Austin is home to hundreds of super talented Black musicians that make the city's music scene what it is.
From blues and R&B to indie rock to rap, these are some of the musicians gracing us with their talent day in and day out. We'll be rotating this feature periodically to highlight some of our favorites ten at a time, so make sure to check back!
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Photo via Instagram
This Austin-born soul and R&B singer has some powerful vocals and a soulful mission to boot. Recently, Mélat performed her new song "Change This Tune" in front of city hall during the Black Lives Matter protests. Find her donning her unique colorful aesthetic and promoting her latest single "So Help Me God"!
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Photo via Facebook
The Bishops are a brother/sister hip-hop duo from Austin that play on shows around town all the way from our intimate Do512 events to the stages of Austin City Limits. Their newest single, "Mob", is a testament to their continuing ability to blend hip-hop with electronic, pop, and jazz flawlessly.
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Need we even write a blurb? If you don't know Gary Clark Jr., you're living in lala land. One of the biggest acts to come out of Austin, Gary Clark Jr. is our blues/rock/R&B king that has taken his Austin roots all the way to the Grammy's and around the world. In addition to us nobodies, his fans include the likes of Beyoncé, Barack Obama, and Alicia Keys.
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Originally from Detroit, Mike Melinoe has made a name for himself - quite literally, he has a day proclaimed by Mayor Adler - all the way from once being homeless in Austin. He's an artist in more ways than one, too; he makes some kickass visual art (check out his Instagram!) that you can look at while listening to his newest EP, "BUKNEU".
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This hip-hop duo is one we always love to have play our shows. Magna Carda's lyrics are some of the best in the city and their sets feel more insightful than your average local show. Check out their latest EP, "Coffee Table Talk", on Spotify and Bandcamp.
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One of our favorites interviews at Austin City Limits 2019 was with this eclectic group of eight (!!) members. With a unique background in producing, rapping, and DJing brought to the table by each of the members, PNTHN has a unique sound that has earned them support spots with the likes of Freddie Gibbs and Vince Staples.
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Photo via Facebook
Originally from Houston, Zach Person is an indie rock and blues artist in Austin that was once a contestant on American Idol. He's been playing the guitar since he was 10 years old, so he's able to shred quite a bit, predictably. He recently released a self-titled EP that you can find streaming.
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photo via SXSW
A style icon and talented musician, Ladi Earth is a must-see around town. Had you caught her shows recently, you would've seen her performing while pregnant with the baby girl she just had in May. Her retro and spiritual vibe is unique and mellow. If you watched Netflix's Russian Doll, you probably heard her song, "Water".
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Known as the "Empress of Austin Soul", Tameca Jones has the soul scene in Austin on lockdown. If you've never caught one of her local sets, you've sorely missed out on a performance that always brings the house down. Her new single, "IDK", drops June 26th.
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Another local favorite that has gained national attention, Mobley is a guitarist and songwriter who describes himself as "post-genre pop." Mobley's music videos are always super unique, attributed to the fact that he uses his own film background to make them happen. Lately, he's been sourcing fan content in quarantine for his newest single, "Mate".
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Who should we feature on our next edition?
