House of Music

Skateland Interview

Auditorium Shores

Austin, TX

March 13, 2026

Interview by Roy Vergara

Austin’s Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival returned to Auditorium Shores, bringing a weekend of music to the edge of Lady Bird Lake with the downtown skyline rising behind the stages. Fans moved between sets across the park while the city settled into one of its busiest weeks of the year, with SXSW just beginning to take over Austin.

Opening the SXSW Stage earlier in the day was Austin-based indie pop project Skateland, the musical vision of singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dorian Williams. Originally from Las Vegas, Williams began building the project while studying at the University of Texas, writing and producing songs from his bedroom that blended dreamy indie pop textures, lush synth layers, and bursts of indie rock energy. What started as late-night experiments with soundscapes and melodies has steadily grown into festival appearances, packed shows, and a growing following across the Austin music scene.

Shortly after stepping off the stage at Sips & Sounds, Williams sat down backstage to talk about the venues that shaped him in Austin, balancing music with an almost-completed PhD, and why he believes modern songs should take more time to breathe than streaming algorithms might prefer.

For more from the weekend including highlights from both stages, check out the full Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival recap.

You’re based here in Austin, which has such a deep music culture. What local venues or places around town still feel special to you when you play or catch a show?

I love going to shows at Mohawk. Mohawk outside especially. There’s something about the chaos of it that I really like. It’s rowdy in the best way. I also love Stubbs. I’ve seen so many great bands there over the years. But my favorite place to actually watch a show is Moody Amphitheater. Sitting on the lawn there with a blanket is perfect. You can relax, grab concessions easily, and still see everything happening on stage. It’s just a great vibe.

From writing songs in your bedroom at UT to stepping onto the SXSW stage at Sips & Sounds today. What did that moment mean to you?

I feel like I’m someone who moves a hundred miles an hour all the time. Sometimes I’m not great at stopping and realizing what’s actually happening. Shows like this kind of force you to be present. One of the songs we played today was something I made sitting in my room on my laptop. I remember being in that chair working on it. Then suddenly you’re playing it on a stage like this and you’re like… this is real. It means everything.

Your sound blends dreamy indie pop with punchy indie rock energy. When you’re writing, are you chasing a feeling, a story, or just a melody that won’t leave your head?

Growing up in Vegas I spent a lot of time programming music and making house music. I got really into building soundscapes first. Usually I’ll start with the atmosphere of a track and then sing melodies over it. That’s kind of the core of the process. Then I try to keep the energy there when I can. I like when the music can feel atmospheric but still hit with some punch live.

I ran into your friends Gerald and Britney, and they mentioned something about you finishing a PhD soon. Should we expect to call you Dr. Dorian in the near future?

Yeah, in about two months actually. It’s definitely a lot balancing school and music. I don’t really do anything else. I don’t have much of a social life right now. But I’m almost done with the program, and I’m excited to see what happens when I can put one hundred percent of my time into the music.

You mentioned those same friends were at your very first show. What was that moment like looking back?

Yeah, they came to my very first Skateland show. That was at Far Out Lounge back in 2023. They’ve basically been there from the beginning and have seen everything grow since then. They were at that first show, they came when we opened for other bands, and now they’re here at this festival. It feels like we’ve all kind of grown up together through this process.

You’ve been teasing newer material like “Arrhythmia (I Hope You Stay).” What direction are you exploring with the upcoming album?

The newer stuff is leaning more ambient electronic. There’s a little less guitar and more space in the songs. Before I liked packing a lot of elements into the music, but lately I’ve been experimenting with leaving room for things to breathe. I joked that I wanted to make something that could play in Sephora. Just something atmospheric that people can vibe to.

As you head into more festivals and shows this year, what do you want someone to feel the first time they see Skateland live?

I want people to feel better when they leave. That’s really the goal.

Last question. You pulled a conversation card inspired by the Diary of a CEO podcast: What’s the most controversial belief you have about your industry that most people would disagree with?

Songs should be at least four minutes and fifteen seconds long. Everything now is built for the algorithm. People are trying to keep songs under three minutes so they can get playlisted or go viral on TikTok. But I want bridges. I want breakdowns. I want guitar solos. When you listen to classic records like Prince or older albums, songs had sections and moments. They took their time. If a song needs to be five minutes, let it be five minutes. All those parts matter.

More About Skateland

Skateland is the indie pop project of singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dorian Williams II. Originally from Las Vegas and now based in Austin, Texas, Williams began developing the project after moving to attend the University of Texas. Late nights spent writing and experimenting with instruments in his bedroom slowly evolved into a fully realized musical identity that blends dreamy indie pop, cathartic synth textures, and bursts of lush indie rock.

Early on, Skateland’s music drew attention for its layered production and emotional songwriting. Publications have described Williams as a “bedroom pop mastermind,” highlighting the project’s ability to pair atmospheric soundscapes with melodies that feel both intimate and expansive. Drawing from early experiences programming electronic music while growing up in Las Vegas, Williams often builds songs around immersive sonic environments before layering vocals and instrumentation on top.

Momentum around the project quickly built within Austin’s music scene. From early shows at venues like Far Out Lounge to festival stages across the city, Skateland has steadily developed a reputation for live performances that balance emotional vulnerability with vibrant energy.

In October 2024, Skateland opened for Foster the People, marking an important milestone for the project. Shortly after, Williams released his second EP Joyce Howell, How Are You?, a project that captures a transitional chapter in his growth as an artist. The EP explores themes of insecurity, transformation, and self-reflection, pairing ear-catching melodies with vivid, dreamlike production. The release has been praised for its ability to channel deeply personal moments into songs that resonate with listeners navigating similar emotions.

With a growing catalog of music, expanding festival appearances, and new material on the horizon, Skateland continues to gain momentum both in Austin and beyond. As Williams prepares to finish his PhD and devote even more time to music, the project is entering a new chapter where the intimate bedroom recordings that started it all are evolving into something much bigger.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skatelanding

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@skatelanding

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skatelanding

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/56Ufgy06KtGmwmzBvnMsBc

Website: https://skatelanding.com/