Seven Questions Series: In-Depth Conversations at Still Austin

Seven Questions - SHAYLON ELMORE

Shaylon Elmore is an Austin-based illustrator and graduate of the University of Texas’s School of Fine Arts. Shaylon comes from a long line of artists: his grandmother is a commissioned sculptor, and his father designs jewelry. When he’s not zoned in with a double shot of espresso on ice, you can find him exploring the hidden corners of Central Texas.

Olympus, Texas': Insights from Author Stacey Swann

Stacey Swann’s debut novel Olympus, Texas (Doubleday) was a Good Morning America Book Club selection, an Indie Next pick, and was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Swann holds an MFA from Texas State University, and she was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. Her writing has appeared in LitHub, Electric Literature, Texas Highways, Epoch, and other journals. She splits her time between Austin and Lampasas, Texas.

Seven Questions - CAREN KELLEHER OF GOLD RUSH VINYL

Caren Kelleher is the founder & CEO of Gold Rush Vinyl, a record pressing plant of Austin, Texas. Named one of the “Most Innovative Companies of 2020” by Fast Company, Gold Rush Vinyl brings fresh eyes to the old craft of vinyl production. Prior to starting Gold Rush Vinyl, Caren was the Head of Music App Partnerships at Google Play, after launching Google Music and its programs for independent musicians. Caren holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and was recently recognized on the Forbes Next 1000 list of entrepreneurs changing Main Street, America. She is proud to sit on the board of governors for The Recording Academy’s Texas chapter and to serve as an advisor to Black Fret.

Seven Questions- JIMINAI

A multimedia artist based in Austin, Jiminai comes from humble origins in West Texas. He began drawing at an early age, and thanks to positive influences throughout those early years, he’s continued drawing and pushing into new media including painting, digital illustration and large murals. Known for vibrant color palettes, he specializes in portraits that are simultaneously photorealistic & comic book-like. His works appreciate the human form while attempting to elevate them through fashion, color and design. In Jiminai’s mind, we’re all capable of being art ourselves—and this shows in his work.

Seven Questions - EL BAKER

El Baker is an Austin-based artist known for her adventurous experimentation with unexpected materials and colors. Her work consists of everything from mixed-media Texas landscapes to colorful abstract desert plants. Many of El’s pieces are inspired by road trips across Texas, from the mountains of Big Bend National Park to the rolling landscapes of the Hill Country.

Seven Questions - LEANN MUELLER OF LA BARBECUE

You might say that LeAnn Mueller has barbecue sauce in her veins. The daughter of famous Texas pitmaster Bobby Mueller, LeAnn Mueller has made a name for herself in her own right in the hyper-competitive world of Texas barbecue. LeAnn and her wife Ali run la Barbecue in East Austin, which Texas Monthly has called “one of the state’s most highly regarded barbecue joints.” LeAnn and Ali, along with their pups Lilly, Mr. Pickles, Louie and Zoe, split their time between Austin and Los Angeles. If you want more, check out our Still Life doc featuring LeAnn and Ali.

Seven Questions - AJ HAYNES OF SERATONES

AJ Haynes is the lead vocalist for Seratones, an American soul-rock band formed in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2013. Born out of the Louisiana club circuit, Seratones rose to national recognition in 2016 after the success of their debut album, Get Gone, and their viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert. The band’s second album, Power, was released on New West Records in 2019. Their new album, Love & Algorhythms, drops in April.

Seven Questions - GABRIEL PORTILLO

Artist Gabriel Portillo, also known as “Paste,” was born in Alpine, Texas, and now lives and works in Austin. While his work ranges from portraiture to landscapes and abstraction, in recent years his interest in public and street art has resulted in his transition to painting murals. Gabriel’s inspiration comes in many shapes and forms: music, people, and West Texas have all been big influences. Always evolving and constantly keeping an eye out for new ideas, Gabriel’s paintings range across many styles—yet they all encompass one unifying factor: the skillful, versatile techniques of the artist.

Seven Questions - ERIK ROSS

Erik Ross is an Austin visual artist whose established style is comprised of abstract line work, free-flowing movement, and hard-line structure, illustrated with acrylics, aerosol, and various inks. His metaphorical portrait work is inspired by his awareness of the figurative masks worn in today’s society, and the unveiling of his own ever-changing “mask.” Since childhood, Ross’s passion for abstract pen line work or “doodles” has been ever-present. Evolving from his life experiences, Ross’s style has matured into various mediums, including large-scale murals, original canvas work, and custom wood cut-outs. Ross identifies painting as a therapeutic outlet that serves as an escape from life’s challenges.

Seven Questions - MICHAEL RAMOS

Michael Ramos is an Austin producer, composer and musician who has toured and recorded with a vast array of artists, including John Mellencanp, the Rembrandts, Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Kris Kristofferson, Patty Griffin, Los Lonely Boys, the BoDeans, Pat Green and Lucinda Williams. He is the owner of Brown Recluse Studio, where he produces projects for others as well as his own music, film and TV scoring projects—as well as his own music project, Charanga Cakewalk. In 2016, Ramos was awarded a Latin Grammy for his studio work with Lila Downs. In addition to his successful career as a musician, composer and producer, Michael has joined Lucky Hound Music as an A&R person and staff produce