Miles Bloxson

The Pivot

In the latest episode of Pause/Play we talk to the lunch ladies of Free Lunch, musician J Soulja, the founders of Mosaic Live Wire and entrepreneur and artist Cam the TSTMKR about how they’ve pivoted during the pandemic.

You’ll hear from
Jazz Mills — event producer and co-founder of Free Lunch
Carrie Fussell Bickley — singer and songwriter with Calliope Musicals and co-founder of Free Lunch
Caroline Rose –singer, songwriter and producer and lunch lady at Free Lunch
J Soulja — hip-hop artist and promoter
Dan Redman — founder of Mosaic Sound Collective and co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Mike Henry — co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Stuart Sullivan — owner of Wire Recording and co-founder of Mosaic Live Wire
Cam the TSTMKR — hip-hop artist and entrepreneur

Let us know your thoughts! Take the Pause/Play Survey!

AUSTIN, TX. April 20, 2021. Jazz Mills, of Free Lunch, serves fresh fruit at an event. Michael Minasi/KUTX

AUSTIN, TX. April 24, 2021. From the left: Dan Redman, Mike Henry, and Stuart Sullivan, of the Mosaic Sound Collective and Mosaic Live. Michael Minasi/KUTX

Find out how to contribute to Free Lunch
Find out more about Caroline Rose
Find out more about Calliope Musicals
Find out more about Jazz Mills project Popecoke
Check out Behind the Song on The Smokeout’s InstagramTV
Find out more about Behind the Song Live, Which airs May 4th at 8pm
Find out more about Mosaic Sound Collective
Find out more about Mosaic Live Wire
Find out more about Wire Recording
Find out more about Rent a Record Label

The Art of LiveStreaming

We’re looking at the art of live streaming. You’ll hear the different ways people are approaching it and what it could mean for the future of the Austin music community.

In this episode you’ll hear from singer and Songwriter Kevin McKinney, Myf Mars from Hotel Free TV, photographer Ismael Quintanilla lll, Jason Reece from …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Evan and Dustin Bozarth & Grego Loboz from Purple Bee TV, Sean Green and Eric Heirt from Safe House, Sarah Keilers aka Dossey and Drew Dunavan from Love and Lightstream

This episode has music from, Kevin McKinney, Sweet Spirit, Sasha and the Valentines, Jaime Ospina, Pelvis Wrestley, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, David Shabani, Jagtronica and Dossey.

Links:

Kevin McKinney Music

Hotel Free TV

Hotel Free TV’s Patreon.

Ismael Quintanilla’s I Am Here All Day

…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

Purple Bee TV

Safe House

Love and Lightstream

Listen to music from this episode

The Reopening

On March 10th the Texas governor re-opened the state. Now businesses can operate at 100% capacity. He also lifted the statewide mask mandate. We talked to musicians, venue owners & staff about how they plan to navigate the reopening.

In this episode you’ll hear from:

Cody Cowan: Executive Director of the Red River Cultural District
Stephen Sternschein: the managing partner of Heard Presents which operates Empire Control Room,
James Moody: founder of the Austin music venue Mohawk ,
Kate Holley: illustrator and also manager and bartender at Cheer-Up Charlies,
Clayton England: musician and also bartender at the Far out Lounge
Mama Duke : singer songwriter and voice over actor
Lili Hickman: musician and visual artist

We have a survey and we’d love to hear what you think! Go ahead! Take the survey here!

Find out more about Mama Duke
Check out Mama Duke as the voice of Hip-Hop Hippo
Find out more about Lili Hickman’s art and her band Flora and Fawna.
Check out Clayton England’s music

Listen to the music by Austin Artists featured in this episode:

One Year Later

We talked to people from across the spectrum of the Austin music ecosystem around the 1-year anniversary of the cancellation of SXSW. In this episode, you’ll hear how they’ve coped, pivoted, evolved, gained new perspectives and dealt with trauma during the last 12 months.

You’ll hear from singer, songwriter and guitar player Jackie Venson, songwriter, producer and activist Mobley, Stephanie Bergara who fronts the band Bidi Bidi Banda, Maggie Lea co-owner of Cheer-Up Charlies, musician and founder of Austin Texas Musicians Nakia, singer, songwriter and podcaster Walker Lukens, live-event coordinator, screenwriter and co-founder of The Amplified Sound Coalition, Jeannette Gregor, executive director of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Reenie Collins, and executive director of Austin Texas Musicians, Pat Buchta.

We have a survey and we’d love to hear what you think! Go ahead! Take the survey here!

Links:

Listen to Jackie Venson’s music

Check out Mobley’s new record “Young and Dying in the Occident Supreme”

Listen to Nakia’s new single “It’s Never Too Late.”

The Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians

Music and Activism with Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone

Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone from the Austin hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm talks about how his experience as a Black musician in the Austin music community led him to create the DAWA Fund and the Black Live Music Fund. He also explains why his music is the reason he is able to continue to serve the community he loves.

Links:

DAWA

Black Live Music Fund

To Support the Black Live Music Fund

Black Live Music Fund – “Thankful” Live Stream Event February 19th

Riders Against the Storm

Chaka’s Speech — It’s time for a Black Live Music Fund

Why Margin Walker Closed

Graham Williams, the founder of Margin Walker, discusses his journey in the Austin music scene and explains why nine months into the pandemic he decided to close Texas’s largest independent concert promoter for good.

Music in this episode by Sailor Poon

Mental Health During the Pandemic

Hear from mental healthcare providers and people in the Austin Music Ecosystem about mental health during the pandemic.

You’ll hear from Kalu James from Kalu and the Electric Joint , Vanessa Burden of Los Alcos, Austen Bailey former Talent Buyer for Mohawk, Patty Bouressa from The SIMS Foundation, Brandee Smith MS, LPC, LCDC, Austin Mental Health Care Resources, The Sims Foundation

Austin Texas Mental Health Resources

Other Information:

National Independent Venue Association
Save Our Stages

Music By:

Kalu and The Electric Joint
Los Alcos

Check out Downfall — the latest song from Kalu and the Electric Joint.

The Urban Music Fest & Homer Hill

In the latest episode of Pause/Play Homer Hill tells the story of the Urban Music Fest and how it’s been hit hard by the pandemic. You’ll also learn the history of the festival, and hear the challenges Homer has faced in his thirty plus years as a Black Business owner in Austin, Texas.

Urban Music Fest
Mr. Catfish
The City of Austin’s Virtual New Year’s Eve

Check out Andrew Weber’s reporting on Venue Funding in Austin

The Return of Live Music Part 1

Live Music has returned to Austin, even as COVID cases continue to surge in Texas. Hear about three live music experiences from the perspective of a fan, three musicians and a promoter.

Listen to this episode of Pause/Play

In this episode you’ll hear from:
host Elizabeth McQueen stepping into the role of a fan
Greg Gonzalez, bass player for Money Chicha & Grupo Fantasma
Tomar Williams from Tomar and the FC’s
Geoff Earle from Stiletto Feels
Walker Lukens from Walker Lukens and the Sidearms. He’s also the co-host of the Song Confessional Podcast

Love and Lightstream
Antones
Central Machine Works

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Listen to Songs from this Episode

Jackie Venson and Austin City Limits

Follow Austin musician Jackie Venson as she makes her debut on the iconic Austin City Limit’s TV show. You’ll hear how Jackie has been pivoting during the pandemic, and find out how Austin City Limits has been adapting to taping shows without a live audience.

Listen to this episode of Pause/Play

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Show Notes Links:

Follow Jackie Venson on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok

Follow Austin City Limits on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

This Song Episode featuring Jackie Venson

ACL Radio announces ‘Blues on the Screen’ event curated by Jackie Venson – Article by Deborah Sengupta Stith

Watch The Jackie Venson’s curated Blues on the Screen

Check out Jackie Venson’s Vintage Machine Album

ACL Live Show on November 20th

Austin City Limit’s Television Show

The Venues

In this episode, you’ll hear from the owners two Austin venues. Brodie Elkins tells the story of Scratchouse which closed due to the pandemic. Then Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover talk about how they’ve kept their venue, Cheer Up Charlies, afloat and explain what it’s been like to get ready to reopen.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Follow Cheer Up Charlies: Instagram and Twitter

Resources:

Music Venue Alliance Austin

Red River Cultural District

National Independent Venue Alliance

Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians