Hunter Prueger
Hunter Prueger is a songwriter, composer, and saxophonist based in Austin, TX and Anchorage, AK. He is the songwriter and bandleader of the Austin-based experimental folk collective Middle Sattre (pronounced SAT-tree). Their debut album Tendencies has been described as a “queer coming of age epic” (The Austin Chronicle), “gorgeous and powerful” (KUTX), and “essential… deep and serious artistry” (The Bluegrass Situation). Middle Sattre is known for their exploratory approach to sound. They can often be found playing banjos with fidget spinners, placing mandolins inside grand pianos, and draping chains across guitar strings. They have performed and toured widely at venues and festivals across the United States and Canada, including as an official showcasing artist at SXSW.
Beyond Middle Sattre, Prueger composes contemporary classical music. His concert works – described by The New Yorker’s Alex Ross as “fascinating and also somewhat nerve-wracking” – draw from musique concrète and ambient electronic music, with a focus on textural layering, found sound, and new playing techniques. His recent premieres include performances by Density512, the UT New Music Ensemble, and the Long Beach Opera. He also releases avant-pop remixes under the name DJ Yoyo and dance music under the name Sixsmith.
As a saxophonist, Prueger was a member of Flying Carpet, a humanitarian traveling circus based in Mardin, Türkiye. He has also performed with Creekbed Carter Hogan, Cross Record, Little Mazarn, the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, and Harboursome.
Prueger holds a master’s degree in music composition from The University of Texas at Austin. In 2021, he received the Prix Langage Musical from L’École de Fontainebleau, where he studied harmony and counterpoint with Isabelle Duha. Prueger is also an avid runner, a vinyl record collector, and a huge Legend of Zelda nerd.
Hunter can be reached at hunter (dot) prueger (at) gmail (dot) com