The Content Cultivators and Curators Behind SXSW 2023

By Avery Viers
Local Music Director

MARCH 12, 2023 – I was unaware what I was in for as I walked up the steps of High Noon Bar the evening before the first official day of the South By Southwest music festival. I tagged along with a crew of coworkers planning to capture videography of local alternative psych-rock band, Slurp The World.

As band and crew began setting up in the quiet ambience of the east Austin lounge, I was briefly introduced to the person responsible for orchestrating our night. Floating around the dimensions of the small stage was Chandler Christopher, founder of independent Austin record label and art culture brand, Happen Twice. Both the show’s promoter and the band’s management, Christopher contacted Austin-based videographer Saint John Requejo to shoot footage of the group for their unofficial SXSW show.

Jackson Cox, Conner Petru, Rylie Riddle, and Jackson Cox – yes, two separate members of Slurp The World are named Jackson Cox – readied themselves moments before a seemingly typical performance. The stark contrast in aesthetics amongst members onstage was apparent; bouncing from the bright, busy sparkle of vocalist Cox’s blouse to the muted, gothic attire of bassist Rylie Riddle. I became curious as to how the videographers could achieve visual cohesivity of the scene.

I sat back quietly observing as Christopher and Requejo directed the band’s positioning under ambient stage lights. The band – along with their instruments and sound gear – toted an oversized box of a colorful assortment of artwork by artist Bash Cano. Taking their positions in front of the array of blinking cameras, Christopher assisted the band with the final positioning of the eclectic canvases to showcase.

In addition to his role as KTSW’s Multimedia Director, Requejo is a multi-hyphenated media producer specializing in visual media within the music sector. In the early stages of developing his independent media production venture, The Music Made Me Do It, Requejo hopes to destigmatize genres that have been blamed for perpetuating violence, crime, and societal dysfunction.

“TMMMDI is the result of my desire to see the Austin music scene become more engaged in its community,” said Requejo, “and to work together to integrate its members rather than perpetuate the typical audience/performer dynamic. [TMMMDI] focuses on the individuals who make up the whole.”

I spoke with Requejo regarding his hopes for prospective projects to collaborate with creatives on. “Eventually,” he said, “I’d like to expand my coverage to all genres as well as start to organize events like live music sets, charity drives, and volunteer groups while also exploring food and film content. In the future, I’d love to work with local promoters like Cowgirl Events and Fade ‘em All, as well as artists such as Polyphia, Die Spitz, Deezie Brown, Sludge, and Bap. ”

Through his work in media production, Requejo hopes to highlight ways for individuals to find representation through each music scene and help define what morals and values drive us to participate and engage in our scenes of choice.

As our evening together came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel anxious anticipation for what the rest of our South By Southwest experience would have in store. Slurp The World is one of many local bands that had the opportunity to display their unique sound over our hectic week together in Austin; be sure to keep an eye on the blog as more reviews, recaps, and content from other KTSW Staff are posted throughout the next few weeks!

To learn more about the creatives curating content in our local community, follow Happen Twice on Instagram (@happentwice) and The Music Made Me Do It on Instagram (@tmmmdi), Tiktok (@tmmmdoit) and Twitter (@tmmmdoit).