Southern Roots
Austin’s 2015 Musician of the Year reflects on resisting South By Southwest.
SXSW: four letters that signify make it or break it for musicians throughout the world. But for those of us born and raised in Austin, those four letters mean spring-break getaway, time for family vacations to Arches National Park, youth-group mission trips to Mexico and parties in Padre with the high-school besties. They also spell get away, as in, whatever you do, get out of town, lest you be overrun by the traffic-inducing stench and squall of leather and rock ’n’ roll.
It was never really my scene. So, even as a young college songwriter, I went my separate way every time March music madness rolled into town. In fact, I feel silly admitting this, but it was only about eight years ago that I realized missing South By Southwest might not be the smartest career choice. I dipped my foot in.
I spent my first SXSW as part of a stage crew at the now-defunct Copa Bar & Grill on Congress Avenue. I was drop-jawed as the entire world came to serenade me. ChocQuibTown, now Latin Grammy winners, tore up the stage with Afro-Colombian hiphop. Alash transported me to the ancient plains of Siberia with eerie Tuvan throat harmonies. Delhi 2 Dublin meshed Indian bhangra beats with Celtic fiddle tunes. There were Brazilian folk singers, LA-Spanish fusion, Argentine electronic tango. My heart and hips were inspired.
Fast-forward to March 2014. I was hanging at the Palm Door on Sixth Street for a Latin-music showcase when I saw Jasmine Garsd, co-host of my favorite NPR show, Alt.Latino. She and I had met in New York during another über important music week—which I now prioritize (wink, wink)—the Latin Alternative Music Conference. I handed her a copy of my newly pressed album, Up.Rooted, when the woman next to her leaned in and whispered, “I thought that was you. I love your album! In fact, I’d love to have you on my show. I’m the director of All Things Considered.”
’Scuse me? Que?! My brain screamed at my face, “Just stay cool!” while my voice attempted to ask for her business card. A month later, I was sitting behind a mic at the NPR mothership in D.C., recording a feature spot that would take my bilingual indie album to the top of the iTunes and Amazon Latin charts in mere hours. Wow!
Oddly enough, my musical journey to discover my lost Latin roots began when I left Austin to study in Argentina. Since then, I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for all that our beautiful city has to offer, from international music festivals to boutique ones like Pachanga, with support from music lovers in all areas, from health organizations like HAAM and the Sims Foundation, to communities like Black Fret and Women in Music Professional Society, educational entities like the Austin Music Foundation, to the City of Austin and the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau. They’re all here for us.
But, as I’ve learned, nothing happens unless we jump into the mix. It may be hard to put yourself out there, but there’s no action on the sidelines. It’s go time!
Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column. To be considered for May’s I Am Austin Woman, email a 500-word submission on a topic of your choice by April 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com with the subject line “I Am Austin Woman.”
Why Austin Woman Matters
Share