Jon Muq’s story is one right out of a film. He came from holding his first guitar at the age of 19 to busking in his hometown of Mutungo Hill, outside of Kampala, Uganda. He made his way to Austin to pursue a life outside of what he was used to, a life with more opportunities.
With the May release of his debut album, Flying Away, Muq has garnered a great deal of attention for his ultra-positive messaging and musical maturity.
Austin Chronicle: Who is Jon Muq?
Jon Muq: I was born in Uganda, moved to the U.S. six years and seven months ago, and I’ve just been making music depending on how I understand music. I grew up not exposed to Western music, so I just write the song or make a melody, depending on just my brain. I don’t know if my music has a genre, but I just give a song what it deserves.
I released an album [in May], which was produced by Dan Auerbach, from the Black Keys. The album is called Flying Away. They’re all happy songs. The reason I chose happy songs is because I grew up in Africa where people didn’t have a lot, but they were happy, and then I got an opportunity to come to the West where people have everything, but people, I think, are mostly sad. I decided to make a happy album to change someone’s day. They are not feeling OK? They just listen to a song and they feel fine.
AC: “Flying away” could be seen as contradictory to your message of joy. Where did the title come from?
JM: The title comes from when I left Uganda, it was my first time on an airplane. I just wanted people to feel that you’re still good in loving everything around you, loving people around you. When I came [to the U.S.], I felt like there was a separation among people, and it’s hard for people to know that, but when you come from a different part of the world, you can see that there’s a big, big, big separation, how people socialize and all that. Everyone has their own circle, groups that create this love in a way that people can save themselves easily.
AC: What kind of emotions go through you performing at ACL for the first time?
JM: It’s really, really exciting, you know, compared to how I moved here. My initial plan was not to do this. Just like any migrants, my plan was to find a cute girl, start my family, and start searching for jobs. [chuckles] If you are performing in the same city, that’s really amazing and exciting. So I work hard every day to make sure that when that time happens, it’s a great time and memorable time.
AC: Though newer to Austin, you are fully integrated into the music community here. Do you feel there’s a lot of support for local musicians? If not, from your experience, what things do you think could help make it better?
JM: You know, this little thing is kind of in many categories. In the category for people who are like, “Hey, I just appreciate being in a band,” and do gigs every day, to top up the bills. And there are people who are like, “I’m coming back to just sell my music and get awareness for myself.” What I learned about a music community is you have to reach out yourself, because everyone in the city is chasing either after their career or running. If you don’t really find people to write with and have a conversation with, [you’re] not connected with a music scene. There are many people like that. They just do their music. They don’t even know other musicians.
I think one thing I’ll change is people going out more to seek a creative way, rather than [just] chasing something. Everyone is like, “No, I can’t make it to the show because I’m heading here.” Always chasing something. I think if these communities had more places to sit and write and journal, it would be really big. I’m just blessed to be around the city and the musicians, many friends, and we write. A random friend was like, “Hey, do you want to write?” I was in Paris, and she was in Paris at the same time. So I was like, “Well, I have a buddy to roam Paris with.” We played music, wrote songs, but it’s because of the music scene. It connected us.
AC: What do you want the ACL audience to take away from your performance?
JM: Honestly, I’d love people to just have a good time. People don’t know who I am at all. I just want them to be like, “Oh, I’m discovering someone new.”
Saturday 12 (Weekend 2 only), 1:25pm, BMI Stage
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This article appears in October 4 • 2024.