<\/a>Rapper DeShaunJay says he embraced music as soon as he learned how to walk and talk.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been another language to me,\u201d he says. \u201cIt’s been something I’ve been involved with in one way or another for as long as I can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
In high school, he became more serious about writing and performing songs, later founding the Flourish Gang and releasing projects like Phone Calls, a series of intimate albums focused on the ups and downs of relationships and personal growth. The most recent release, Phone Calls 4, like all his work, was self-engineered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to my process of making music, I’m very private,\u201d DeShaunJay says. \u201cIf you’re not involved in the process, you’re not going to see too much unless I’m actually finished, unless there’s something I’ve recorded\u2026I’m going to sit there, and I’m going to give every line thought,\u201d he added. \u201cI take my time. I try to let [my music] speak to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although he has a closely-held process, he is still dedicated to growing San Antonio\u2019s music community. In 2021, DeShaunJay was elected a brand ambassador for MVP Vibe<\/a>, a locally based, Black- and woman-owned social network platform designed to connect musicians, vocalists, and poets. <\/p>\n As he works on a fifth installation of Phone Calls, DeShaunJay says his musical journey is still a learning process.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first started releasing music, I was completely open to the fact that I don’t know everything,\u201d he said. \u201cI’m still figuring things out.\u201d<\/p>\n March 12, 11:40 pm, Rivere, 1501 E. Seventh St., Austin<\/p>\n Ryley Hall \u201cI take [music and acting] very seriously,\u201d she says. \u201cI just go with what’s in front of me in the moment, but music has been the most consistent thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n While Hall performed with choirs and in school plays in her preteens, she began writing original music with Chelsea Guy in high school. Together, they wrote Hall\u2019s debut album, Moments. Strumming a guitar she received as a sweet 16 gift, she built a name playing local acoustic shows.<\/p>\n The performances drew the attention of local rock musician and producer Michael Morales, who helped Hall to further shape her sound. Since then, she has developed an emotive approach to songwriting.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever I’m getting ready to write a song, I usually go with what I feel in the moment and let everything come out,\u201d Hall explains. \u201cSometimes, I start with a vocal melody, try to finish it, and then try to figure out what chords go with that melody to build the structure.\u201d<\/p>\n Hot off the release of her latest single, \u201cF U,\u201d in February, the singer will be making her SXSW debut, where she hopes her music will resonate with a worldwide audience.<\/p>\n \u201c[This music is] like a state of emotional release and being able to connect with others,\u201d Hall says.<\/p>\n March 14, 8 pm, Shangri-La, 1016 E. Sixth St., Austin<\/p>\n mypilotis \u201cI’ve made my music here and there simply out of pleasure and enjoyment, and I’d just jam in my room for hours until four in the morning at times,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Umeno learned even more about DIY music production and full-band arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns sparked a resurgence in bedroom pop, a genre marked by lo-fi, bedroom-recorded sounds. Similar indie artists inspired her to create a one-person band, initially recording before branching out to songwriting.<\/p>\n But the music didn\u2019t really click until her father\u2019s sudden, unexpected death.<\/p>\n \u201cMusic helped me with processing those complex feelings I haven\u2019t experienced before and turning them into something tangible,\u201d Umeno says.The artist\u2019s musical process usually involves her randomly stumbling on a favorable chord progression or riff while jamming alone on the bass or guitar.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I have the meat for a catchy ear-worm, I’ll continue to add more phrases and layers around it \u2014 almost like building blocks,\u201d Umeno adds.During her SXSW show and a later performance at La Semana Alegre<\/a> during Fiesta, Umeno will be joined by some friends for the full performance sound \u2014 Joey Gonzalez on lead guitar, Edgar Betancourt on drums, Sophie Kurihara on bass, and JJ Herron on keys. <\/p>\n Even though she recently toured Japan, she still has butterflies about her first appearance at the Austin showcase.\u201cI’m a bit nervous though, being a small guy at such a huge, world-renowned event that’s considered the premier destination for creative professionals, but ultimately I just want to have fun with this with my best friends\/bandmates while we’re there, and see where things go,” she says.<\/p>\n March 16, time TBA, Shangri-La, 1016 E. Sixth St., Austin<\/p>\n Other San Antonio artists![\"Ryley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773324067_171_ryley-hall.jpg\")
<\/a>Future pop star Ryley Hall draws inspiration from various genres and musicians, particularly superstars such as Michael Jackson and Selena Gomez. Like her heroes, she is a multi-hyphenate, singing, acting, doing voiceovers, and working behind the scenes.<\/p>\n![\"mypilotis,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773324067_542_mypilotis-san-antonio-musician-south-by-southwest-music-festival-music-showcase.jpg\")
<\/a>Chesca Umeno, the voice behind sunny indie rockers mypilotis<\/a>, received her first guitar from her mother as a young child. Soon, Umeno taught herself guitar tabs online, played along to records, and then took private violin lessons \u2014 becoming a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and \u201chomemade producer.\u201d <\/p>\n
Two other San Antonio musical acts will have official SXSW showcases on March 18: Latin\/cumbia artist La Corea\u00f1era<\/a> at Mala Fama, 422 E. Sixth, and reggae band Dub Gideon<\/a> at Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. Sixth. Admission to SXSW musical showcases is open to platinum or music badge holders<\/a>.<\/p>\n