Catching Up with Gary Clark Jr. & Nicole Trunfio: Latest Career Highlights & Family Life in Austin
For TRIBEZA's Arts + Entertainment Issue, we sat down with the beautiful couple at the Blanton Museum of Art to talk about the art of blending music, fashion and family
TRIBEZA contributor Taylor Ellison, an Emmy award-winning television host, producer, and meditation guide from Austin, recently caught up with legendary musician Gary Clark Jr. and entrepreneurial supermodel Nicole Trunfio. Sharing her love for Austin and the Longhorns on Instagram, Ellison has spent over a decade interviewing notable figures in the city. She noted that this conversation with Clark Jr. and Trunfio was one of her favorite interviews yet.
“Maybe it was because I’m a fellow Austin High alum, and we really are ‘loyal forever’ to our people,” shares Ellison. “Or maybe it was because although it was an uncharacteristically cold day, that room was oozing with warmth, a deep reverence for this town, shared gratitude for the simple things and the opportunity to spend time this way. Whatever it was, it was a joy to be a part of.”
Gary was recently honored with a Texas Medal of Arts Award and is currently on tour with his latest album “JPEG RAW.” Nicole’s brand, Bumpsuit, is thriving with its most recent pop-up store at Domain NORTHSIDE, and her successful line of fine jewelry can be found at Austin’s beloved store, ByGeorge. The iconic couple have been married since 2016 and currently reside in Austin with their three children.
As Ellison walked and talked, moving about the Blanton and chatting between takes during their photo shoot, Clark Jr. and Trunfio shared details of date nights then and now, how they support each other’s creative endeavors, tour life with the family and why they love to call this city home.
Catching up with Gary Clark Jr. and Nicole Trunfio
As a talented crew of creatives and stylists buzz about the Blanton Museum of Art, prepping for a full day of photo shoot magic, I sit down next to Nicole while she settles in for hair and makeup. Her natural beauty radiates before an ounce of makeup is applied, and her kind and generous spirit are readily apparent as she invites me to sit with her while getting prepped for the shoot. She has an air of authenticity that is unparalleled, possibly only rivaled by her husband Gary Clark Jr. When Gary walks in, he’s laid-back and moves about quietly, but his unmistakable glow commands attention. They both have a magnetic quality that seems to expand when they’re in the same room. Nicole and Gary’s appreciation for each other is palpable. It’s the kind of genuine love that inspires more love just by being in its midst. Already generous with their time, they are both equally giving with their full presence. Nothing felt rushed, and no one seemed in a hurry to be anywhere but here.
Love for Austin, Always
Taylor Ellison: Nicole, do you remember the first time Gary brought you to Austin? Where did y’all go?
Nicole Trunfio: I do. Oh my gosh, that’s so funny. We stayed at the Driskill for one night, and then I said, ‘I’m not feeling this.’ We couldn’t sleep. Gary was like, ‘I think it’s haunted,’ and so we moved. In the middle of the night, we went to Magnolia Cafe because it’s open 24 hours, and I had migas for the first time ever. It was so awesome.
What else do you remember about those first visits to Austin?
NT: I remember flying over and seeing all the football fields from the sky, and I thought, ‘I want to have 7 quarterbacks.’ I told Gary I wanted to have lots of kids. It was really monumental. I think we knew early on — I definitely knew. When I first met him, I would describe him as being similar to a Buddhist monk because he’s so calm and grounded and beautiful and spiritual. He just made me feel so safe and grounded.
You travel all over the world and could live anywhere. What makes you want to have your home base here in Austin?
Gary Clark Jr.: My main thing is family. We started talking about having our own family. I couldn’t really see it in New York, and I couldn’t really see it in California, knowing that my mom and my sisters are here. I just know this place. I think I wanted my kids to be able to go to Zilker Park and Barton Springs. I had a pretty special childhood growing up in Austin. I didn’t know how to be a New York or an LA parent.
How do you describe the allure and magic of Austin in your own words?
GC: The magic of Austin is, to me, a perfect mix of small town mentality — anything is plenty and good is good enough, but there’s also this — if you want to tap into it, there’s this wild opportunity to branch out, to be an artist, to be a musician. I think of shows like Austin City Limits. I just played the 50th anniversary with my friend Eve, and it was nice, you know. I’ll say this, I can go anywhere in Austin by myself, and I never feel alone. There’s always someone that I know. It’s a big community still full of love.
Family First
Y’all were touring together as a family last summer. Were there stand-out moments? I’m sure with three kids that are 10 and younger, it’s an adventure every day.
NT: It was so amazing. It was just what our family needed. We’d been waiting for the kids to be old enough to be self-aware and follow directions. They finally got to that age, and it was the best. We travelled together for around five months total. The kids just did so well.
Do they enjoy watching Gary on stage?
NT: Yeah, they love it. We had our little ritual. We would all go out and watch the show, and they had their cousins on tour with them, too, because Gary’s sisters were there, so it was really great.
Gary, your sisters sang backup on the latest album. What’s it like to bring your siblings out on the road?
GC: It was fun at first, and now, I think it’s a huge mistake (laughing). They make fun of me. I have no cool points left. They told all the embarrassing stories — there’s no mystique anymore. Are the kids showing any interest in music right now?
GC: They’re doing piano lessons. My oldest daughter is really musical, and she sings all the time. They’re all really musical, fun and funny. I put the music on in the living room, and it becomes a dance party. It’s good.
NT: We kind of have a little family jam going on at the moment.
GC: I put on the ambience, the club lights, and I get them a little Sprite — you know what I mean. (The whole room is laughing.)
Gary, what’s something you love about Nicole as a mom?
GC: Last night, for example, I was trying to do math with my child, and I was traumatized (laughing). I was really impressed that she was just going through math problems with our kid, and I was like, ‘Thank God you’re here because I’m an idiot.’
NT: I love math.
Nicole, what do you love about Gary as a dad?
NT: He’s got so much wisdom for the kids. His lessons are really great. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, it’s really impactful. He’s also hilarious. He’s an underground comedian. He’s got great comedic timing. He’s the coolest person I’ve ever met in my life.
Supporting each other on stage and off
The Austin Bumpsuit grand opening party took place in December at Domain NORTHSIDE and included a live concert from Gary. How did that idea come about?
NT: I was just joking to Gary, and I said, ‘Do you want to perform for the store opening?’ And he said ‘Yeah, hell yeah.’ I asked, ‘Would you rather do a block party or an intimate thing in the store?’ He said, ‘Let’s go all out. Block party.’ He’s so in demand, and he’s so busy that I would never ask him to do anything like that, but he said ‘I would 100% do a show for Bumpsuit. Let’s do it.’ I was teary-eyed. I cried for a month. I was like, ‘Is this a dream? Are you sure?’
GC: She asked me and I said, ‘Let’s take it to the street.’ And it kind of became a bigger thing than we both anticipated.
How do you prioritize supporting each other’s careers and creative endeavors?
GC: I think that’s what kind of drew us to each other — how wildly creative we are.
NT: I think it might be the opposite of how other people might approach it. It’s like complete autonomy. You have your thing. I have my thing. We don’t really get involved. We just respect the process. I think it’s really important, especially as creatives. Gary and I work in such different ways. We complement each other.
Nicole, how has it felt to share Bumpsuit with the Austin community?
NT: The journey so far has been so incredible. I think a big mission of mine even before I met Gary was to empower women, and that mission manifested as Bumpsuit. Everything we do with the brand is based around community, empowering women and amplifying the voices of mothers. We have women’s circles , sound baths, and mommy-and-me classes. It’s been so organic, so natural, and I’m so passionate about it. I wake up at 5:30 a.m., and I’m excited about what’s on my agenda.
Is that when Gary gets up too?
NT: No, that’s when he goes to bed (laughing).
Gary, you played your first gig in Austin when you were around age 15. What do you think a 15-year-old would think about you now? Did you fathom any of this back then or does it feel surreal as it unfolds?
GC: No, I never would have thought at 15 that I would be doing anything like this. Playing at my wife’s store… no, 15-year-old me thought, “I’m never getting married. I’m never having kids.” (laughing) A rebel with a cause forever, but it is pretty cool to think about it. It’s pretty special. It’s almost too cute.
Favorite Go-To Spots in Austin
We asked Nicole to share a few of her family’s favorite places to frequent in Austin. While her list may be long, here are a few that quickly came to mind:
Commodore Perry Estate – I always have lunch on the terrace, and the kids run in the grass and the pool. It literally feels like you’re in the south of France.
Hotel Saint Cecilia – It has been one of my favorite places to go since before we had Zion. We go there all the time. Everybody there is like family.
Uchi – This is our go-to with the kids any night of the week or every night of the week. My kids do the Hot Rock — they cook it by themselves, and they get one each.
Sammie’s Italian – I love Sammie’s a lot.
The Peacock at Austin Proper – I also love the Peacock for Mediterranean food.
Austin Deep – This is a next-level massage spot. We’ll do this first, and then go out.
The Comedy Mothership – We love it there. That’s our date night spot.
Many thanks to the Blanton Museum of Art for hosting the photo shoot. Additional thanks to:
- Photography: Kristen Kilpatrick
- Creative Direction: Heidi Okla
- Art Direction: Rachel Tieleman
- Stylist: Huide Devore
- Assistant Stylist: Meg Wenk
- Hair: Melanie Jacobs
- Makeup: Anastasia Miller