A few of us attended SXSW with no real agenda but to hang out, see what it was all about, and see what we could get away with. SXSW is kind of a meet-up/reunion for those in the music scene so it was only natural that we’d be there, too. 

And I couldn’t pass up the invite from fellow music journalist and my partner in crime, The Urban Nomad, to hang out nomad style. He is sponsored by Red Bull and was on a mission to lock down some interviews with some of the biggest names attending SXSW. He’s a journalist/band manager like me so his other job was also to find gigs for Luc Reynaud from his band, Luc and the Lovingtons, who are based in Seattle. 

A day before the music portion of SXSW started we got word that Jason Mraz included Luc’s song, “The Freedom Song” on his new album, set to release this April. They were going to release the official lyric video for the song. That meant we had to get the Lovington’s website ready with information about how the Freedom Song came about. Having thousands of people view the video, and then perhaps land on the Lovington’s website, was an opportunity we had to be prepared for. So, we spent all night updating the website and Luc got to tell all the people he performed for that week the exciting news. Our jobs are always work and play. There’s really no other way.

The music portion of SXSW started, more people started getting into town, and then it was on.

Gian, founder of Go Hard. Superstar./FRANCO. joined us and we connected with some very good artists backstage at various shows and found out that the shirts were a hit. People were reading “Go Hard. Superstar” on my tank and high-fiving me all day long.  Spac3man even told us that people were jocking the shirt we gave him so at one point he just gave his away. Better to help spread the word and have others wear FRANCO. in other states then keep them all to yourself. Good looking out Space! That’s what’s up.

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I pointed out in my introductory blog post for Go Hard. Superstar. that we’re not creating this community from scratch, this is not the beginning of it all, just a continuation of what we already have in the NW, a community of artists that respect and support each other, show it, and know each other’s stories. I was referring to this special something that I noticed in the artists that rep “The Town.” 

I don’t know everyone in this camp personally, nor do I pretend to, but I’ve always been watching. Geo invited me backstage for Grynch’s “Perspective” Album Release Party over the weekend and even though it seemed like everyone knew each other, every person I came in contact with looked over and said, “Hello, how are you?”

I’ve been backstage enough to know that this doesn’t always happen. Backstages are either filled with random people with cameras and free t-shirts that you can walk past without making eye contact, or close friends. And if you’re picky about who you surround yourself with, you’re curious to know who the “stranger” is.

This was an example of what I envision is going to “put Seattle on the map.”

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