This past Friday and Saturday I had the pleasure of performing at the Urban Music Festival in Austin, Tx at Auditorium Shores. It has been my goal all year to play at the fest because its such a great opportunity to introduce my music, myself and my band to a host of people who might not otherwise come to a show, or even be familiar with my music. I hoped that my success on The Voice last year would benefit me and add weight to my credibility and it paid off. My band and I had an amazing time. We performed on Friday, the day Melanie Fiona, Miguel, Cj Hilton and Noel Gourdin also performed. It was very inspiring for me because I see where those cats are in their career and I know that its only a matter of time before I get there.
For our set we performed original songs: Left Behind, Hello Stranger, The Getaway and Right For You. Then we threw in some cover songs: Set Fire to The Rain – Adele and Let’s Stay Together – Al Green.
Before the festival even started, I had the pleasure to catch Miguel do a sound check. First of all, the dude doesnt look anything like I thought he would from seeing his pictures online and on the album. He sports a fro hawk of sorts and he is another really skinny dude. Haha. I liked how he commands the stage and he is a really nice guy in person. His band is very dope too and young. It amazes me how someone in his band is 21 is already in the industry making moves. When he performed that night, the ladies were going WILD. I was shocked by some of the language that came out of his mouth on stage and curious to know how most of the audience felt since the festival is heavily advertised as a “family event”. Regardless, the dude wrecked.
I loved watching Melanie Fiona perform. She is such a genuine lady. Her band unfortunately wasn’t there because they were stuck in Houston, but her keyboardist Tracy was on the ball. Melanie’s background singers were nice to chat with afterwards as well. One of them, Ashley Rodriguez, is another fellow reality contestant from American Idol season 9.
The festival wrapped up, Saturday night with performances by After 7, Boyz II Men and Babyface. Now, I have been a HUGE fan of Boyz II Men ever since Water Runs Dry. Their performance was AMAZING. I mean the crowd was singing all of the songs so loudly and with so much passion. It was my first time to see them and for that experience I was very grateful, especially to spend it with my friends and my band. When they started to sing Water Runs Dry, On Bended Knee, Motown Philly and A Song For Mama…. I was through. I sang so hard I think I made myself go hoarse. But it was fun.
SXSW came and went. I conquered.
The Urban Music Fest is over now, and I am drained but happily so.
Next, as Austin festivals go for me, is ACL. I have some months to prepare myself for the madness.
In that time, my band and I will continue to press on. Perform, perform, perform.
