In Tune

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The Ar t an d

The Proble ms

the Curt nd ai i h n Be

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Table of Contents

Meet the Authors > 04 Behind the Scenes of Music Festivals > 06 Which Austin Music Festival is Right for You? > 10 Inspiration vs. Cultural Appropriation > 12 Music Through the Ages > 16 The Journey of a Musician > 18 What Instrument Should You Play? > 22 The Art and Industry of Music > 24 How We Listen to Music > 28 The Problems Behind the Curtain > 30 Must-See Music Venues > 34 Who Was Featured? > 36

In Tune | 2019 | 3

Meet the

Editors Danica Djurdjanovic

As a student, I spend most of my time on schoolwork.

However, when I have time to myself, I tend to spend it listening to music or trying to play whatever instrument I may have available. I play the violin, although I’ve tried to teach myself basic guitar. My tastes in music are best described as eclectic, ranging from classical to grunge. I tried my hand at composing once for a school project, and although it didn’t go as planned, it has given me a greater appreciation for those who compose and perform music for a living, which is what sparked my interest in exploring the topic. During this project, I have not only learned to use different graphic design software, but I’ve also grown my respect for musicians.

Evelyne Rees-Eissler As an adjusting high school student, I am mainly focused on academics, but I also try to make room for other things.

In my spare time, I like to try new things, play soccer, and walk my dog. Recently, I have taken up piano, which connects to this project and has given me a little taste of being a musician. In our magazine, I chose to focus on the music venues of Austin, coming across the surprising fact that most are struggling although being placed in the so called “Music Capital of the World”. Along with learning about this, my skills with graphic design software and working with others increased throughout the semester.

In Tune | 2019 | 4

Luke Jacobs

I am a freshman who enjoys being in musical environments, whether it is performing or being immersed in music. I chose this particular magazine topic in order to explain and illustrate to others the musical diversity that Austin has to offer. Furthermore, I can connect on a more personal level, as I am able to play the cello and some violin, which has given me a whole new understanding of my city, that I am very privileged to live in, looking through a musician’s lens.

I chose my article topic to be about how musicians function throughout each day, because I feel at my school I am given more responsibilities, like a “professional” would.

Journee Coleman As a freshmen at LASA, I enjoy playing Volleyball, spending time with friends, and World Geography. I spend most of my time playing up to 16 hours of volleyball each week.

I love swimming, smoothies and snowcones. My favorite seasons are summer and fall. I love music and exploring the different impacts music can have on different aspects of life.

Ever since I was born music has been an important part of my life. My dad is a musician who’s in a band. I played the piano, drums, and the flute. I was a dancer and performer until I fell in love with volleyball. I think when people take a moment to reflect on the music and sounds around them, our minds broaden to different and new perspectives as well as people. I think music brings people together and it’s a very beautiful thing to see.

Abril Unda As a freshman at LASA, I spend a lot of my time on homework and studying. I try to focus on my school work so I can take time to do other things I enjoy after school and on the weekends. I am currently on the dance team here at school, which takes up a lot of my time. However, I enjoy spending time dancing and listening to music with my close friends on the team. In our magazine, I decided to focus on music festivals here in Austin, and how they have evolved these past few years. This project has allowed me to see how much work and dedication goes into these events.

In Tune | 2019 | 5

Behind the Scenes of Music Festivals An Inside View of the Ins and Outs of the Austin Music Culture

By Abril Unda t’s a Friday night and you are at a concert in the “Live Music Capital Of the World”. The lights are off and it’s just moments before the performer comes on stage.

Suddenly the lights flash and the music begins to play; the audience begins to sing along. This is what Austin is all about. The crowd, the music, the performers, and most of all, the unique music culture.

The city of Austin has been known for its music diversity and festivals for many years. It offers countless of different festivals all around the city. However, the amazing part isn’t just the amount of festivals but the differences in the type of music and environment they each provide. In recent years Austin has brought more popular artists such as Shawn Mendes, Bazzi, and Travis Scott to its festivals. With a little less than a million people in Austin, it can seem difficult for everyone to find a festival where they fit in. But Austin has an outstanding amount of concerts, festivals, fairs, venues and much more, Providing options from a simple sit down type of concert to an overnight camping concert just outside the city. Austin opens opportunities for everyone to take a part of its culture whether it’s as an audience member or as a performer.

Austinites are all different kinds of people but music brings them together. “We get people that have completely different styles, personalities, hobbies, and yet they are able to have a fun enjoyable time, and I think that’s why it draws so many people,” Fain, the exhibits coordinator at Rodeo Austin, said. “I think the people makes the festival so unique. The environment is like no other,’’Although most of these In Tune | 2019 | 6

I would have to say the people. From the performers, to the audience, to the staff. I feel connected to everyone there and it makes it really easy to enjoy my job.

- Hollye Fain

The audience throws their hands in the air as they listen tio thw concert. Photo by Mikky Koopac.

people will never see eachother again, it is nice to bond over something they have in common, even though they could be so different.

“A lot of people come here because of the music, but apart from that sometimes people that just want to spend time outside come to the festival,” said White, the publicist at Old Settlers festival. “I think just everything that makes the festival unique brings people to it.” Austin has been calling the attention of not only residents here in the city, but in the surrounding cities and towns as well.

In recent years the Austin music community has started to grow even more. Concerts like ACL are wildly popular and people from all ages attend. This is also the case in other festivals like Blues on the Green and Rodeo Austin. The city itself has really started to take its role as a music city, and new bands and artists have started to emerge. Even surrounding areas of Austin have started to take a part of the festivals, such as areas like Buda, Kyle, Waterloo, and more. It is now more common to find festivals not necessarily located in downtown Austin, but in areas surrounding it.

Even some festivals have started to take place in regions outside of Austin. “When the festival first started out we mainly got people closer to the area. But yea we definitely have seen people from cities like Austin that are about an

hour away,” Tran said, the marketing director at Old Settler’s Music Festival. It has been noted not only by the audience, but by the staff as well that the Austin music community is growing.

This new change to the size of the community is also bringing a lot more diversity and styles of music to the festivals, which has impacted Austin in a good way.

Rodeo Austin festival lights on March 16th.

Photo by Abril Unda

In Tune |7 In Tune | 2019| | 2019 7

More than a thousand people stand outside in a hot texas afternoon at a music festival. Photo by Arkius Robson

We have a very diverse community and it’s one of the best parts about Austin.

In Tune Tune| 2019 | 2019 | 8| 8

Austin has a long history regarding its music, and with this it has been able to understand the citizens of Austin better. This makes it easier to provide the type of environment that they are looking for when going to a festival. More recent festivals have had more success with providing the things that the audience is looking for. The styles of music and venues have definitely changed throughout the years, but has been able to keep its overall foundation.

Rodeo Austin is an example of a festival that has changed drastically over the years, but has still maintained the overall concept. “It can be very hot. But it’s Texas - the heat comes with it, and overall I think it pulls the event together” Fain said. Although trying to maintain that “Texas feel” to festivals has not been easy, it is a big part of the music culture here in Austin. Without maintaining the special vibe that we have here in Austin, the city would not stand out from the rest of the cities that offer a variety of live concerts a well.

In the future, festivals around Austin are expecting bigger outcomes as the city begins to grow not only in its size, but also the music community as well. It has been noticed in the past years that many more people are being drawn to this specific aspect of Austin, and it is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Hopefully, the more people that attend these festivals the more styles of music that will be introduced to Austin, and hopefully take a part in the culture as well.

Rodeo Austin and SXSW will be taking place this March 2019, and the Old Settlers music festival will be the following month. As the city continues growing it can be expected that more new festivals will emerge and bring their own unique aspect to the “Live Music Capital of the World�.

People walk on the bridge at Rodeo Austin after the concert. Photo by Abril Unda.

People celebrate outside as they listen to the live concert in Austin Texas. Photo by Wendy Wei.

In Tune | 2019 | 9

Which

AUSTIN MUSIC

festival is right for you?

An inside view at Austin’s top music festivals and their community By: Abril Unda

Introvert?

What would you rather do on your free time?

Go on a walk

Watch a movie

Do you enjoy going camping?

Yes

No

Old Settlers Sources

- Music Festivals In Austin.

- ACL Music Festival - Urban Musicfest

Old Settlers music festival is an overnight camping festival designed for those who enjoy listening to music while they spend time outdoors.

What do yo

Washed Out

Waterlo Festiva

This festival is fo those who want lay back and rela as they listen to

music

Ambivert?

What does the ideal friday night look like for you?

Chilling at home

oo al

or to ax

How would your friends describe you?

Out with friends

t type of colors ou like better?

o

Extrovert?

Bright

Energetic

What type of audience member are you?

Layed back

Rodeo Austin Rodeo Austin gives its audience a layed back type of night meant for the type of people that like to listen to music as they socialize.

Loud

Layed back

What type of person are you?

Outdoors

ACL ACL is a popular music festival here in Austin that hosts many popular artists over the course of two weekends

Indoors

Urban Music Festival This festival is meant for those who like socializing while being protected from the Texas weather.

In Tune | 2019 | 11

Inspiration Vs Cultural Apropriation

By Journee Coleman

A bird chirps lightly making thoughts rush to the mind; a breeze passes by so swiftly it causes a stop; the rhythm of a powerful stride sparks a tune in the brain. As these signals are interpreted a chill runs up your spine and the hair on your arms stands up. In a split second a memory or connection to the noise races to your head. Inspiration has struck.

For artists, all of these experiences and many more, are what give many of them the inspiration to start creating music.

These moments create endorphins that send signals to the brain and create a sensational feeling of euphoria for many artists or songwriters. For several humans, the expression is a way to be heard, heal or hide many feelings.

Throughout history, there is evidence of different sounds being orchestrated into a song. Many call the sensation of hearing these sounds and adding to them a process of taking inspiration from it and creating meaning or a role for that sound.

Over time as people were either oppressed or the oppressors, cultures were mixing, most involuntarily, and sounds were merging. Through this time music really grew and was able to have multiple genres that were all connected in some form. It’s In Tune | 2019 | 12

at this time where unjust acts of stealing and uncredited use began.

Cultures throughout history have merged, whether that be intentionally or not. Due to this integration, many societies today are a mix of many past cultures. This is how variety and diversity within humans was created; By exploring many of these intersections, many humans find themselves in between cultures, genders, sexuality and many other elements of life.

This is a very beautiful part of mankind.

As a result of this integration, many cultures were made ‘higher’ on the social pyramid.

The competition to be apart of the more dominant culture became common. “ a dominant culture, after oppressing a less dominant culture or exotifying them for their practices beliefs or traditions, takes those culture traits and use them.”(Brion Oakes, Chief Equity officer, City of Austin). This is called cultural appropriation. This is a very valuable and important element of talking about anything that is widespread.

There are several examples of this behavior throughout time and even in today’s society. For example, there was a huge

Sound engineer equipment manipulating sound samples

BLXPTN Performing at Afro punk 2018 photo by:@jai_commande_leau In Tune | 2019 | 13

scandal when a white woman claimed to be black after taking a DNA test. This woman then changed her skin and her hair to “look” more like a black woman. This is one of the more obvious examples of cultural appropriation. This woman whose culture has benefited off of the oppression of black people due to the color of their skin, size of their nose and the kinks in their hair, decided that she would alter her body to look like them simply because she wanted to.

This behavior, while very inappropriate, can be oftentimes difficult to identify when it’s internalized, Oakes said. If music was created through a process of hearing things and putting them together, as well as cultures mixing and people communicating; How are there examples of this behavior in music and where is the line drawn between inspiration and cultural appropriation?

The Lead singer of the band called BLXPLTN, Taszlin Muerte, gave information on the process his team undergoes to create their beats and song lyrics. “We draw most of our inspiration from previous life experiences and sounds or characteristics that are important to the narratives of those experiences”(Tasz led drummer of rock band BLXPTN) “It’s important to recognize how many empires and institutions were built… often times it was from the idea of another that was exploited and taking credit for something that isn’t theirs.”(Muerte) “As an artist it’s very crucial to understand what motivates you… motivations can be very selfish. Once the selfish behaviors are recognized can progress be made to define and own up to topics like cultural appropriation.”

In a country like america, It’s very easy to say that people are at liberty to express themselves and have a culture that isn’t necessarily the same as their neighbor. So when it comes to a topic like music, the history of copyright and credit is very interesting. The ideas of who was worthy enough of the protection of copyright laws plays a large part in how cultural appropriation started in music.

“People of color have been persecuted and oppressed for their race. When it came to music, it was no different… We weren’t allowed to have patents and we weren’t allowed to get copyrights and if we did, there was usually injustice were there should have been protection of these peoples ideas”, Murete added. “Our music was exotified because it wasn’t the same as white music. This exotification is something that we continue to see today.”

The Hip-Hop culture has really bombed into business, passing up rock in popularity. Almost everywhere in the world people have taken on hip-hop in some form due to it’s increasingly enlarging audience. Today whats known as mumble rap is very popular with the youth, and while this form of rap has a In Tune | 2019 | 14

more diverse selection of artist, many are white males. These white males buying, grillz and braid their hair, some have even been known to say the n-word in their music.

This behavior is wildly inappropriate and is evidently culturally appropriative. What is very questionable is how many of those artist believwe that it’s their right. They claim to have been inspired by their role models who happen to be black, and their aspirations to be like those role models permits them to appropriate a culture that has allowed their ancestors to appropriate black people.

BL:XPTN at Afro Punk Festival photo by: jai_commande_ leau

As a music listener and a citizen of the world, it’s encouraged to think critically about the cultures around us and the consequences actions have on the world. Whether the line between cultural appropriation and inspiration exist or not, people should still inform themselves of these injustices that happen so casually. Only after that can there be a clear line between the two elements.

“Everyone loves music, but not everybody had it taken from them�

-Brion Oakes, chief equity officer

Brion Oakes at the Equity Office 2019 photoi by:Journee Coleman

Man and son walk celebration druming in India

Two artist perform rap song during a concert

Two boys sitting on dock playing violins in rural asia

In Tune | 2019 | 15

Music Through The Ages AD

1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 WW1 192 British aristocratic reserve

Europe Dada Italian Sprezzatura

Romanticism

Omerta

Aesthetic moverment

Flappe

Migration

America

Plantations Blues and gospel Slavery

Africa

In Tune | 2019 | 16

Yoruba/Ibo concept of itutu

+

Music has has been been relevant relevant since since the beginning of tim Music beings. By By investigating investigating where where music and it’s inter inte beings. understand how how they they intersect intersect and flow within mu understand where music music comes comes from, from, we we can have a deeper ap where

By:Journee Coleman

20 1930 WW2 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Lodz Film school

Situationist

Surrealism

Techno/dance

ers

+Presley

+ Beatles conceptualism

Pop Art Abstract Expressionism

Chandler Hard Boiled Woodstock Hammett crime fiction Rock school Hollywood film +Lenny Bruce noir Beat

+Bebop Jazz

Hip-hop

Movement

Rhythm ‘n’ blues

me. Sounds create feelings and entirgues all resting styles come from we can begin to usic as a whole. When we can comprhend ppreciation for it.

Soul

Funk

In Tune | 2019 | 17

Musician Skyler Evans playing in his band. Photo by Skylar Evans.

The Journey of a Musician

By Luke Jacobs

An average day in the life and the upbringing of various Austin musicians of today.

In Tune | 2019 | 18

s the thundering roar of applause and the hair-raising shriek of fans’ whistling echo through the atmosphere, all eyes are directed towards the stage; an Austin band once again proving the city’s conglomeration of musical talents with an astounding performance.

In the past several decades the city of Austin, Texas has produced many famous musicians and bands, such as Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson. Today’s musicians have the unique opportunity to replenish Austin’s musical background, now that some of the previous famous musicians are passing on the mic. One of the major things that control how a musician’s life plays out is their childhood.

Being a child born within the past 30 years or so is different enough, so having any sort of musical background only separates you from others, but in a positive sense, as you are special in your own way. Not just the beginning of life, but the actual individual days of adulthood are formed eventually and for some may be rather uniform and organized, with routines that Austin musicians acquire and adapt to as they learn to fit in with their diverse musical surroundings.

Musicians of all ages are accepted in Austin, and the assortment of backgrounds that there are brings multitudinous styles and genres to the city. “I was already a singer/ songwriter and I’ve been a singer my whole life,” Shelley King said. She was inspired when she saw another band play and began her musical career in band.

book gigs and start making a living.

Despite the fact that King happened to discover her talents super early on, that is not always the case for everyone.

Skylar Evans, another Austin singer/songwriter, explained that he did not fully discover his music potential until about middle school; in fifth and sixth grade he learned to play saxophone and guitar” He always got 100s on tests, and was quite good at academics, while it was difficult for others. He developed his ears for music and others told him that he was talented. Evans enjoyed music from then on, but didn’t know he wanted to be a musician until 17 or 18 years old.

When it comes to inspiration, there are multiple factors, and one can be inspired at any age. Violinist Andrew Noble claims he was inspired by lots of people, considering he experimented with many other genres of music throughout his life. His classical inspiration developed through his orchestra directors, private lesson teachers, music directors.

He was also in church choir in high school and played in the church orchestra every month.

“I can do that, I want to do that!”

—Shelley King So she started by getting her players together, learning songs, and when they got a show, they took it around and booked a show and started playing, King explained.

If you already have some musical talent, inspiration comes a little easier, as it is more imaginable and one can be motivated to follow the path of a certain legitimate musical career.

King discovered her musical talents when she was about three years old, and just loved singing. She sang every chance she got and actually began to write songs when she was a teenager. However, she did not consider writing music professionally until college, which she did in fact end up pursuing.

King’s advice to those who desire to be a professional musician like her is to get a band together as the first step. If you do that you can write and perform songs, and ultimately

Musician Andrew Noble posing with his violin. Photo by Andrew Noble.

In Tune | 2019 | 19

An important part of being a musician that may come off as surprising to some is community and relationships with others your professional arena. This is especially crucial to an environment with many musicians like Austin, where competition is high. Because people in this profession all rely on one another to make a profit. There is also a place for nonprofit organizations, for those in Austin who have a more difficult time making it professionally, including a health alliance for Austin musicians. This helps Austin musicians have access to primary health care.

There is also the SIMS foundation, which helps musicians have access to mental health care. “If you’re having a rough time, you’re going through some depression, a musician can call and go talk to a counselor. And that’s something that’s really needed in the music community,” King said.

Musician Shelley King playing guitar. Photo by Shelley King.

“Now there’s a nonprofit that I’m working on called HOME, which is Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers, and it’s meant to help our oldest, senior musicians not become homeless. They don’t work as much, when they get that old, and the housing through the roof in Austin, so, we’ve actually helped numerous local legends stay in their homes, and not being looking to move out of In Tune | 2019 | 20

town, or worse: not even have a home,” King claimed.

By assisting other musicians and volunteering, you bring mutual joy upon yourself and the people you help. Another interesting nonprofit organization is Swan Songs, which is where musicians go in and perform songs for people who are dying.

While community and supporting others is important, there is still plenty of competition at the same time. From fighting for a gig or radio airplay to self-criticism as your main competition, this is something that is largely similar for all musicians. With Austin being the musical environment that it is, the competition is much higher.

Evans said that he is his own worst critic and that his father was rather tough on him growing up, as he was a musician himself. Even if you don’t necessarily need assistance from nonprofits, again, you can still get help from other local musicians, as you are all one community, or even your own friends and family.

“Look for the magic that happens every day and appreciate all the little things along the way; appreciate the friendships you make, appreciate all of the signals that you get from the universe, or wherever that tells you that you’re on track.”

—Shelley King.

King has received much support from musicians in Austin: Carolyn Wonderland, Marcia Ball, Delbert McClinton, Nancy Copland and even the drummer in her band, Perry Drake.

As for Evans, his friend’s father, Richie Gentry, was able to support him growing up because he was like a mentor. He played ground rock in the 1970s, and he also has a lot of support from his fellow band mate.

As for all musicians, they must support themselves and their band if they have one. There are many recurring tasks and everything seems to be quite tedious. Many musicians get to travel for example, and while that is an enjoyable privilege, there are responsibilities that come with that and can be bothersome. These things can be loading gear up, making reservations, booking flights, keeping up with emails and communication. Sometimes things do not always go just as planned.

King says the hardest moment in her career was when she was traveling with her band in Boston, Massachusetts, for a show, and her trailer snapped off their vehicle with all of their equipment inside of it. The crew was forced to lug the trailer through a dark tunnel full of zooming traffic and almost had to abandon it, until someone offered to fix it for them. This sort of situation can be a real disturbance.

Some, like Evans, don’t have a single most challenging moment in their careers. But he finds his career most challenging when he and his band mates don’t agree on a particular matter, and just being a solo artist outside of his band in general.

On some level of thought, being a solo artist is more treacherous than being in a musical group, as for your reputation is viewed by your audiences as one person, and you solely have yourself to rely on for your professional decisions. Whereas in a band, your reputation is viewed as a group and all decisions on a professional level are unanimous. Being a soloist brings much pressure, but of course one may still be just as successful as a musical group, despite that.

every day and appreciate all the little things along the way; friendships, signals from the universe, or wherever that tells you that you’re on track. Keep going. Perseverance is really a tough thing to find within yourself when you’re independent and you’re out there on an independent path, like a musician.”

The literal journey may be a long time, when one may be traveling for a show for instance. But there is often a silver lining in spite of the monotonous commute that often come with the gigs. You do get to see a bunch of touristy sort of stuff without necessarily having to be a tourist, Perry Drake, the drummer in King’s band said. You only really get to see musicians doing their job. Furthermore, there is an annual cruise that King and her band go on to play and she is very lucky because only a select few get to participate. King was the state musician of Texas for the year 2008, and musician Marcia Ball, an inspiration and supportive figure in King’s life, was the state musician of 2018.

Austin is replenishing the diverse mixture of music within the culture, and again, despite all hardships and difficulties that come along, you have to appreciate the little things. Whatever guiding signs come your way, acknowledge them and make use of what you have. Stay optimistic and make use of what you have, so you can one day meet your goals as a musician or whatever career path you choose to pursue.

Eventually, after a musician has been playing professionally, they will have learned a certain routine. But on that path leading up to where someone is on a professional status, there are things that they will learn the hard way. Evans wished he would have started playing the saxophone earlier, and Noble wishes he would have started the violin earlier.

Noble started with the viola originally, and although it is similar to the viola, he has been catching up with those around him ever since he picked up the violin. But now Noble is on track writing solo pieces, and even giving lessons. He started in middle school and played in his church orchestra every month in high school, and now he is the one doing the teaching, and his hard work paid off.

But in terms of being on the right path before becoming a professional, sometimes people don’t realize they would have liked to have done something different until far after the fact. “It’s probably something that I kinda have lived by,” King explained. “It’s like look for the magic that happens

Skylar Evans pictured with a band mate (respectively). Photo by Skylar Evans.

In Tune | 2019 | 21

WHAT INSTRUMENT SHOULD YOU PLAY? 4 4

BY: LUKE JACOBS

ARE YOU AN...

EXTROVERT

INTROVERT AMBIVERT

ARE YOU ARE YOU EASILY SHORT? INSPIRED? NO YES NO YES DO YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL? DO YOU LIKE TO PERFORM? NO YES YES NO In Tune | 2019 | 22

GUITAR CELLO DRUMS

ARE YOU DEDICATED? NO

PIAN ARE YOU STUBBORN? NO DO YOU LIKE TO GO SHOPPING?

YES

NO

FLUTE TRUMPET

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUT BASED ON YOUR PERSONALITY!

?

ARE YOU CONFIDENT?

YES

YES

NO YES

OBOE

YES

ARE YOU DARING? NO

NO

ARE YOU LAZY?

YES

NO

VIOLIN DOUBLE BASS

VIOLA

SOURCES: GOOGLE.COM/IMAGES LUCIDCHART.COM/PAGES CREATIVESOULMUSIC.COM/NEWS FACTMONSTER.COM/COOL-STUFF

Mobley, a “one-man-band� from Austin. Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III.

From left to right: Cooley Curzel, Sarah Ronan, Riley Corcoran, and Hersh Cohen, members of The Naked Tungs, performing live at Swan Dive Austin. Photo by Swan Dive Austin.

In Tune Tune| 2019 | 2019 | 24| 24

The Art and Industry of Music he beat of a drum. The twang of a guitar string. The exuberant cry of a trumpet. These elements intertwine — on the streets, behind locked doors, on the stage — weaving a cultural tapestry created by the hundreds of musicians who call the city of Austin home.

Music is a part of modern life, and is especially integrated into Austin’s culture. With dozens of venues and hundreds of musicians all located in a single city, it can be easy to become less aware of the worlds of these musicians.

Entranced by different melodies that catch the ear, one might exclaim, “How did they get here? Why aren’t they more popular? I want to be like them!”

family would entertain themselves by listening to and playing music. Having music so integrated in his life was part of what led Curzel to make music. On the other hand, Ronan first got into music during her middle school years.

If tomorrow everyone decided that polka music was going to be the most popular music in the world, then tomorrow polka is pop.

Mobley

With the vast number of music artists, there comes a vast number of experiences within and on the road towards the music industry. However, there are always unifying threads to be found: a passion for music and the desire to share it with the world. This is demonstrated in the experiences of local Austin musicians Mobley, a one-man band, as well as Sarah Ronan and Cooley Curzel, members of The Naked Tungs. Together, their stories describe how much more there is to being a musician than picking up an instrument and playing it.

“Music has always been a big thing in my house,” Curzel said. He pretty much grew up without a TV, so he and his

By Danica Djurdjanovic

“I was really into 1960s psychedelic rock and all kinds of punk,” Ronan said. “After hearing The Runaways, I dreamed of playing in my own band.”

In the eighth grade, Ronan got her hands on a cheap bass guitar and started learning to play songs by Nirvana.

The Naked Tungs had originally sprung from the joys of reproducing music.

Ronan, Curzel, and Hersh Cohen (who performs vocals and lead guitar) all met in college and started playing together at house parties, just doing these botched covers for fun, according to Ronan.

Similarly to Curzel, Mobley was brought into the world of music at a young age by a recording of a violin. After hearing it, he immediately wanted to learn to play it, and he began learning the violin at the age of six. He went on to learn the trumpet at 13 and the guitar at 16, which is when he first started to write.

“I’m always hearing music in my head, and for most of my young life I had thought that was happening to everyone,” In Tune | 2019 | 25

known as FruityLoops). Ronan started writing her own music when the band was still somewhat informal. After the band had moved to Austin and their drummer Riley Concoran joined, they started working on Ronan’s and Cohen’s songs as a group.

“We listen to all sorts of stuff and pick up little things here and there,” Curzel commented. With all four members of The Naked Tungs having backgrounds in covering all sorts of rock, the influence rings clear in their sound. Another aspect to the process of songwriting for these artists isn’t just practice, trial, and error, but also exploration and experimentation.

Mobley focuses on exploring the bounds of pop music and aims to “find new sounds hidden amongst some more recognizable forms.” From a lyrical perspective, he aims to explore the human experience with the hopes of allowing others to imagine better worlds. Being able to connect with their audience is something that is incredibly important for a musician.

Mobley performing live at Fareground Austin. Photo by Danica Djurdjanovic.

Mobley explained. “As I got older, I started to realize that it was kind of an unusual thing, and then I started to realize at some point that what I was hearing wasn’t just songs that I had heard on the radio or whatever, it was music that I never heard before.” It was the excitement of this discovery and the challenge of turning those thoughts into art that attracted Mobley to writing music.

When asked what she wanted the audience to get out of their music, Ronan replied, “I hope that they can relate to the words or get their own meaning out of them.” Curzel added that he hopes people will be able to move to their music. The aim of art is to be able to elicit a reaction, and beyond that, to be understood for it on some level.

“That’s kind of the whole game,” Mobley added. “Trying to put out some form of creative expression and hopefully be seen and understood by people.” With music, putting art into the world for an audience includes performing, which ranges from selling recordings to being on the radio to doing live performances.

When I started playing music, I never really considered all of the office work that was involved.

Cooley Curzel Curzel started composing by writing down his thoughts as well, adding, “I guess it could be thought of as a form of poetry, but it was awful stuff.” When he was able to play E, A, and D chords on the guitar, he started to sing those lyrics over the chords and would mix them in FL Studio (formerly In Tune | 2019 | 26

“As corny as it sounds, driving home from work and hearing us on the radio was pretty surreal,” Ronan said. For The Naked Tungs, a lot of their successes have been from getting airplay on different radio stations and playing a showcase at South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual event in Austin that includes interactive media, music festivals, and conferences.

most artists and bands just want to make music, the reality is that success in the music industry is much more demanding.

“These days, at least when you’re starting out like us, you’re probably gonna have to do a lot of answering e-mails, planning press releases, building connections, working around schedules, finding affordable methods of distribution, managing all the social media stuff, things like that,” Curzel said. He added jokingly, “I do wonder which member of The Rolling Stones would have been in charge of updating the Instagram when they were starting out.”

Cooley Curzel (bass) performing live. Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III.

Live shows are much more than someone on a stage banging things together and yelling coming from all directions.

They’re meant to be fun for both the artists and the audience members, and as Mobley describes it, there is a transcendent, collective moment. It can take a lot of work to get that atmosphere.

Mobley is well known for his stage presence, although he views himself as a more reserved person in his daily life. He describes it as like having awakened an outgoing alter-ego when he is on stage.

“I can’t allow these people to ignore me,” he said. “I can’t allow them to be at a show and not be drawn into it.”

However, there is much more to being a musician than loving music and loving the act of making music. There is all sorts of work to be done with booking tours, buying equipment, making records, and managing correspondence and social media.

“When I started playing music, I never really considered all of the office work that was involved,” Curzel said. While

“As an independent musician, you just end up having to do lots of work that isn’t making art,” Mobley said. “And, you know, that’s fine, everybody’s got to work in the world as it is, but it’s not the ideal way to create art.” The bottom line is that money and management are integral to being successful in the music industry, and these commercial realities can make it difficult to make art for the sake of expression.

“Finding time to practice and write around conflicting schedules and day jobs is always tough,” Ronan added.

“Luckily, three out of four of us live together so when the timing works out it’s easy to collaborate.”

Another restriction that artists face is the human impulse to organize and categorize. Many music artists are assigned genres based on the politics that surround their music: Who made this music? What do they look like? Who are the people who listen to their music? While artists often chose what genre they believe fits their music best, these designations can be heavily policed.

“The histories of those things are really fraught, particularly when it comes to race — when it comes to blackness in particular, and gender,” Mobley said. “It’s part of a legacy of segregation that persists in the music industry.”

In particular, “pop music” has been greatly redefined as a certain sound rather than as simply popular music. For this reason, Mobley defines his music as post-genre pop: popular music with a post-genre lens.

“If tomorrow everyone decided that polka music was going to be the most popular music in the world, then tomorrow polka is pop,” he explained. “If we decide that after that, for whatever reason, Scandinavian black metal is going to be the most popular music in the world, then that’s what pop is right now.”

Sarah Ronan (vocals and rhythm guitar) performing live. Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III.

Being a musician brings with it great demands and responsibilities, but ultimately, it is a passion for music and sharing it with others that makes it worth it.

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How We Listen to Music

By: Danica Djurdjanovic

Music is everywhere nowadays, and different songs can make us feel different ways. Depending on what we’re doing and how we’re feeling, people will listen to music in different ways. Keep reading to learn more about the psychology behind how we listen to music, as well as some tips on what music you should listen to!

Emotional Listening Engages the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where emotions are regulated

Can be used to combat anxiety, depression, and other such afflictions Can be harmful, so you should always monitor your mental state Solace: Diversion: In Tune Tune| 2019 | 2019 | 28| 28

Listening to music that reciprocates your feelings, can be used to understand or indulge in your emotional state.

Listening to music to distract from what you’re feeling

Passive/Background Listening Engages the mPFC less, but focuses more on concentration and the body Exercising: Fast paced music increases your heart rate and motivation Sleeping: Slow, calm, and quiet music will help you lower your heart rate and fall asleep easier Studying: Minimally distracting music that you enjoy will help you remember what you study

What music do you like?

Music preferance is

Personal

What music do you find motivating?

What music do you find non disruptive?

Sources: • Shahram Heshmat, PhD, Why Are We Moved by Music?

• Daniel Levitin, Major health benefits of music uncovered.

• Kendra Cherry, 10 Surprising Psychological Benefits of Music • Ralph Ryback, Music’s Power Explained • Audrey Hamilton, and Daniel Levitin, PhD, Speaking of Psychology: Music and your health

The Problems Behind the Curtain The modern price of owning a music venue

By Evelyne Rees-Eissler

alking on the sidewalk, he turns to look at the building. Recently, it was forced to shut down.

The shutters flap in the wind, cracking the dirty windows. A car speeds by, kicking up the dust that cakes the desolate parking lot. As the city bustles and grows around it, this building has been abandoned. Broken guitars with loose strings and sunken piano keys tell the story of the place, a once colorful and unique venue shut down and abandoned due to the lack of money.

This is the result of too many music venues which have been forced to close in Austin because of the rising property taxes and rent in the city. The vibrance of Austin music has been declining as the music scene becomes less diverse with the closure of financially struggling venues. The threat of Austin losing the huge part of its identity and community that is music is highly destructive in both cultural and economical terms.

In 1991, the Austin City Council announced that Austin was “The Live Music Capital of the World” when it was found that the city had the most live music venues per capita in the country. With around 300 music venues in the city, the name In Tune | 2019 | 30

fit, and it proudly became known as the hot spot for music, attracting artists and fans from all over the country to the venues.

The music venues were not only a creative outlet to locals but they brought people together and they were an environment in which a person could escape, celebrate, let loose and have fun. Long time venuegoer Cindy Stapper said, “Back then, it was a cheap place to live with a supportive club scene.”

The artists and venues thrived without thought of money, untouched by the current problems modern artists and music venues face.

In recent years, the iconic venues that are vital in the life source of Austin have been threatened: “As Austin has become bigger and more dense — and certainly one of the hot-spots to live —operating a music venue is more and more challenging,” Music Venue Alliance Austin Executive Director Rebecca Reynolds says. Reynolds is the leader of the organization striving to connect the venues of Austin with the city legislature to ensure their future success. So far, she said, it has been working.

Antone’s struggles to support both it’s artists and itself

Photo courtesy of Antone’s

A light up sign at Antone’s Nightclub represents the venue’s vibrant music

Photo courtesy of Antone’s In Tune In Tune | 2019| | 2019 31 | 31

“

The music in Austin’s venues is a life force, its healing, its empowering, it’s something that brings people together even when they can’t agree on anything else.

Photo by Trudi

In downtown Austin, many music venues battle affordability issues

The Alliance has been helping venues organize and keep track of all their financial issues. Music venue owners have a lot to worry about that their customers don’t realize, in terms of bills to pay and regulations to follow. Most venues don’t actually own the land or buildings they operate through, and they often are on a triple net lease. This means that the owner of the property they are on gives the property tax burden to the music venue owner. This gives the venue owners more bills to pay, and these bills can grow.

With the increasing property taxes, your cost of operating can go up substantially year to year, Reynolds said. The heavy paperwork and financial upkeep distracts from the music, and makes it hard to sustain the venue economically.

Additionally, venues deal with the inconsistent departments and payment requirements of the city. They have to In Tune | 2019 | 32

- Rebecca Reynolds communicate with the government to be compliant in terms of things like the city code and the health department, but this is not straightforward. Venues will spend a lot of money to be compliant with one department to find out they are still not compliant or have to pay more to another department, Reynolds said. This is a problem of coordination and understanding which costs the venues precious money.

Reynolds has been a leading figure at the center of improving communication between the city government and the venues to allow the venues to retain more of their money and not struggle so much financially. The whole point of a music venue is to provide enjoyable entertainment, not fill out paperwork and have to relocate every once in a while.

One of the venues involved with the Alliance is Antone’s, a blues nightclub that opened in 1975 but had to relocate because of increased rent costs in the late 70s. In recent times, the increased rent has become a problem again and the venue is revisiting the same battle that it had in the 70s.

Mallory Ferro, Venue Manager at Antone’s, said, “In order to continue operating one of Austin’s oldest and most beloved venues, we are heavily involved with groups like Austin Music Venue Alliance, who help to adjust city and state legislation to aid our needs.” So far, the Alliance is helping.

The owners of Antone’s and other venues “feel a sense of relief and are happy to be a part of the Alliance,” Reynolds said.

Although the preservation of the venues is very important in terms of culture and community, there is a big economic argument as the music industry is crucial in Austin. In 2014, the industry produced $726 million. The music venues are the foundations for this amount of money, which demonstrates how economically functional they are.

Photo courtesy of Music Venue Alliance Austin

Sometimes, it is easy to not recognize the venues as the basis for the millions of dollars the industry produces. This is an obvious reason why it is in the best interest of Austin

“ Sadly Austin has become too costly and busy.

- Cindy Stapper

to make the effort to keep its music venues alive, besides the “more warm and fuzzy argument, which is that it just matters to our culture,” according to Reynolds.

Although Austin music venues generate so much money for the city, they are still struggling. With music venues closing, Austin might be stripped of the title of “Live Music Capital of the World.” This all goes back to the fact that the music venues cannot keep up with rising taxes and regulatory compliance.

The organizations like the Music Venue Alliance and the Austin legislature are trying to solve the problems that the music venues are having. New policy initiatives are set to go into action in the coming months, which are going to be game changers, according to Reynolds. Austin is growing and, of course, that is good. But as the city gets bigger and bigger, it is crucial to make sure that the music venues which supported and built this city from the start are not lost along the way. Broken guitars with loose strings and sunken piano keys should not be the story of Austin — the vibrant, colorful and unique songs of the city tell the story better.

Rebecca Reynolds is Executive Director of Music Venue Alliance Austin

Photo courtesy of Antone’s

Antone’s Nightclub is battling affordability issues with the help of MVAA

In Tune | 2019 | 33

Must-See Music

Venues With around 250 music venues to choose from, Austin is bursting with musical vibrance. It can be hard to decide where you want to go to enjoy good music with so many options to choose from. Here are five of the most popular and/or historic venues that are must-see’s in the city to help you decide where to go!

By: Evelyne Rees-Eissler

The top five music venues of

Austin

Double Trouble Robert Plant Wanda Jackson Paul Ray

The Continental Club Willie Nelson Stevie Ray Vaughn Joe Ely Muddy Waters

Stubb’s BBQ Red River District Since 1968 1800 capacity

In Tune | 2019 | 34

Travis Heights Since 1955 200 capacity

Thorn Yorke Pete Townshed Slash Parry Farrell

The Parish Congress Ave. District Indoor Music 450 capacity

Double Trouble B.B. King Albert King Muddy Waters

Antone’s East 5th Street Since 1975 450 capacity

White Reaper Harvest Theives Brownout

The Scoot Inn East Cesar Chavez Since 1955 Salloon and Music

Sources -“TenBest Venues For Live Music In Austin” Timeout.com -“Alejandro, Blaze &Townes Shake the Continental Club” Austin Chronicle - About Stubb’s, Stubb’s Bar-B-Q In Tune | 2019 | 35

Who Was Featured?

Rodeo Austin Website: rodeoaustin.com Email: Info@RodeoAustin.com Phone: (512) 919-3000 Facebook: @rodeoaustin Instagram: @rodeoaustin Twitter: @rodeoaustin

Old Settler’s Music Festival Website: oldsettlersmusicfest.org Email: info@oldsetterlsmusicfest.org Phone: (888) 512-7469 Facebook: @oldsettlers Instagram: @oldsettlers Twitter: @Oldsettler

Brion Oakes Chief Equity Officer Phone: (512) 974-7979

In Tune | 2019 | 36

BLXPLTN Website: www.blxpltn.com Email: manager@BLXPLTN.com Lars@woldshield.studio Facebook: @blxpltn Instagram: @blxpltn Twitter: @BLXPLTN

Shelley King Website: www.shelleyking.com Email: shelley@shelleyking.com

jenni@jennifinlay.com Facebook: @shelleykingtx Instagram: @shelleykingtx Twitter: @shelleykingtx

Andrew Noble Email: andrewnoble@gmail.com Noble Violin Website: nobleviolin.com Phone: (512) 517-7101 Facebook: @nobleviolin

Skylar Evans Email: skylar 87026@gmail.com Phone: (512) 232-4907

+1 (737) 708-0003

In Tune | 2019 | 37

Mobley Website: www.mobleywho.com Email: mgmt@mobleywho.com Facebook: @mobleywho Instagram: @mobleywho Twitter: @mobleywho

The Naked Tungs Website: thenakedtungs.weebly.com Email: thenakedtungs@gmail.com Facebook: @thetungsatx Instagram: @thenakedtungs

Rebecca Reynolds Executive Director at Music Venue Alliance Austin Email: rebecca@musicvenuetrust.com Music Venue Alliance Austin Website: www.musicvenueallianceaustin.com Phone: (512) 825-9884 Facebook: @mvaaustin

Mallory Ferro Venue Manager at Antone’s Night Club Email: mallory@antonesnightclub.com Antone’s Night Club Website: www.antonesnightclub.com Phone: (512) 814-0361 Facebook: @antonesnightclub Instagram: @antonesnightclub Twitter: @AntonesNightclb

In Tune | 2019 | 38

The music in Austin is a life force, it’s healing, it’s empowering, it’s something that brings people together even when they can’t agree on anything else.