Disko Cowboy Interview | Austin City Limits 2022
Interview by Wesley Smoot
Disko Cowboy at Tito’s Vodka Stage- ACL 2022
Weslo: This is Wesley Smoot, with Unleashed LGBTQ, I’m here at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas with Disco Cowboy... How are you today? I heard you crushed it at last year.
Disko Cowboy: Thanks brotha. I’m great, how are you?
Weslo: Not bad at all. How’s your ACL?
Disko Cowboy: Actually, it’s my first day here. But it’s been awesome.
Weslo: So, you’re going on soon.
Disko Cowboy: That’s right, here in about an hour.
Weslo: Yassss… You’re a Texas boy, what’s your thoughts on the scene? You've been here a while.
Disko Cowboy: I grew up outside of Austin, this is my permanent residence now, looking at about 8 months. Austin is great, it’s not what it used to be, but you can say that about most places.
Weslo: I'll agree wholeheartedly. You're not only a musician & producer but a designer and entrepreneur. You’re the founder of Vinyl Ranch, a really hip apparel company, can you tell our readers about the line?
Disko Cowboy: Sure, it’s kind of more of a pop-culture mash-up, obviously rooted in country music and dance music culture— I just kind of pull off kinds of topical references from what I’m doing. I try to keep myself open to always receiving new, creative ideas.
Weslo: I can dig it. I’m seeing so much overlap and synergy between pop music and country, things like Lil Nas X with Ol Town Road, do you see this growing as more of a sub-genre?
Disko Cowboy: Definitely, that’s been a whole conversation lately. I almost feel like with most genres, the lines are blurring in every direction– there doesn’t need to be a singularity of what a music genre is. It’s just gonna be music, kind of like food. Now, we’re all just cooking gumbo, it's actually a great time to be making music.
Weslo: I can see that. I saw Diplo wearing your gear, it seems like Vinyl Ranch is blowing up. Congrats! Can you tell us more?
Disko Cowboy & Diplo wearing Vinyl Ranch
Disko Cowboy: Yes! I did a merch collab with him. I helped design his merch for Stagecoach in April. I’m actually collaborating with him on some other live events– stay tuned. I just DJ'd the Stagecoach launch party in LA. I think everyone is assuming a partnership has developed. But yeah, he’s been a big supporter of Vinyl Ranch. It’s cool to work with people that have brands that are so expansive and universal. He’s obviously one of the most prominent, famous Djs in the galaxy. To have someone like that put you on, it’s a real honor.
Welso: I dig it. So back to music, anywhere specific you pull inspiration from?
Disko Cowboy: Everything. I’m so curious about everything. I love the term country-curious (laughing), but I’m like, curious about everything. Anything that I can experience that will make an impact in my creative statement, I’m always open to living it, learning it, loving it.
Welso: Are there close connections or overlap in the creativity of fashion and music?
Disko Cowboy: Absolutely. I think they're so interdependent on one another. I’ve always been at the intersection of the two, ever since I was a kid. I have polaroids of me dressed as Michael Jackson, sleeves rolled up– my mom said I used to cut my own hair because I had to be in control of my own look, style. I think the two will always go hand-in-hand.
Disko Cowboy at Tito’s Vodka Stage- ACL 2022
Welso: Well as you know, we are Unleashed LGBTQ, we know you do not identify as queer yourself, but you mentioned before the interview started, you have always got lots of inspiration from queer artists.. We can definitely see that in your fabulous outfits. Can you tell us more?
Disko Cowboy: I have lots of LGBTQ+ influences. When I was younger, my mom’s two best friends, Eric and Michael were really influential to me. They were a gay couple in San Antonio, Texas, “roommates” – my grandfather was queer as well, a great man. But, when I first started DJing, I was playing raves and a gay club in San Antonio, called The Saint, this was many, many years ago in the Y2K. But I’ve always had friends in the community, I was always proud to be an ally, it’s thanks to my upbringing that I was open and accepting, we’re all just people, we all need love.
Welso: I love that. As far as gay music, who were your influences?
Disko Cowboy: George Micheal, 100%. The day George Michael died; I’ve been wearing this dangly earring. I’ve been wearing it ever since. When I was a kid, my mom had two cassettes: The Judds and George Michael, Faith. And when I was a young boy, I'd see this cassette every day on the way to school, I’d think to myself, that’s what I want to look like. To this day I rock a five o’clock shadow and my tight jeans. He could have been gay, straight, a fucking martian… I knew I idolized him. To this day, universal sex appeal.
Disko Cowboy & Wesley Smoot ACL 2022
Welso: Well, he’s still one of the most beautiful men to have walked the planet. Not to mention his charitable contributions and influence on the actual music industry/business.
Disko Cowboy: Absolutely, George Michael and Prince both. It takes individuals as talented and bold as them to stand up to the industry giants. What they did for all musicians, songwriters, publishers, should never be forgotten.
Welso: Amen, boo. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. You’re an ally and a hell of a talent. I look forward to catching you on stage and keeping up with you.
Disko Cowboy: This has been my pleasure. Thank you, Wesley.
Disko Cowboy has been pioneering and redefining urban cowboy culture through Vinyl Ranch and his own DJ prowess since the brand launched in Houston in 2007.
He has become especially known for his country disco music mashup DJ party that's grown in popularity across the country. In fact, Disko Cowboy is one of the only DJ's regularly booked on big festival bills like Bonnarroo (for the last two years), Stagecoach this year where he did a merch collaboration with Diplo, the inaugural FORMAT Fest last weekend in AR, now ACL Fest both weekends for the second year in a row, Lucktoberfest this Halloween in Austin opening for Orville Peck, and partnering in a big way on a brand new fest coming very soon -- more in store to be revealed.
This is all without consistently publishing new music, yet staying relevant with his unique style reinforced through the Vinyl Ranch brand.
Jake Wesley Rogers Interview | Austin City Limits
Interview by: Wesley Smoot
Jake Wesley Rogers. If you don’t know the name already, you will. He’s an absolute powerhouse— singer, songwriter, showman, and a master on the keys. At 25 years old, he’s done Madison Square Garden (opening for Panic at the Disco), has been a musical guest on The Ellen Show, and currently has a track featured on the major Universal Pictures rom-com, Bros. His lyrics transcend generations with a kind of depth you’d find hard to believe is coming from someone his age.
I got the chance to chat with Jake Wesley Rogers at Austin City Limits.
Pinkies up, now sip!
Jake Wesley Rogers by Chad Wadsworth for ACL Fest 2022
Weslo: Howdy ya’ll, this is Wesley Smoot (Weslo) with Unleashed LGBTQ, in Austin, Texas at ACL– today I get the chance to sit down with Jake Wesley Rogers. How’s your ACL?
JWR: Hey! It’s very hot. Literally. But it has been so much fun.
Weslo: So freakin’ hot. Texas heat!
Well the crowd obviously loved your performance. What are your thoughts on Texas, besides the heat?
JWR: Well, I'm from Missouri, so I understand what it means to come from a complicated place, but I’m always astounded by how much love there is, even in a state where there is a lot of bullshit going on.
Weslo: It’s a big state with lots of fabulous folks, I’m glad you get to see there are all kinds, plenty of like minded people.
JWR: Of course. You sometimes have to remind yourself, we’re everywhere and we’re not going anywhere. So, I’ll always keep coming back.
Weslo: Please do.
I have to talk to you about the movie Bros with Billy Eichner. One of my favorites of the year, not just because it’s a gay film, but it’s just so well done. You have a song featured in the movie— your single Hindsight. What’s it like having your music on such a groundbreaking film?
JWR: It was mind-blowing to hear my song in a movie theater and be part of such a historical film. I would actually call it a surreal moment for me.
Jake Wesley Rogers & Wesley Smoot in Media Tent at Austin City Limits 2022
Weslo: So you’re on the cover of The Advocate this month, it seems like you’re well on your way to becoming a LGBTQ+ icon. How does that feel?
JWR: I don’t want to speak for anyone. I can only tell my story, I do that on purpose. Tony Morrison says “The function of freedom is to free someone else” so I think if I show up, even if I’m not feeling confident, tell my story, the hope is to allow anyone to feel free to be themselves, because that makes everything better.
Weslo: I agree 100%.
I know some LGBTQ+ artists might not care to be labeled or pigeon-holed as a gay artist, I’m sure with you, there’s a lot of crossover with other demographics.. I mean, you have been opening for Panic at the Disco. Have you seen your fanbase grow with the non-LGBTQ+ audiences?
JWR: I'm always surprised how many straight people are at my shows. I think my favorite thing about being queer is that it shows very explicit on the outside. But we all feel different, excluded, even if only to some degree. I think we’re the superheroes that have no choice but to show it.
Weslo: Well you really go into that with your song Pluto. Which I love by the way.
JWR: Yes! Exactly, and thank you. That is very much what the song is about, using Pluto as a metaphor, as the outsider. And just giving everyone permission to embrace it because I think that’s how things change, when everybody realizes we have this tendency to hide something. It’s the queer life. We’re accustom to it and learn it at such an early age. But not only us, everyone feels that on some level, we’re just the lucky, fabulous, beautiful ones that get to show others that it's ok. It’s ok to be free.
Austin City Limits 2022 | Jake Wesley Rogers | Photo Credit: Jakob Wandel
Weslo: Inclusion is incredibly important. I think ACL, it’s organizers, and bookers do an amazing job bringing in queer artists. I have been able to see so many over the last few years. Did you get to see anyone here? Lil Nas X? Boy George, Izzy Heltai?...
JWR: Sadly, because of the tour, no. We have been doing red-eyes to come in and make these events. Usually I come in, play, and go to bed (laughing). So I’m sad I missed Lil Nas X but hoping to catch Kacey Musgraves tonight.
Weslo: That will be a great show.
You covered I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders. You did it magnificently. It has millions of streams… Do you plan on covering any other artists' songs in the future?
JWR: That’s a great question.
We have been covering Welcome to the Black Parade (My Chemical Romance) on the tour. But we’ll have to see. I enjoy singing so many… I’ll keep you posted.
Austin City Limits 2022 | Jake Wesley Rogers | Photo Credit: Jakob Wandel
Weslo: Your outfits for live shows are Everything! What inspires you in picking your wardrobe? Are you inspired by other artists?
JWR: This outfit I’m wearing now is like a red dandy number inspired by the movie The Velvet Goldmine, it’s like an unofficial David Bowie bio pic and there’s this one scene where a character is wearing this dandy outfit — I did a photo shoot for Vogue, they had me wear something similar, and when i wore it, I felt I had been there before. So I wanted to make something, something to recreate that feeling.
But you know before every tour, I think about what I want to wear, feel like, and present to my fabulous audience. But yes, I’m proud to say all the costumes from my tours are made by queer designers— which is always very exciting to me. I love a great collaboration between creative minds.
Austin City Limits 2022 | Jake Wesley Rogers | Photo Credit: Jakob Wandel
Weslo: I love that.
Many queer artists I see perform to tracks in the background. You not only have a full band but you are also slaying it on the piano. Has that always been the vision?
JWR: When it comes to music, for me personally, it’s always been me and the piano. I don’t think that will ever change. As far as having a band to perform with, it just feels right to me.
Weslo: Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. You’re an amazing talent and we wish you all the success. You have our full support.
JWR: Thank you for that, I appreciate you as well.
Make sure to check out Jake Wesley Roger’s new EP LOVE
The EP includes two brand new songs “My Mistake” and “Call It Love” along with previous releases, “Modern Love,” “Lavender Forever,” which he performed on ELLEN, “Dark Bird” and the most recent “Hindsight” from the Billy Eichner film Bros.
C3 PRESENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER ANNOUNCE THE AUSTIN DEBUT OF BRUCE MUNRO’S FIELD OF LIGHT IMMERSIVE LIGHT INSTALLATION
“Mr. Munro… has become the Christo and Jeanne-Claude of fiber-optic light environments.”
—The New York Times
AUSTIN, TX - Austin’s own C3 Presents, in collaboration with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, is proud to announce that highly acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light will debut on September 9, 2022, at the Wildflower Center.
Illuminating 16 acres in the Arboretum at the Wildflower Center, Field of Light is a stunning display of 28,000 stemmed spheres that are subtly lit by solar powered fiber-optics. Field of Light beautifully showcases the intersection of art, technology, and nature and its purpose is to inspire a sense of shared existence, and of being part of life’s essential pattern. The installation unites with the outdoors, celebrating the natural topography of the landscape and creating an immersive and emotional experience for guests.
“Austin is such a unique destination that embodies many of the core values of this installation. My hope is that the Field of Light installation will inspire visitors to contemplate a kinder and more connected world,” said Bruce Munro. “The Wildflower Center is the ideal venue for this exhibition simply because it brings people, art and nature together.”
“We’re thrilled to host Munro’s Field of Light in collaboration with C3 Presents and share this world-renowned exhibition with our community,” said Lee Clippard, executive director of the Wildflower Center. “The shifts of color and light will be a unique and provocative way to celebrate our Central Texas landscape.”
Bruce Munro is best known for large-scale light-based artworks inspired by his continuous study of light and his curiosity about shared human experiences. With a fine arts degree, early career training in the lighting design industry and an inventive urge for reuse, Munro creates art that captures his responses to literature, music, science and the world around him. His work has been commissioned by and displayed in special exhibitions in galleries, parks, grand estates, cathedrals, botanical gardens and museums around the globe.
The New York Times says of Munro’s Field of Light in Paso Robles: “There is nothing quite like the mind-bending spectacle now on display at dusk in the hills of Paso Robles. … That is the witching hour when thousands of solar-powered glass orbs on stems, created by the artist Bruce Munro, enfold visitors in an earthbound aurora borealis of shifting hues.”
Tickets will be on sale in July. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wildflower Center. Guests can enjoy the exhibit from September through December 2022. Click here to learn more, or get social media updates at @fieldoflightaustin on Instagram and Facebook.
Jake Wesley Rogers to Perform at Austin City Limits
Rising superstar Jake Wesley Rogers is set to play ACL both weekends with sets Sunday 10/9 and 10/16 @ 1:15pm on the Miller Lite Stage. Attendees will not want to miss this electrifying, live show.
With the release of new song “Hindsight” for gay rom-com film, BROS this past Friday, major buzz is surrounding up-and-coming queer artist and advocate Jake Wesley Rogers.
Jake released his first major-label single “Middle Of Love” last May, Paper Magazine said “Give Jake Wesley Rogers a stadium” and now he is performing in arenas across the country, opening for Panic! at the Disco.
“Hindsight” along with earlier releases from this year including “Modern Love” and “Lavender Forever” which he performed on Ellen and HBO Max’s Legendary can be found on Jake’s upcoming EP.
"My new song Hindsight is very special to me, especially since it will be the end title track in Billy Eichner’s historic new film, “Bros”—the first gay rom-com made by a major motion picture studio. I wrote it with my go-to collaborator Justin Tranter, as well as the producer, Jason Gill. The song is about looking back at the past and longing to make the future better, by actually living and loving (and dancing) to your fullest potential." – Jake Wesley Rogers
Interview coming soon.
3x GRAMMY Award-Nominated Alphabet Rockers Raise Children's Voices for Change on New Album, The Movement
Oakland, Calif. -- Tuesday, October 4, 2022 -- Alphabet Rockers have captured the attention of families and the music industry with their authentic voices for change since the influential group's first GRAMMY Award nomination in 2018. Alphabet Rockers raises the bar - and ante up for big moves - with their fifth album, The Movement, featuring the children of Alphabet Rockers as songwriters, lead vocalists and the compelling voices of our times. Building on their mission to produce music that creates change, Alphabet Rockers crafted 13 new songs with a clear message - we have the power in our community to build a world of justice and belonging. Alphabet Rockers will tour The Movement in selection markets across the country, including an appearance at Austin City Limits in October 2022.
When the world shut down in March 2020, the Rockers were coming off their second GRAMMY-nomination for "Best Children's Album," and persisted with their intergenerational anti-racism work online through free community workshops, curriculum (We Got Work To Do), and virtual creative sessions with their core group of youth artists. The seminal work caught the eye of CBS Mornings who ran two national features on the significant positive impact the Alphabet Rockers had on children during these challenging times. The COVID-19 global pandemic was a racial reckoning across all industries, including children’s music and the GRAMMYs; Alphabet Rockers worked to transform family music by centering Black voices into the conversation and dismantling racial bias within the industry as co-founders of Family Music Forward. 1 Tribe Collective, a Black artist collective, emerged from this work and recorded the album All One Tribe, bringing Alphabet Rockers their 3rd GRAMMY nomination.
Alphabet Rockers utilize important questions to drive its creative process, including how to create justice in a country facing its racist truths – this led the group to an artist fellowship at the Othering & Belonging Institute at U.C. Berkeley supporting their early development of The Movement. The collective of children and adults asked questions, as simply as "when do you feel powerful, and when do you feel powerless?" and as complex as the tween writers asking, "how can people see that someone has changed?" and "how can the government use its resources to support the people, not just its systems?" The songs that came from this creative process on The Movement are bops -- with a depth that serves their intended audience - children wanting for everyone to be treated fairly and feel loved.
The Movement opens with an invitation to "connect the head and heart" as "when people connect -- that's how we find unity." The songwriters reflect on real moments from their lives, and lean on the conversations and interviews they conducted with restorative justice practitioners from Oakland and leaders like Angela Y. Davis. As writer Maya Flemingsays in her song, "Our Turn": "I've got a voice and I'm using it /And its way past time that you're hearing it /You can find a lot when you listen up." The voices of Alphabet Rockers are the balm for the reckoning of 2020. The Movement helps the whole family to understand their power, break biases, disrupt systems of oppression, and find community care. And "When it's all said and done - the word is LOVE."
The Movement will be released on all platforms on Friday, September 9.
For more information on Alphabet Rockers, please visit: