We can all roll our eyes at what Austin was versus what Austin is, but Jon Muq is a great example of how that music-centric city can still nurture incredible talent. Muq hails from Kampala, Uganda, where he first took up guitar and piano. He relocated to Austin and found a nurturing environment for his sound, which is rootsy but also unafraid of big pop hooks. He’s a major talent on the rise worth catching now.

— Andrew Dansby