Listen, a song can’t fix everything. People might not be sold on “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or whatever three little birds are telling them. But reggae was largely protest music; disco was a refusal to step out of the spotlight; and even the blues gave folks the freedom to express how un-free they were. How it makes you feel is important, and the importance often flies under the radar.

Admittedly, this may all be over-intellectualizing Austin artist Jon Muq’s approach, but that’s part of the beauty of it. By reiterating in interviews that his music is supposed to make people happy, the singer-songwriter from Uganda is employing a simplified marketing strategy that isn’t so common nowadays — and it’s working.

Muq has been featured in writing at NPR, Paste Magazine, Spin, and tons of other blogs and regional publications. He’ll also be making his Austin City Limits Music Festival debut in 2024. “I’ve always admired the ACL ever since I moved to Austin 6.5 years ago,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s about time.”

On May 31, he released his anticipated debut album, Flying Away, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. With all this lead-up, listeners might expect a dramatic bursting onto the scene, but the gentle and pleasant tunes slide in smoothly and continue throughout.

This sunny, retro look suits Muq’s happy and tasteful songwriting.Album cover courtesy of Jon Muq

Most write-ups across Muq’s career mention Afropop; The style is certainly present, especially in the buoyant “Shake, Shake,” a mid-tempo dance track built on staccato guitar textures and, appropriately, at least one shaker. But this is global pop, sung in English (one of the singer’s seven languages) and likely unplaceable to most casual listeners in his new hometown.

“Uganda has 50 tribes and English is an official [language], but it’s not that [big] a priority,” said Muq in an interview with CultureMap in April. “So meaning, people will understand the music differently. Maybe ‘Shake, Shake,’ people dance. And my English vocabulary is not that big. So that’s why all my songs are direct and simple so that someone elsewhere can understand easily.”

Semi-incognito African influences woven through include ukulele and percussion instruments from Uganda on most of the tracks.

“I always appreciated that African sound, most especially from Uganda,” “And since I sang English, the whole idea was to mix up two things at the same time to come up with a vibe. That’s where the Afropop comes in.”

Muq’s amazing journey from Uganda to ACL hinges on two accidentally pivotal videos. The first was his original discovery: He used to busk on the streets of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city and his hometown, collecting funds for homeless children. Someone posted a video of him singing, and Norwegian Cruise Line found their next entertainment hire.

Cruise contracts can be huge for artists, who aren’t paying for rent or food while onboard, and Muq was ready to sign another. But by the time they landed in the Bahamas, Muq decided he wouldn’t actually be flying home. He looked up events in the United States, and was struck by one at Casa Marianella, an Austin nonprofit that shelters displaced immigrants.

“I didn’t know anything about Austin, except that there is city that’s called Austin,” says Muq. “I called the number, saying ‘Can I come sing for free on your fundraiser?’”

Once at Casa Marianella, Muq met his roommates, a couple who he says “took him in.” In the morning, he asked why he was seeing so many people walking around with guitars, and learned about South by Southwest. Whenever the couple left the house, Muq would practice the guitar, eventually learning The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and recording the second video that changed his professional trajectory. This time, after three years, the discoverer was Auerbach.

“I just believe every system that’s there is there for a reason. And if you feel like you have a song that you’ve created or something good you have created just post it,” says Muq. “Not for the sake that someone will discover it, but some people watch; That’s why those social media things exist. And you never know who are watching.”

This assuredness is all over Flying Away, full of yearning, yet laid-back tracks like the vaguely funky “Runaway,” the soulful and upbeat “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying,” and the ever-so-slightly gospel tinged “Love, Love, Love,” where Auerbach’s piano playing really locks in and takes a spotlight. Whatever diversity exists between tracks, this is tea-sipping music. Rainy days and sunsets are a bonus.

When asked if he makes happy music because he is happy, or because he wishes to be happy, Muq posits:

“Yeah, me as a person, I feel happy because [of] growing up differently, where I always ate one meal a day. [Now in] a place that has too much food and all the choices you can make? I’ll never be sad. I don’t have a reason to ever be sad at all. Even if we live in the world of demand and expectation, and wanting more and more, how can you still be happy? I think it’s possible to be happy without expectations of more and more stuff. So through music, I make sure all the songs I write about are about joy and happiness.”

Austinites looking for some of that joy and happiness can find it on Flying Away, now streaming and for sale on various platforms. Signed vinyls ($25) and CDs ($11) are also available via easyeyesound.com. See Jon Muq at the O4 Center on June 7 before he embarks on an international tour and festival circuit. Next time he’ll be back is for Austin City Limits on Saturday, October 5.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Ghana international winger Osman Bukari will join Austin FC in a transfer from Red Star Belgrade, the Major League Soccer team announced Thursday.

Bukari, 25, joins Austin on a 3 1/2-year guaranteed contract as one of the team’s Designated Player signings, with an option for 2028. The move comes a week after Austin waived Designated Player Emiliano Rigoni and bought out the remainder of the Argentine’s guaranteed contract of more than $2 million this season. Rigoni scored six goals in 51 matches with Austin.

Bukari spent the past two seasons with Red Star Belgrade, scoring 25 goals and making 20 assists as the club won consecutive Serbian league championships and consecutive Serbian Cups. He also has three goals in 17 appearances with the Ghana national team, including at the 2022 World Cup.

“Osman is a fast and technical winger with a proven ability to get goals and assists competing at some of the highest levels of club football,” Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said. “We’re confident he will make an immediate impact for us.”

AUSTIN, Texas – This Week in Texas Politics was dominated by the recent May runoff elections and the fallout, but there were several other big stories this week.

FOX 7 Austin’s chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of political analysts break down the big headlines.

RUDY KOSKI: Let’s get the headlines from our panel, and we’ll start first with Patrick Svitek with The Washington Post. Patrick, what’s your headline for the week? 

PATRICK SVITEK: The Speaker survives, but more incumbents lose. 

RUDY KOSKI: Political analyst Mark Wiggins, your headline for the week. 

MARK WIGGINS: The return of the speaker. 

RUDY KOSKI: And Brian Smith from St Edward’s University. Brian, what’s your headline for the week? 

BRIAN SMITH: Ken Paxton’s revenge train derailed: Dade Phelan holds on to his seat. 

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RUDY KOSKI: The school choice/impeachment revenge tour really scored some victories on Tuesday night, but Speaker Phelan survived. The GOP civil war did not end. And Patrick, there are two House members right now saying they’re going to take on Dade Phelan. 

PATRICK SVITEK: You know, he is going to have to explain to members all these incumbent losses that he presided over. The knock on him is that he had to focus on his race and he wasn’t able to spread as much money and resources around to help all these other incumbents who were those caught in pretty heated primaries. 

MARK WIGGINS: You know, the folks are putting their name in the ring here. I think they see an opening. But if the speaker is able to retain his core of support, they’re going to be a real trouble. 

BRIAN SMITH: He only had three challengers in 2023, so this is nothing new for him. The big difference, of course, is the caucus has moved, Right. So, the coalition that elected him last time isn’t there. 

RUDY KOSKI: Governor Greg Abbott did do an actual real victory lap on Friday down in Eagle Pass. He welcomed the first 300 Texas National Guard soldiers to his newly built border base camp, Mark, that, of course, is a clear political win. 

MARK WIGGINS: Yeah, I’ve said it before, border security continues to poll as a top issue for Republicans and Democrats in the state of Texas. It’s one where Republicans feel like they can show a favorable contrast with the Biden administration, and the governor is going to want to make sure he keeps the spotlight on that. 

RUDY KOSKI: One of the things that was settled Tuesday night also involves Brant Hagenbuch. He was endorsed by Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick. He won the Senate District 30 seat despite claims that he didn’t meet residency rules. Newly minted Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George on Thursday said he will not consider the complaint that was filed, indicating voters made the call in that race. So, Brian, certainly the first big test for the new GOP chairman. 

BRIAN SMITH: Yeah, this was the first big test. And he sidestepped it nicely by saying, let the voters make the call. He’s got bigger problems with the caucus, that’s fractured in many ways. And if he gets into the weeds right now, they’ll never get out of them. 

RUDY KOSKI: Now, there were some notable developments regarding two congressional seats. Congressman Tony Gonzalez surviving a runoff with a Republican YouTube personality. And we learned that Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar will face a House ethics investigation regarding the bribery indictment against him. Patrick, on Capitol Hill what’s the feeling up there? Which one is the hot seat? 

PATRICK SVITEK: Honestly, I think the focus has been more in the political world on Tony Gonzales’ prospects. I mean, you know, this was a race that I think really was emblematic of some of the divides we’ve seen among House Republicans on Capitol Hill. Some of Gonzales’ own Republican colleagues endorsed or campaigned for his challenger, Brandon Herrera, and it ended up being a legitimate political scare and close call for Gonzalez, who had a lot going for him. He had a huge financial advantage. And when the dust settled on primary runoff election night, I think he only won by a point or two. You know, I think it has to be a humbling experience for Gonzales, who is someone I should note likes to publicly boast about how much of a political animal he is and how he likes to confront his political opponents.

RUDY KOSKI: Believe it or not, some legislating actually did happen this week. The Senate State Affairs Committee discussed concerns about voter ballot security and if Delta 8 and Delta 9 hemp products need more state regulations, both have potential for pushback. Mark, which one is the bigger political landmine? 

MARK WIGGINS: You know, I have to say, the one that has the most profound impact on all of us is going to be the election security issue. And I’d be interested to see if the legislature continues looking at some sort of tort reform to curtail some of these frivolous election laws. 

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RUDY KOSKI: No surprises in the Texas reaction to the conviction of President Trump. Outrage and joy split right down party lines. I think the January chaos in the House went to the back burner Thursday. And the maybe we just saw the first wave of a November tsunami starting, maybe. What do you think about that? 

BRIAN SMITH: Well, this definitely changes the entire complexion of the race. 

MARK WIGGINS: There’s been extensive polling done on the question of whether a conviction makes voters less likely to support him. And it does. 

RUDY KOSKI: He certainly is a bear that’s been poked. 

PATRICK SVITEK: Clearly, there is a short-term political gain for him to be had here, at least in terms of energizing his base supporters. 

RUDY KOSKI: Let’s end it there and wrap up the week with one word and we’ll start with Brian. Brian, what’s your word for the week? 

BRIAN SMITH: Guilty. 

PATRICK SVITEK: Verdict. 

MARK WIGGINS: I’m going to go with Survivor, back in the runoffs. 

RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics.

A longer discussion about the week can be found on the FOX 7 Austin YouTube channel.