exposing them to larger audiences and situating them within the national indie rock circuit. (Support dates on shows where Motel Radio opened for Kurt Vile, particularly in the Days & Nights era.) [mid‑2010s]
- Drive‑By Truckers - Southern rock band whose shows Motel Radio supported, giving the band experience on higher‑profile bills and festivals. (Support slots on Drive‑By Truckers dates following Motel Radio’s early EP releases.) [mid‑2010s]
Artists Influenced
- [[|]] - No specific artists have been reliably documented as direct proteges or students of Motel Radio; while they have clearly inspired individual fans and younger bands, concrete, verifiable cases are not cited in available sources.
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Siesta Del Sol | 2019-07-12 | Album |
| The Garden | 2022-09-02 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Fly Solo (Siesta Del Sol)
- Gimme Your Love (Gimme Your Love)
- Streetlights (Days & Nights)
- Heat Wave (The Garden)
- Midnight (Siesta Del Sol)
- Girl on Fire (Days & Nights)
- M.I.A. (Siesta Del Sol)
- Stress (The Garden)
- Ego Death (Siesta Del Sol)
- In My Blood (In My Blood)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Motel Radio has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17, 2025 | 23:41 | Midnightfrom Siesta Del Sol | Kitchen Sinkw/ A.J. Rodrigue and A.A. |