Music feels truly special when it captures a real, unfiltered moment, and On Air by Mahto & The Loose Balloons does exactly that. Based in Johnson City in the United States, this band is led by singer and songwriter Mahto Addison-Browder, who also plays guitar and piano. Known for blending folk, rock, and Americana influences, they create songs that feel personal, thoughtful, and genuinely human.
Released on February 27, 2026, On Air isn’t your typical polished studio project. Instead, it’s a collection of live radio recordings captured during three different sessions with JP Parson, Tea Wimmer, and Kevin Edwards. These performances keep everything raw and natural, letting you hear every small detail, from subtle instrument changes to the pure emotion in the vocals. The band’s talented lineup includes Will Diebold on bass, Niko Graham and Sam Love on drums, Travis F. Welch on guitar and organ, and Ella Patrick on fiddle, all bringing incredible warmth and musical chemistry to each track.
Songs like “Systemic,” “Buzzard,” and “Onions” showcase the band’s reflective storytelling and organic sound beautifully. Each track feels intimate and alive, filled with vulnerability, introspection, and honest expression.
On Air is a powerful reminder that live music can capture those magical, unrepeatable moments that studio recordings often miss. This is authentic music at its finest.
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Congratulations on the release of On Air! What inspired you to turn your live radio performances into an EP, and what made this idea exciting for you as an artist?
I’m a geek when it comes to music and there are all these brilliant ideas that have already happened. The thought was to do a live record but I wanted to put my own little spin on it. It didn’t take long to go through the vault and find all these radio broadcasts we had down. The name ON AIR seemed like the obvious choice because it works in multiple ways.
The EP was recorded during three different radio appearances. What was it like performing in those live radio settings where there are no second takes?
It was pretty nerve wracking to be honest. I was very nervous on the first two tracks. The second two tracks I felt a little more confident. At this point I’d already been on the radio four or five times. Like anything the more you practice the easier it becomes. By the time we hit the last few songs and I had the drum kit next to me it seems like I really hit my stride.
Live recordings often capture raw and honest moments. How did that environment influence the way you and the band performed these songs?
The funny thing about a radio studio is even though it’s live you have no idea how the audience is responding to you. When you play in front of people it’s pretty easy to tell if they like it. You can really feed off the energy of the crowd. In radio it’s often just one other person in the room. Sometimes there are more. It gets a little awkward if you just stare at them the whole time. So I just try to lock into the song and focus on the other players.
Your music blends Americana and folk influences beautifully. How did those styles shape the sound and storytelling across the On Air EP?
We are Appalachians. Folks outside the region think that bluegrass and country music is all that is around here but we don’t really do those things completely. We use similar tools and instruments but our language isn’t limited to those traditions.
That being said we can’t help that twang from coming through just because we share space with the old timers that created that music and the younger generations that continue it. Personally I think there are two schools of thought to being a musician: those that uphold tradition and those that move music forward. I hope to lean more towards the later.
“Onions” is one of the standout tracks and is based on real stories from your family history. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song and how those personal memories turned into music?
I was really inspired by Chris Truelson on that song. He is a big part of Radio Bristol. I wanted to write a song that he would write. I don’t think that’s really how it turned out but that’s where I started. Quickly it turned into my thoughts about onions and how they have touched me and my family over time. Every lyric is true. So it was easy to just tell things that already happened.
“Virginia Side” has an interesting story, especially with Ella Patrick—also known as Momma Molasses—joining in even though she didn’t know the song beforehand. What do you remember most about that spontaneous moment?
I think she knew the song existed but she didn’t know how to play it. Her part was completely on feeling. She and I are buddies and we’ve known each other a long time just from the music scene. We both booked ourselves on this fund drive for WMMT in Whitesburg Kentucky. It’s a really cool community radio station that I’d wanted to work with for a long time.
She played first and when she was done she hung around for my segment so we could go get lunch together afterwards. She is mostly a guitar player but she had her fiddle with her and somebody suggested we play a song together.
They went to a commercial break and I quickly showed her the chords and structure of the song. Then we played it once. Over the course of the song she realized it was about the time I popped in to the studio when she was recording her album. It was a very cool moment in our friendship. Then we went out for lunch and ice cream.
The band features talented musicians including Will Diebold, Niko Graham, Ella Patrick, and Travis F. Welch. How did each member bring their own character and energy to the recordings?
Well I just told you about Ella. The rest of the gang are people I play with regularly. We have been playing together for years and we have a real chemistry worked up. We now how each other speaks musically and they have a big influence on how the songs turn out. I like to think it’s like putting a “brain filter” over the song. I trust these guys implicitly.
Your approach to this project was inspired by the tradition of classic live albums. What does the “live” experience mean to you as a songwriter and performer?
I have struggled with stage fright over the years. There is something about getting through to the other side and continuing to exist is a very good feeling. I love the risk of live music. Anything can go wrong and I find it very exciting. It’s that act of being vulnerable in front of friends and strangers that is very human.
Your band seems to enjoy playing in unusual places, from music venues to unique community events. What have been some of the most memorable or unexpected locations you’ve performed in?
We very much do. Most of the time we play in more traditional music venues and bars but we’ve played some festivals and that sort of thing. We’ve played on multiple roof tops, a parade float, a baseball diamond… Most recently we played at the grand opening of our new post office for a “friends and family” type event.
Looking back at the EP now, what moment from the recording sessions stands out to you the most?
One thing that was kinda funny. On WMMT they were asking all their guest about their favorite vegetables. I’m a night creature and it was early. I told them it was radishes. Then I played a song about onions. The promptly pointed that out so I had to change my answer!
Finally, for listeners discovering Mahto & The Loose Balloons for the first time through On Air, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
Some songs are from “The Buzzard” and “Knock Knock It’s The Loose Balloons”. Other songs are from our upcoming record “The Perils of Being Lost at Sea”. I’m still in the process of writing the next release after that so I’m not really sure how that will look for a while. I don’t try to fit within a specific genre instead I try to let the song take shape the way it wants to be. Everything is in service to the song.
