Help a Working Musician & Father Represent Austin at SXSW Sydney

My name is Garrison, and I’m a single father and working musician, born and raised in Austin, TX. Music has always been more than a passion — it’s how I provide for my son, stay connected to my community, and carry forward the culture of this city I love.

This October, I’ve been invited to represent Austin Hip-Hop at SXSW Sydney in Australia, alongside The College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK) — a collective of independent artists dedicated to making real, community-rooted music. It's an honor, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a huge platform for Austin’s underground hip-hop scene to be seen and heard around the world.

But behind the scenes, life has been tough — and I need help to make this dream a reality.

The Struggle Is Real

Like many musicians in Austin, I work multiple jobs to stay afloat. I lost one of those jobs this summer, and since then I’ve been driving Lyft long hours to keep up with rent. I’ve had to rely heavily on my mother and my son’s mother to help care for him while I’m out driving — doing everything I can to stay above water and provide for us both.

A few months ago, our refrigerator broke just after I’d bought a full load of groceries. I asked the property manager for help replacing it and for reimbursement. It took a while, but the fridge was replaced — yet the reimbursement still hasn’t come. And now, I’ve been hit with an eviction warning and a late fee, adding even more stress and financial pressure.

Despite all this, I’ve kept moving forward. I’ve been performing in benefit concerts with CHHK and other invited artists to raise funds for our SXSW Sydney trip (our next show is September 5th with DAWA). But between rent, parenting, and trying to survive as an artist in Austin, I just can’t cover all the costs alone.

---

Why I’m Asking for Help

Your support will help me:

* Catch up on rent and avoid eviction

* Cover travel and lodging expenses for SXSW Sydney

* Support basic needs for me and my son while I prepare and perform

---

Why It Matters

This trip is about more than just me. It’s a chance to represent Austin’s authentic hip-hop on an international stage — to show that real, local, independent artists have something powerful to say. It’s a chance to honor my son by showing him that even when life gets hard, we keep pushing. And it’s a chance to bring our city’s culture and creativity to the world.

If you’re able to donate, every bit helps. If you can’t, sharing this with your network would mean the world.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for believing in me.

– Garrison Moore (aka) Mista Mozes

Austin, TX