We sat down with Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke, the dreamy Indie-Folk duo Penny & Sparrow. The pair kicked off 2025 with the release of their latest album, Lefty, on January 31 via I Love You/Thirty Tigers. Based in Austin, Texas, the former college roommates turned acclaimed musicians have built a decade-long career lauded by NPR Music, Wonderland, and Under The Radar, among others. Their evocative sound—a fusion of ethereal indie folk, tender chamber pop, raw balladry, and experimental storytelling—draws from influences like Simon & Garfunkel, Bon Iver, and Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim. They’ve shared stages with artists such as Josh Ritter and The Wood Brothers, performed at iconic venues like Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and London’s Union Chapel, and toured extensively across the U.S. and Europe. Rooted in their early love of music, sparked by Andy’s choir days and Kyle’s discovery of drums at 12, Penny & Sparrow weave intricate sonic landscapes in Lefty, venturing into everything from tender folk to brooding electronica reminiscent of James Blake.
Read our interview with the pair while you stream Lefty below.
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
Andy: Because I still get overwhelmed and cry when faced with art that moves me…just like I did when I was a kid…I can’t imagine spending my time doing anything but trying to make stuff that overwhelms and moves folks.
Kyle: For a lot of reasons. I love making music, I love the friends it’s brought me, and sometimes it helps me process and enjoy life.
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
Andy: Historically, we’re a sound-first band. There are notable exceptions but Kyle usually builds the melody first and then I get to cover it in words.
Kyle: It’s never the exact same twice, but for us the sound is usually what comes first.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
Andy: Yes indeed: Tobe Nwigwe, Annika Bennett, JOSEPH, David Michael Wyatt.
Kyle: Yes it does. We co-produced Lefty with our good friend and amazing artist Jonathan Oliphant. We also have songs featuring Tobe Nwigwe, the band Joseph, Annika Bennet, and David Michael Wyatt on this project as well and we love them all.
What’s on your current playlist?
Andy: ‘Go Easy Kid’ (Monica Martin & James Blake), ‘Champagne & Sushi’ (Emily Weisband), Galveston & Yesterday, ‘When I Was Young’ (Glen Campbell), ‘Bottle of Advil’ (Julia Wolf), Jealous Guy (the Donny Hathaway version), Hannah Sun (Lomelda), to name a few.
Kyle: Bill Evans, Clairo, Adrianne Lenker, SZA, Eric Satie, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Mitski, Brody Price.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
Andy: Every night is different and we are exactly who we are behind a mic as we are in front of one…I think that’s oddly attractive to folks (it is to me, when I find it). When you live (and perform) that way, it tends to make every concert feel like a house show (in a fantastic way).
Kyle: Performing in front of an audience can be pretty nerve wracking, so I am very very thankful to have fans that make us feel as good as we do up on stage.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
Andy: Nothing is off limits, directionally. We just have to love it…that’s the only prerequisite for making.
Kyle: It’s a combo of self expression and trying everything and seeing what resonates after.
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
Andy: It’s a lot like fishing. There’s a sense of “maybe” and a thrum of “we might just reel in a beast”…there’s also snapped rods, twisted lines, getting hung up on shit you shouldn’t…and the whole time you’re grazing on bourbon and snacks.
Kyle: For Lefty, Andy, Jonathan and I would start every day with a daybreak wrap from Rivertown and eat in the studio, which essentially was a converted storage shed. After that we would start chipping away at a song or try starting a new one. We usually ended each day by listening to mixes and playing video games.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
Andy: The “want” came way before the “can”…I always wanted to sing/perform/entertain/wow folks. Insecurity kept me (for years) from thinking I could ever make a job of it. But here we are. The insecurity has eroded some…and the confidence I was faking for a long time has concretized into something resembling truth.
Kyle: I’ve loved making music since high school, but never thought I would have a full time career doing it. I do remember watching A Goofy Movie when I was about 9 and thinking how cool Powerline was.
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
Andy: Bourbon & water (separate cups).
Kyle: A glass of bourbon and a bottle of water.
Any emerging artists on your radar?
Andy: Absolutely…here’s a few…
Mali Velasquez, Annika Bennet, Carver Commodore,, Jemima Coulter, Hailaker, and Y La Bamba.
Kyle: Annika Bennet is amazing, and I love Brody Price.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Andy: If there was a word zoo, (full of exotic-dead-underused-near forgotten-controversial-erotic language) I would visit daily…till they invent one (or till I do) then I suppose I’ll keep sifting through books looking for stuff that fires me up.
Kyle: A good movie or a good book or a good song/album will get the juices flowing. Also sometimes boredom will get the juices flowing.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
Andy: I’d show you around my bookshelves and my favorite pens & pencils. Come over sometime and we can drink and talk about words.
Kyle: We don’t have much gear in team Penny & Sparrow. Right now I play mainly 2 guitars: a new Gibson J45 and 60’s Harmony Sovereign.
Any side projects you’re working on?
Andy: Sort of, but it’s with my bf Kyle so the cast list is the same…But I’mma hold onto that info for now.
Kyle: No side projects!
How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?
Andy: Damn…I don’t fully know how that sausage is made other than the basic stuff…I’m older and smarter and kinder and still flexible.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
Andy: You can expect our absolute best cuz that’s what you’re getting.
Kyle: We are releasing a double album, so lots of music and lots of shows!
Famous last words?
Andy: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” – Anne Lamott
Kyle: “I’m just resting my eyes”.
Follow Penny and Sparrow:
Website – Instagram – Facebook – X – Soundcloud – TikTok – Youtube – Spotify
