For Black History Month we’re turning the spotlight on several prominent black musicians both past and present whose contributions helped put Austin music on the map. KUT reporter DaLyah Jones produced these profiles for KUTX with help from Clay Shorkey of The Texas Music Museum.
Mélat
Austin-born and raised Mélat Kassa continues to become more familiar as her airy, seductive croons and Ethiopian influenced sound fill bars like Antone’s, Cheer Up Charlies and Stubb’s. The first generation Ethiopian-American’s parents immigrated to the United States in the 80s. Mélat’s sound can be credited to being immersed in R&B and Ethiopian music while growing up. Since, Mélat has been was named Austin360’s 2018 Breakout Artist of the Year, performed at KUTX, SXSW, across the state and more. Mélat continues to enchant with her alluringly, steamy contemporary R&B sound, while paying homage to another side of black identity, which is often painted as a monolith in Austin’s *R&B* music scene.
– DaLyah Jones, KUTX News
