mHart's Rising Platform for Asian
American Musicians in Austin
Host Jack Inslee
In this episode of Hear HERE, Jack Inslee sits down with mHart founder Waverly and artist francene rouelle to discuss the journey of mHart, Austin’s first Asian-American music label, and the release of Francene’s debut album, Finally a Fairy Tale. They dive into their unique musical backgrounds, the evolving Asian-American identity in Austin, and the challenges and rewards of building a music scene from the ground up. Read on for a condensed version of this inspiring conversation.
Jack Inslee: Welcome back to Hear HERE. I’m your host, Jack Inslee, coming to you from the LINE Austin. Today, I’m joined by Waverly, founder of mHart, Austin’s first Asian-American music label, and francene rouelle, one of the artists on the label who just released her new album Finally a Fairy Tale.
francene rouelle: I’m francene, an artist here in Austin. I just started taking music seriously this year after doing musical theater for most of my life. Pop music is new for me, but something I’ve always been interested in.
Waverly: I’m Waverly, also based in Austin. I’m a songwriter, producer, and the founder of mHart, which is home to francene and Vietnamese rapper Prom Queen. The name mHart comes from my Cambodian middle name “Mayta” and my American last name. The label is an Asian-American one, and our experiences—mine as an adoptee and Francene’s as a second-gen Filipino-American—differ but shape our music.
Jack: Let’s talk about Asian-American identity in Austin. It’s not a city known for Asian communities or music. What do people get wrong when they think of Asian-American identity?
francene: Many expect Asian-American artists to include their native languages in their music. I don’t do that, but just writing about my experiences is enough for me to call my music Asian-American.
Waverly: It’s an ongoing challenge. We’re often asked, “Is she a Filipino artist making pop music or Filipino pop music?” But, our authenticity defines it. If we’re true to ourselves, it’s Asian-American music.
Jack: Tell us about your musical journey.
francene: My parents were big into music. My dad was in a band and wrote songs for my siblings and me. They pushed me into musical theater, which is where I honed my skills. That discipline is something I carry into my music now, though I’m still learning to let go of perfectionism.
Waverly: I come from a classical music background and thought I’d play in a symphony forever. Then COVID hit, and I started learning production. Now, I hardly play bass anymore but produce music for the label.
Jack: How does the Austin music scene fit into your journey?
Waverly: I grew up here and started out by going to shows on Red River Street. Austin has a strong creative scene, though it lacks industry infrastructure compared to cities like L.A. or New York. That’s been a challenge, but also an opportunity to build something from scratch with less competition.
Jack: How did you two meet?
francene: We met at an Asian-American showcase in Austin. I was playing with my dad, and Waverly was there with Prom Queen. We connected afterward, and soon wrote my debut single, “Love Wasn’t Enough.”
Waverly: Yeah, we work long, intense sessions, sometimes 10-plus hours. It’s been a journey, but listening to Finally a Fairy Tale now, it’s exciting to see how far we’ve come.
Jack: What’s the Asian-American community in Austin like?
Waverly: The community is here, but it’s scattered. There’s no central hub like in L.A. or New York. We have a few Asian grocery centers, but the presence is much less obvious.
francene: Things have shifted, though. Thanks to K-pop, Asian culture has gained more visibility, even here in Austin. It’s been a strange but positive shift to see more people appreciate Asian music and art.
This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
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Photo by Tylah Blaize.
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