Darden Smith and Gina Chavez Take the Stage for ‘Who Said You Could Do That?’
The Texas musicians will share songs and stories as part of Smith’s live interview series
This December, Darden Smith returns to Stateside at the Paramount with his live interview series, “Who Said You Could Do That?” Beginning in 2020, he’s connected with fellow artists on the fascinating and often winding journeys they’ve taken since launching their not-so-average careers.
Smith comes with an interesting backstory himself. Born in Brenham and moving often throughout Texas, the Americana-inspired singer-songwriter landed in Austin to attend UT before finding fame with the release of his first album “Native Soil” in 1986. Although a thoughtful lyricist with a knack for conveying empathetic perspectives, success in the music industry wasn’t always guaranteed. However, times of uncertainty allowed Smith to pick up new hobbies and jobs, diversifying his skillset and passions further.
Throughout his career of more than three decades, which includes music, artwork, poetry, photography and more, storytelling has been an integral part of Smith’s work — making him the perfect man to lead his fellow creatives in conversation and document their stories in an honest light.
Next up on the guest list is Gina Chavez. No stranger to the stage, Chavez is a familiar face in the local music scene and beyond. A Latin artist born in Austin to parents of Mexican and Swiss-German descent, her sound is as diverse as her background, incorporating bilingual lyrics with rock, pop, folk and cumbia beats. She’s also toured the world as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department and is known for her philanthropic efforts and community activism. Having accumulated a mass of glowing accolades, the transcendent and traveled musician will give insight on impactful moments that have landed her 12 Austin Music Awards, a Latin Grammy nomination, chart-topping hits and a slew of high-profile performances from NPR’s Tiny Desk to The Kate on PBS.
On December 15, head to the intimate downtown theater, Stateside at the Paramount, and listen in as these two genre-defying legends share songs, anecdotes on life and lesser-known details about the distinct experiences they’ve gained while pursuing their “strange” jobs.
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