All this week, KUTX profiles the Ones To Watch鈥攕even must-see artists at .
When you listen to , it鈥檚 easy to hear why MCs Charles Peters and Marco Cervantes are teachers by day. Last year, Third Root released , an album that tackles politics and race relations from a Texas Latino and African-American perspective. Peters says that the 2016 headlines pushed Third Root into new creative territory. 鈥淲e felt like we wanted this album to be a time capsule,鈥� he told KUTX鈥檚 Jack Anderson. 鈥淟ook back at 2016: you put the news up, you put this album up and you will see that it was a reflection of that.鈥�
Third Root also reflects its Texas roots. Austin鈥檚 Adrian Quesada produced Libertad, and it features guest appearances from Austin鈥檚 hip-hop scene. Pioneering Texas politician Barbara Jordan even inspired 鈥淪oul Force,鈥� a song that acts like Third Root鈥檚 musical mission statement.
Listen to our feature below, hosted by Jody Denberg and produced by Art Levy.
Third Root at SXSW 2017:
- Monday, Mar 13 鈥� Spiderhouse () 鈥� 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Mar 15 鈥� 鈥� 9 a.m.
- Friday, Mar 17 鈥� Oskar Blues Brewery () 鈥� 9 p.m.
