Rejects Spotify, Runs Music School, Proves Local Art Can Still Thrive Without Going Viral

Welcome back to the 78644 Podcast. This episode brings together stories from the stage at Old Settlers Music Festival to the creative spaces of Lockhart. The show opens with this year’s Youth Talent Showcase, where rising artists like Ira Thorne Clifton, Gigi Shafi, and Oliver perform original songs and talk about their creative journeys. We hear how music takes shape early, grows through family traditions, and builds communities. The Local Tracks segment features “Behind the Green Door” by Night Beats, gritty, soulful, and echoing with garage-rock tones that pulse through the heart of Lockhart. A special shoutout to “Joe Carter”, a well-known Lockhart local, for his cameo in the Night Beats Video! Also, big thanks to “Best Little Wine & Books”. Lockhart musician and Sunflower and Friends owner Chazz Emile Bessette shares the story about making music outside industry pressures and keeping things deeply personal. Finally, we close with painter Christopher St. Leger, who opens the door to his expressive world of visual storytelling where fury meets color and place meets memory.Guests in This Episode:Ira Thorne Clifton - Old Settlers Youth Talent winner; introspective young songwriter and performer.Gigi Shafi - High school musician from Houston blending folk, jazz, and Americana.Oliver - 11-year-old multi-instrumentalist raised on Old Settlers stages.Night Beats - Featured in the Local Tracks segment with their song “Behind the Green Door.”Chazz Emile Bessette - Musician, educator, and owner of Sunflower & Friends, sharing insights on releasing music independently.Christopher St. Leger - Painter who discusses the raw energy and personal intensity behind his visual art.What’s Inside:Performances from the finalists of the Old Settlers Youth Talent Showcase, including original songs by Ira, Gigi, and Oliver.“Behind the Green Door” by Night Beats featured in the Local Tracks segment, a soulful psych-rock cut with grit and groove.Chazz Emile Bessette on making records independently, avoiding digital noisePainter Christopher St. Leger on finding release through furious brushstrokes, faded hues of Lockhart, and painting as rebellion.Episode Highlights: [00:00] - Youth Talent Competition Begins at Old Settlers Music Festival[23:45] - Local Tracks: Night Beats perform “Behind the Green Door”[31:05] - Chazz Emile Bessette on Independent Music and Local Vibes[44:06] - Christopher St. Leger: Painting the Emotional LandscapeFollow Our Guests:Gigi Shafi: https://www.instagram.com/gbr.gigi/Old Settlers Music Festival: https://oldsettlersmusicfest.org/ / https://www.instagram.com/oldsettlers/ / https://www.facebook.com/oldsettlers/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/old-settlers-music-festival/ Night Beats: https://www.nightbeats.us/ / https://www.instagram.com/thenightbeats/ / https://www.facebook.com/thenightbeats.u.s/ Joe Carter: https://www.instagram.com/carterjoee/ Best Little Wine & Books: https://www.instagram.com/bestlittlewinetx/ Chazz Emile Bessette:https://www.facebook.com/ChazzEmileBessetteMusic/ / https://www.instagram.com/chazzemilebessette/ / https://www.chazzemilebessette.com/ Sunflower & Friends: https://www.sunflowerandfriends.com/ / https://www.instagram.com/sunflowerandfriends/ / https://www.facebook.com/sunflowerandfriends/ Christopher St. Leger: https://www.instagram.com/christopherstleger/ / https://christopherstleger.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherStLegerStudio/ / https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-st-leger-7a945a110/Follow our Host:Steven Collins: https://www.instagram.com/deadmanonline This Episode is Sponsored by:Wella Foods: https://www.instagram.com/wellafoods/Thunderbird Bar: https://www.instagram.com/thunderbirdbar/ PrintingSolutionstx: https://www.instagram.com/printingsolutionstx/ Gaslight Baker Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/gaslightbaker/ Courthouse Nights: https://www.instagram.com/courthousenights/ Crystal Glaze Photography: https://www.instagram.com/crystalglazephotography/ Gray Beard Films: https://www.instagram.com/graybeardfilms/ Texas Hatters - HishatLady: https://www.instagram.com/hishatlady/Follow 78644 Podcast:Website: https://www.78644podcast.com/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/78644-Podcast/100089192381124/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/78644podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@78644PodcastSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/78644/exclusive-content