EQ AUSTIN is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate cultural representation and foster economic prosperity in the music and creative sector through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens.
2023 ACL Fest Lineup Includes Emerging Austin-Based BIPOC Acts
ATX's diverse & accomplished artists shine among national performers
The renowned Austin City Limits Festival kicked off Friday, October 6th for two weekends of entertainment, which includes multiple Austin-based BIPOC artists who join the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The festival, which is attended by over 75,000 people daily, is booked by Austin’s C3 Productions, which continues to demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The addition to this year’s lineup of Latin-psych quartet Caramelo Haze, Empire Records’ (Anderson .Paak, Snoop Dogg) artist Quin NFN, haunting Colombian “power-trance trio” (Mojo) Nemegata, smooth-as-silk neo-soul artist Grace Sorensen, genre-hopping sibling act We Don’t Ride Llamas and rising rapper Blakchyl, adds to ACL’s legacy of supporting local artists of color. This year’s line-up also includes local treasures, The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective and gospel fusion group The Disciples of Joy.
For more on these artists, read on…
Caramelo Haze could quite easily be called a “supergrupo”, being the lineup boasts Grammy Award-winning Beto Martínez (Grupo Fantasma, Money Chicha), Alex Chavez (Dos Santos), Victor “El Guámbito” Cruz (Nemegata), and John Speice (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout). The fact that Martinez and Speice have both backed Prince as Grupo Fantasma doesn’t hurt either. Their debut album on Nacional Records, NOESTASAQUÍ (which dropped July 24th) is hailed by NPR, saying the quartet “epitomize the alloy strength born in the crucible of our dancehalls with an unexpected cross-pollination of Texas soul, Afro-Colombian folk, psychedelic Americana and much more” and naming them Artists To Watch. The album spans genres, ranging from dreamy, sun-dappled psychedelia to disco-influenced afro-colombian folk and all points in between that can be reached with a synthesizer and a set of hand drums. Caramelo Haze plays Sunday, October 15th at 3:15 at The BMI Stage.
Quin NFN's career has been on a steady upward trajectory since his 2018 single "Talkin' My Sh*t" blew up and earned him a deal with Universal Records/10K Projects. Since then his 2019 mixtape 4Nun debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, and his 2020 album QUINCHO earned him a deal with Empire Records. Last March’s Never On Time LP was hailed by Urban Magazine as “a 15-track album packed with one dynamic banger after another,” and the rapper is already at work on the next one.
Quin’s next album, Second 2 Nun, is slated for release in the first quarter of 2024 and his most recent two singles from the forthcoming LP House Calls (featuring 03 Greedo) and Boss Blues (featuring Sauce Walka) are out now. The artist recently signed with LA-based booking agency, Hello Group which will bring him to a city near you early next year. Quin NFN plays Sunday, October 15th 2:00pm at the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage.
Nemegata is a fiery power trio heavily influenced by their native Colombian traditions such as cumbia, bullerengue, gaita music, Colombian Andean songs, as well as '60s and '70s mind-bending psychedelia from Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. The band’s futuristic take on tropical Latinx sounds has won over concert audiences and critics alike, with legendary music writer David Fricke of Mojo and Rolling Stone declaring the album, “a bold debut of Colombian roots, afro-blues and acid-spiked grunge.” The band’s second studio album, Voces, was released on September 15th via revered nonprofit label Spaceflight Records and was produced by Juan “El Mono” Alvarez and Grammy Award winner Beto Martinez (who plays in Caramelo Haze, also on the ACL Fest lineup this year).
The group already has a reputation of creating music on a deeper, spiritual level, with Rolling Stone praising, “a new Nemegata song can't simply be labeled as just a 'single.' That would reduce it to the empty marketing dynamics of the music industry. It's a promising cry of rebellion rooted in deep traditions, embarking on a psychedelic journey through mountains, working-class neighborhoods, jungles, dirt roads, and plains." Nemegata plays the IHG Hotels and Resorts stage at 12pm on Saturday, October 14th.
Neo-soul artist, in-demand studio-session performer and dancer Grace Sorensen is one of those rare artists who is The Whole Package. It’s no wonder that KUTX’s Fresh named her “Austin’s wonder kid”- she has worked with Magna Carda, BLK ODYSSY and has opened for Diana Ross. In fact, Sorensen is already familiar with ACL Fest stages, having performed twice previously, once performing vocals with Shiela in 2021 and as a choreographer and dancer for Lilyisthatyou just last year, so her own headlining set in 2023 is proof of the natural progression of her rise. In addition, she recently had the honor of singing the national anthem in front of 20,000+ Austin FC (soccer) fans, and also performed live with Sudan Archives at their Austin City Limits TV taping. Now working in both Austin and Los Angeles, she is working on her sophomore EP with Grammy-nominated producer Bizness Boi, Denmark-born EDM artist Galimatias, and more. Grace Sorensen plays Sunday, October 8th at 1:30 at the BMI Stage.
“Defiantly unconventional” (Austin Chronicle) Gen Z siblings Chase (lead guitar), Max (vox), Blake (drums) and Kit (bass), make up the Austin-based, afro rock band, We Don’t Ride Llamas. Their first EP The Oracle is “a melting pot of jazz, funk, R&B and soul with punk attitude,” (God Is In The TV UK). The family band is well versed with the festival and touring circuits having played Riot Fest, Treefort Fest and toured with Willow Smith, Jessica Mayfield and Courtney Barnett and this month the band will also be heading down under for a SXSW showcase in Sydney, Australia on Friday, October 20th. And the sheer power and magnetism in their performances is noticeable, with Compose Yourself applauding, “The dynamic between members is palpable, as each musician graciously feeds off each other, producing an intermingling of genres that range from punk to metal to avant-garde to experimental, creating a sound uniquely their own.”
Rapper BLakchyl (formerly known as T-Fly) ws a talented, community-minded wordsmith, having come up in the local hip hop community collaborating with music collectives, nonprofits and filmmakers. The queer artist has three European tours under her belt plus opening slots for Talib Kweli, Snow Tha Product, Jean Grae, Bizzy Bone and Scarface and her new album Better Than I Imagined (produced by The Mask), was accompanied by a short film and dropped in July. Always indefatigable, she recently landed a deal with Brighton, UK-based Tru Thought Records as well as an Austin Chronicle cover, was nominated for Best Hip Hop Artist, released an EP (Call Me Sometimes) and played a Waterloo Records in-store. It all comes down to her “powerful and effervescent songs” (CultureMap) and her love for the craft and it’s community. Currently on tour in France, the rapper will be well warmed up for her ACL Fest debut. Saturday, October 14th set at 11:45am at the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage.
Join a Community Conversation about Music Creative Hubs in Austin
Explore and contribute to the development of music-focused creative incubators at City of Austin park facilities.
September 9th 11:00AM -AARC Community Engagement
September 30th 11:00AM - Carver Community Engagement | RSVP
September 30th 2:00PM - MACC Community Engagement | RSVP
Join us to discuss a groundbreaking vision: creative industries business incubators focused on the development of entrepreneurs in music, film/video, and creative industry-focused technologies at three PARD cultural centers: the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC); the George Washington Carver Museum (Carver); and the Asian American Resource Center (AARC).
The City is interested in providing underserved local musicians and artist communities with resources to: perform, rehearsal, live stream, and record. The City also wants to provide the artists with assistance in business development, marketing and other entrepreneurial needs.
These meetings will provide the community with an understanding of what a music hub is, the process that will take place to assess the needs and create a plan for one, and provide an opportunity to network with musicians and other key stakeholders and identify possible individuals for focus groups and small group sessions.
All Community Engagement Forums will be held at the Asian American Resource Center 8401 Cameron Road, Austin Texas
2023 ACL Fest Lineup Includes Emerging Austin-Based BIPOC Acts
The Festival, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and more, embraces the diversity of the Austin music scene.
The renowned Austin City Limits Festival has announced its 2023 lineup, which includes multiple Austin-based BIPOC artists who will join the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The festival, which is attended by over 75,000 people daily, is booked by Austin’s C3 Productions, which continues to demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The addition to this year’s lineup of Latin-psych quartet Caramelo Haze, Empire Records’ (Anderson .Paak, Snoop Dogg) artist Quin NFN, haunting Colombian “power-trance trio” (Mojo) Nemegata, smooth-as-silk neo-soul artist Grace Sorensen, genre-hopping sibling act We Don’t Ride Llamas and rising rapper BLakchyl, adds to ACL’s legacy of supporting local artists of color. This year’s line-up also includes local treasures, The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective and gospel fusion group The Disciples of Joy.
"Diversity in music creates an inclusive and vibrant musical landscape,” says EQ Austin Chair Nagavalli Medicharla. She continues, “C3's commitment to promoting diversity and giving local artists a platform to perform on a national scale has made ACL an invaluable asset to Austin's music scene. Sustainability is key to building artist's careers and the 2023 lineup strengthens the vital connection between C3 and local artists.”
Caramelo Haze is the newly-formed all-star outfit featuring Grammy Award-winning Beto Martínez, Alex Chavez (Dos Santos), Victor “El Guámbito” Cruz (Nemegata), and John Speice (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout). Their debut album on Nacional Records, NOESTASAQUÍ is a bold neon suite that glows in the lo-fi undertow of sunburst EQ sweeps and roasted 808s. From post-cumbia synth vamps to disco-inflected circum-Caribbean psychedelia, the genius and versatility of these musicians shines on this release and their live show, of which Rolling Stone says, “their heady blend of cumbia, funk, electro, and psychedelia hit the spot at an early-afternoon set, spiraling out toward cosmic revelation…”
Born Quinlan McAfee, Quin NFN's breakthrough moment came with his 2018 single "Talkin' My Sh*t," which quickly went viral on social media and earned him a record deal with Universal Records/10K Projects. He has since released a number of successful projects, including his 2019 mixtape 4Nun, which debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, and his 2020 album QUINCHO. Recently, Quin NFN signed a new deal with Empire Records and dropped his latest album Never On Time in March, which features the lead single "Revenue" featuring Money Man. With this new release, Quin continues to push the boundaries of his artistry, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend catchy hooks and hard-hitting bars with introspective and vulnerable lyrics.
Nemegata is a fierce power trio heavily influenced by their native Colombian traditions such as cumbia, bullerengue, gaita music, Colombian Andean songs, as well as '60s and '70s mind-bending psychedelia from Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. The band’’s futuristic take on tropical Latinx sounds has won over audiences and critics alike, with David Fricke of Mojo declaring their album Hycha Wy, “a bold debut of Colombian roots, afro-blues and acid-spiked grunge.” The band’s forthcoming album will be released this fall on the revered nonprofit label Spaceflight Records.
At the age of 20, R&B / neo-soul artist and dancer Grace Sorensen has already opened for Motown legend, Diana Ross, released 6 singles and an EP, and become in-demand as a guest vocalist both onstage and in the studio with artists like BLK ODYSSY, and Rapsody. In fact, Sorenson has already “graced” the ACL stage twice; once performing vocals with Shiela in 2021 and as a choreographer and dancer for Lilyisthatyou in 2022. Now active in both Austin and Los Angeles, she is working on her sophomore EP with Grammy-nominated producer Bizness Boi, Denmark-born EDM artist Galimatias, and more.
“Defiantly unconventional” (Austin Chronicle) Gen Z siblings Chase (lead guitar), Max (vox), Blake (drums) and Kit (bass), make up the Austin-based, afro rock band, We Don’t Ride Llamas. The tenacious quartet has played Riot Fest, Treefort Festival and was direct support for Willow Smith’s sold-out Life Tour, has toured with Courtney Barnett and both opened for and performed with Jessica Lea Mayfield on the road. Their first EP The Oracle is “a melting pot of jazz, funk, R&B and soul with punk attitude,” (God Is In The TV UK).
Rapper BLakchyl (formerly known as T-Fly) was embraced by the local hip hop community at the age of 14 eventually becoming a member of collective Mindz of a Different Kind. Her journey as a queer rapper found her collaborating with multiple nonprofits, producing/starring in short films and honing her craft as a wordsmith via three European tours. The artist has opened for multiple hip hop legends, including Talib Kweli, Snow Tha Product, Jean Grae, Bizzy Bone and Scarface and her upcoming album, produced by The Mask, drops July 2023
Austin, TX– Easterseals Lone Star and EQ Austin have joined forces to create DIA on Día: A Día de los Muertos Concert on Wednesday, November 2nd at 3TEN in downtown Austin. The jam-packed event is sponsored by KUTX, was created in conjunction with the official City of Austin-proclaimed Day Of Diversity And Inclusion Awareness and coincides with the fourth anniversary of EQ Austin. DIA on Día features a non-stop, one night-only event showcasing over 30 local BIPOC artists on one stage and benefits Easterseals Lone Star, which serves individuals with disabilities.
Among the Austin-area based acts that will be featured over the course of the evening, is the “hardest working woman in American roots music” (Huffington Post) Carrie Rodriguez, hypnotic Ethiopian-American R&B artist Mélat, the “tumbling brilliance on nylon strings” (Rolling Stone) of Del Castillo and scholar emcee Bavu Blakes. The event has a unique take on the live concert experience; artists will guest with backing bands fronted by soul powerhouse Tomar Williams (Tomar and the FCs), avant-garde Eastern Soul songstress Nagavalli and Latin rock legends Vallejo. And speaking of Vallejo, the show is being produced by drummer Alex Vallejo of the award-winning Austin band, who says, "DIA on Día will be a really special night event bringing artists of all color on one stage, which to me personally, is a real representation of what Austin not only should be, but really looks like." Featured artists include: Willie Alvarado, Quentin Arispe, Bakbonz, Stephanie Bergara, Bavu Blake, Como Las Movies, Del Castillo, DJ Crash, Nubia Emmon, Perri Jones, Sangeeta Kaur, Lady Shacklin', Lolita Lynne, Mélat, Nemegata, Patrice Pike, Lesly Reynaga, Carrie Rodriguez, Sami Serrano, Ter'ell Shahid, Shiela, Grace Sorensen, Sugaree, Tee Double, The Tiarras, Salih Williams
Easterseals Lone Star have been celebrating Dia de los Muertos with events and festivals at Stubbs and other Austin spaces since 2013. In fact, three-time Austin Music Awards winners The Tiarras even performed at their very first event and the “genre-defying” (NPR) sisters are performing again this year. Easterseals Texas President and CEO Tod Marvin enthused, “The rich cultural traditions of the Dia de los Muertos connect profoundly with us all and we are excited to invite every Austinite to join us in this unique one-of-a-kind celebration.”
The event celebrates the rich diversity of artists we enjoy in The Live Music Capital of the World. “Austin has long been renowned for its music cross-fertilization,” observes Nagavalli Medicharla, performing artist and EQ Austin Chair. “This event will spotlight that legacy while embracing the dynamic genres of music being made today, a testimony to how Austin music stages can look, feel and sound.”
Tickets are $13.50 in advance and $15.00 day of show and are on sale on Friday, September 30th at 12noon. More info is available at 3TEN’s website.
About Easterseals Lone Star -
Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, the organization has worked tirelessly with partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
Through its national network of affiliates, Easterseals provides essential services and on-the-ground support to more than 1.5 million people each year — from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, to medical rehabilitation and employment programs, to veterans’ services, and more. Their public education, policy, and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans living with disabilities today.
About EQ Austin -
EQ Austin is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate cultural representation and foster economic prosperity in the music and creative sector through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens. The organization was officially launched in October 2018, to address Austin’s creative sector’s need to better reflect the demographic make-up of the community.
EQ Austin acts as a shared repository for the music community that is a central equity, diversity and inclusion resource database to shepherd resources available to the industry. Through engagement, dissemination of information, media and references, we build consensus among divergent groups and individuals.
About KUTX 98.9, the Austin Music Experience -
Named “Best Radio Station” in the Austin Music Awards poll eight times since it launched in 2013, KUTX 98.9 is the destination for new music from the diverse artists driving the sound of Austin today – from new and local artists to music that has stood the test of time. Programming includes more than 300 live, one-of-a-kind performances in Studio 1A each year; the Austin Music Minute, the KUTX Artist of the Month and the KUTX Song of the Day, as well as KUTX Live events that connect music fans to local and national talent. More at kutx.org.
The 2022 Greater Austin Area Music Census is now OPEN!
From July 15 - August 15, 2022, music industry workers living or working in the Greater Austin area are invited to participate. Over 50 community partners have signed up to support the new Greater Austin Music Census and Assessment Study seeking to capture diverse and pivotal voices of Austin’s music community
The Office of Mayor Adler and KUTX, and EQ Austin announce that the Greater Austin Area Music Census has launched to gain an understanding of the current needs of Austin’s music community, providing new data from which to develop community driven policy solutions and serving as a “health check” for the local music sector. The census will collect data from a variety of music industry members living and working in Austin and surrounding areas, and analyze the results to establish a new baseline of data. As a community-led pro-bono effort by all entities involved, additional local orgs are still welcome to become an official community engagement partner participate in the outreach efforts.
“We’re all excited about this year’s music census survey, plus we are looking forward to hearing from each and every participant that is on board,” said Tomar Williams of Carnival Beats Production and board member of EQ Austin. “Growth and being connected while growing in this great city of Austin, Texas is so important and essential to the movement and the future.”
The Greater Austin Music Census will be implemented by Austin-based Sound Music Cities.
GREATER AUSTIN AREA MUSIC CENSUS RETURNS
(AUSTIN, TEXAS — May 17, 2022; source: Juice Consulting) — The Office of Mayor Adler and KUTX are proud to announce that a new Greater Austin Area Music Census will launch Monday, June 20 to gain an understanding of the current needs of Austin’s music community. This launch marks the first time in nearly a decade that the music community will have new data from which to develop policy solutions and approaches.
The census will collect data from a variety of local music professionals and analyze the results to establish a new baseline of data for Austin music industry members living and working in the Live Music Capital of the World, including musicians, venue owners, music nonprofits and music business professionals. To become an official community engagement partner, please email here.
“EQ Austin is honored to be a part of the census survey, and will lead the diversity and inclusion outreach for the program,” said Nagavalli Medicharla, Chair of EQ Austin. “We are keen to see broad participation across Austin’s diverse music communities.”
Details for the 2022 Census will soon be announced. For information on Sound Music Cities, visit here.
OFFICIAL SXSW 2022 SHOWCASE!
EQ Austin invites you to join us for our Official 2022 SXSW showcase at THE VENUE ATX on Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 starting at 8PM.
Featuring BETTY SOO, SHIELA, KIKO VILLAMIZAR, NAGAVALLI, LESLY REYNAGA, EIMARAL SOL and QUENTIN & THE PAST LIVES.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Returns August 26-29!
.Hot Summer Nights is back on Red River y’all!
RRCD presents four nights of live music, comedy, and food in Downtown Austin, TX on Thursday, August 26 - Sunday, August 29th.
Stay tuned for the full lineup announcement coming soon!
#austinmusic #atxmusic
EQ Austin Presents “KUTX The Breaks” at SXSW
Talent on Austin’s hip-hop scene runs deep, and it’s time for the city as a whole to get on board. The three rappers at the top of this bill — “Ballsy” spitta Mama Duke, trap king the Teeta and soulful lyricist Deezie Brown —all feel poised on the verge of a breakout. Producer, JaRon Marshall, whose jazzy meditation “The Black Power Tape” was a potent reflection on last year’s unrest, and uplifting rhyme slinger J Soulja are also on the bill. — D.S.S. (Austin-American Statesman)
EQ Austin Partners with EPS Presents to produce ONE ROAD AUSTIN
In 2018, EQ Austin partnered with local turn-key production company EPS Presents (Event Production Services) to curate a one-night event that showcased Austin’s diverse music community.
EQ AUSTIN Partners With BLACK FRET for SXSW 2021 Virtual Showcase
A second Black Fret showcase teams the music patron group with EQ Austin, which works to “stimulate cultural representation and foster economic prosperity” in the local music and creative scenes, according to its website. A great lineup for this showcase is anchored by Jake Lloyd and Ray Prim, along with singer-songwriter Betty Soo, cumbia purveyors Como Las Movies and rapper Mike Melinoe. — P.B. (Austin American-Statesman)
“EQ Austin is about creating opportunities, creating awareness, helping to drive the political will that’s necessary to actually put real resources against these issues. It’s also about opening up doors and making it so that when people are programming music in this city they’re thinking about diversity and equity. It needs to be happening in the music industry because we have a lot to celebrate in this city, but it doesn’t happen unless it’s intentional.”
— Mayor Steve Adler
New non-profit EQ AUSTIN will promote diversity in Austin’s music industry
In the past year, the city of Austin created a task force dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the music industry. On Wednesday night, a new nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity and underrepresented genres in Austin music was launched from that working group’s efforts.