RAISING VOICES COLLECTIVELY
The Walk With Me Austin project is part of a national initiative supported by the United States Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts. The initiative started in Louisville, KY in March/April 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 response where local musicians and musicians with ties to Louisville contributed to the creation of “Lift Up Louisville,” a song intended to lift the spirits of Louisvillians and remain connected during this time of social distancing while also capturing what it feels like for our community in this unprecedented moment in history. As the “Live Music Capital of the World”, the city of Austin saw how our collective voices were needed to inspire its citizens to work together and protect each other.
The scope of our project broadened in June when calls of justice over the murder of George Floyd and police brutality prompted over 450 major protests held in cities and towns across the United States and three continents. Walk With Me Austin is a reflection on this moment and an anthem to unite our community during these times of change. The song represents the diversity of people, talent, and musical genres in Austin. It acknowledges the challenges we are facing and serves as a symbol of hope to inspire our community to imagine and work towards a better future.
Any Publisher song profits (royalties) will be donated to HAAM, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, whose mission is to provide access to affordable healthcare for Austin’s low-income, working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness. You can donate directly to HAAM here.
Walk With Me Austin represents a collaborative effort by the City of Austin, Golden Hornet, Electric Deluxe Recorders, a small but mighty group of organizers and over 45 artists.
Video Directed, Filmed and Edited by: Spencer Gilliam
Music Composed, Produced and Mixed by: Adrian Quesada
Lyrics by: Blackillac (Zeale), Kelsey Wilson, Gina Chavez, Magna Carda, Sam Houston, Mélat, Alex Maas, Shakey Graves & Tee Double
Additional production/programming by:
Tee Double, Abhi the Nomad, DJ Orion
Mastered by: Erik Wofford
Horn Arrangement by: Carlos Sosa
Co-Production of: Golden Hornet
Recorded at: Electric Deluxe Recorders
Additional Videography: Jackie Lee Young, Jeremy Bruch, Celeste Quesada, and Footage Courtesy of ATXN/City of Austin
Art Direction: Erick Montes
Photography: Jackie Lee Young, Cristina Fisher, Todd Wolfson
Web Design: Ahyana Riley
Publicity: Giant Noise
Mayor Alder and Dr. Colette Pierce-Burnette video editor:
Kyra Jones
Livestream Direction: Nick Montopoli
Featuring (in order of appearance):
Alexis Buffum: Strings
Jackie Venson: Lead Guitar
Zeale and Phranchyze of Blackillac: Vocals
DJ Orion: Additional Production/Programming
Jaime Ospina: Vocals
Ruben Ramos: Vocals
Beto Martinez: Guitar
Jose Galeano: Percussion
Matthew Holmes: Percussion
Abhi the Nomad: Additional Production/Programming
Tiarra Girls: Vocals
Anthony Farrell: Keys and Vocals
Andrew Trube: Vocals
Mela Dailey: Vocals
Peter Bay: Vocals
Kalu James: Vocals
Lauren Cervantes: Vocals
Angela Miller: Vocals
Grooveline Horns: Carlos Sosa: Saxophone, Fernando Castillo: trumpet, Raul Vallejo: trombone
Megz Kelli of Magna Carda: Vocals
Graham Reynolds: Keys
Tee Double: Additional Production, Vocals
Dougie of Magna Carda: Keys
Charlie Sexton: Lead Guitar
Adrian Quesada: Guitar
Sam Houston: Vocals
Nick Clark: Bass
Gina Chavez: Vocals
JJ Johnson: Drums
Mélat: Vocals
Erika Wennerstrom: Vocals
Kelsey Wilson: Vocals
Tameca Jones: Vocals
AJ Vallejo: Vocals
Alex Vallejo: Vocals
Alex Maas: Vocals
Jim Eno: Drums
Kathy Valentine: Bass, Vocals
Shakey Graves: Vocals
Stephanie Hunt: Vocals
Loulou Ghelichkani, John Michael, Josh Blue of Night Glitter: Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Percussion
Special Guest Appearances by: Russ Hartman, Healthcare Workers of Austin, Hope 4 Hip Hop/ Bboy City (Romeo Navarro, Omar Davila, Roger Davis, Daniel Valadez, Armando Vargas and Liam Garcia), Basüra & Samuel Grey Horse
WALK WITH ME AUSTIN Producers: Diane Land, Celeste Quesada (Project Supervisor), Brittany Robinson
For the City of Austin: Mayor Steve Adler, Sly Majid, Erica Shamaly, Meghan Wells
For Golden Hornet: Penny Brandt, David Lobel, Graham Reynolds
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who made this project possible. Without the generous contributions from our donors, none of this would have been possible! The City of Austin would like to thank the following:
Anonymous, Diane Land & Steve Adler, Joshua & Amy Baer, Becky Beaver, Rick Bennett, Philip & Donna Berber, Judith & Richard Berkowitz, Suzanne Deal Booth, Penny Brandt, Las Chickas (Sarah Bird, Sharon R. Coleman,, Mandy Dealey, MelodyAnn Fullylove, Tara Elgin Holley, Saundra Kirk, Blanca Rosa Leahy, Olivia G. Walker), Polly & Lonnie Cooper, Michelle & Mark Edmunds, Hugh & Vivian Forrest, Spencer Gilliam, Roger Gordon, Kathleen & Harvey Guion, Eric Herschmann & family, Laura Hernandez Holmes & John D. Holmes, Jeff & Gail Kodosky, Marcia & Dr. Bruce Levy, Robert & Emily Lee, Ying McGuire, Jim McDermott & David Rodriguez, Tommie & Lynn Meredith, Valerie & Jeff Newberg, Graham Reynolds, Walter & Danielle Robb, Leonard & Debbie Rodell, Amy & Kirk Rudy, James Russell, Mary & Rusty Tally, Eugene Sepulveda & Steven Tomlinson, Brian Sharples & Danielle Nieciag, Six Square Black Cultural Arts District, Roy & Mary Spence, Kerry Tate, Cathy & Dwight Thompson, Robert & Jill Turner, Greg & Jessica Weaver
Special Thank You to: Kathy Smith-Willman, Marni Martinez, Amy Lombardi, Gold Rush Vinyl, Rob Sanchez, Rob Garza, Tamar Price, Erica Benken, Jim Ritts, and Ryan Matteson.
Golden Hornet is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that commissions and presents music in and out of Austin, Texas. Proceeds for this project were used to compensate local artists and organizers for their time.
