Austin/ Fun & Entertainment
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Published on June 01, 2024
Ugandan Artist Jon Muq Lifts Spirits With Debut Album "Flying Away" and Austin City Limits PerformanceSource: Ron Baker (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingsnake), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In a world that often feels like a non-stop negative news cycle, there's a refreshing breeze blowing in from Austin, Texas. Ugandan musician Jon Muq is ready to uplift spirits with his debut album "Flying Away," with a musical concoction that combines his African heritage with global pop sensibilities. The album, which dropped on May 31, has already been making waves, as reported by Austin's CultureMap.

Austin City Limits Music Festival will be graced by Muq's presence later this year, a significant leap for someone who, six and a half years ago, knew nothing about Austin except its name. Muq's journey from busking in Kampala for homeless children to an Austin stage reads like something out of a fairytale, all set against the backdrop of his unpretentious ethos of creating music that brings joy. His rise to prominence was sparked by two viral videos – one that got him a gig on a cruise ship and another that caught the attention of Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who went on to produce "Flying Away," according to CultureMap.

"Flying Away," produced by Auerbach, isn't just a collection of songs; it's a statement of simplicity and happiness. The album features tracks that include the juncture of classic reggae rhythms with Muq's African musical roots, creating a sound that is at once unique and universally appealing. Tracks like "Shake, Shake" encapsulate this hybrid sound, failing neither to make you move nor to make you feel.

"Uganda has 50 tribes and English is an official [language], but it's not that [big] a priority," said Muq, and so his mission is clear – to communicate happiness through his music's universal language. His lyrics, intended to be direct and simple, cut across cultural barriers so "that someone elsewhere can understand easily," he told CultureMap. Infused with African influences such as ukulele, and percussion instruments from Uganda, "Flying Away" presents an interesting blend to the global pop scene.

Muq shared with NPR's World Cafe that his music's joy stems from a personal philosophy, "I'll never be sad," he expressed, reflecting on his past when he had to make do with one meal a day in Uganda. To him, happiness isn't contingent on material excess but a mindset, a belief that pervades the melodies of "Flying Away." Local fans and those abroad can experience Muq's positive vibes live at the O4 Center on June 7 or when he returns for the Austin City Limits on October 5, where his gentle and pleasant tunes are set to merge rainy day melancholy with sunset serenity. The album is currently available for streaming and purchase, with vinyl and CD options for the tactile music lover.