Under the illuminating glow of Cactus Cafe’s stage lights, legendary artists such as Townes Van Zandt and the Chicks have performed. Now, up-and-coming artists, including advertising senior Kylie Hernandez, take the stage.
On Friday, Oct. 24, UTalent Records hosted its second annual alumni showcase at the Cactus Cafe, bringing together current and former student musicians to celebrate the past artists signed to the student-led record label. The lineup featured Hernandez, public relations junior with the stage name Martin Leon, and UT alum with the stage name Eddie Angel. Each performance showcased diverse sounds from country-pop to indie rock to jazz and R&B.
“Once UTalent, always UTalent,” said Alexa Milsch, public relations senior and president of UTalent Records. “Just because your time as a signed artist ended, doesn’t mean we’re gonna forget about you.”
Founded in 2017, UTalent Records addresses a gap in UT’s music program, operating as a space to gain experience in the music industry.
“Our mission is to give student artists a launchpad and start their career somewhere,” Milsch said. “It can be very daunting to do everything by yourself.”
UTalent selects three artists annually through a competitive process, including applications, in-person auditions and interviews from a pool of around 40 applicants. Once signed, artists receive a dedicated team, including a manager, booking coordinator, and marketing and finance chair
Kylie Hernandez, UTalent Records’ first country artist, said the organization helped her figure out her artist vision and provided resources to record her debut album, In Memoriam.
“They helped fund it, which I am so grateful to them for,” Kylie said.
For student musicians, the organization provides connections to the local music scene. Martin Leon, who moved to Austin from the Rio Grande Valley, said UTalent Records helped establish himself as a performer.
“I left all of my contacts back home, my band, everything,” Martin Leon said. “UTalent very much helped me out through that. I credit UTalent for a lot of the successes that I’ve had today.”
For Estrada, who graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Music, he said performing at the alumni showcase represents a full-circle moment, as UTalent Records helped him record his debut EP, Love Bomb, and establish his presence in Austin’s music scene.
“It feels rewarding to be able to reap the benefits of the hard work I put in that year at UTalent,” Estrada said. “It’s an honor to perform at Cactus. It really is such a good opportunity to perform in such an iconic venue.”
Morning Huang, radio-television-film senior and the Cactus Cafe’s booking manager, said the venue is committed to supporting student musicians.
“We really want to be that space for students,” Huang said. “To have a safe space (for) people to share their music with any audience, and have performance practice before they get big, or before they go on a big stage. We want to be that foundation for students.”
As the Austin music scene continues to evolve, student-led organizations like UTalent Records ensure the next generation of student musicians get the support and community necessary to thrive.
“Music has the ability to bring people together in a way that nothing else is able to,” Martin Leon said. “These events really (are) a culmination of all of it.”