Harmany: The Biggest Little Show in Austin
By Emily Nunez
December 19, 2024
Photo by Maddie Lindell
Unleash your demons at next-year’s Harmany
Another electric Austin summer came to an end this year with a unique alternative festival as its grand finale: Harmany, presented by Hxnry, Kroinked, and Sonus.
Hxnry is a local musician, owner and operator of Soundhaüs Studios, and the creator of Harmany — what has evolved into a full-scale community event since its beginning in 2022. It includes an insane lineup of trap, metal, screamo, rock, and rap artists, handcrafted clothing and art vendors, tattooing, acrobatics, jaw-dropping magic and stunt shows, exclusive raffles, and a positive environment of people to party with. The festival, originally inspired by a circus theme, is nothing but genuine energy.
Freakish masks decorate the crowd. Clown makeup smudged around people’s eyes. Anarchy symbols drawn on foreheads and hanging from chains. A middle-aged rockstar couple browsing the art booths. Cosplayers and punk fashion left and right. Artists hopping off the stage and performing face-to-face with those singing along. Moshers battling and picking each other up. I even joined the pit for the first time because, for once, it didn’t seem so scary. It was alive.
Kroinked and Sonus have been Hxnry’s right-hand men in the operation, helping out with everything from bookings and set-up to networking and promotion. Beyond preparations and logistics, Kroinked is a fashion designer who works Harmany as a vendor selling his original clothing and merchandise. Sonus is a hardcore electronic artist, drummer for CALL IT WHATCHU WANT, and a Georgetown-based studio owner who has been performing in Harmany’s sets since 2023. Together, the three of them curated the annual fest and plan to continue growing its scale.
HOW DID HARMANY BEGIN? HOW IS IT EVOLVING?
HXNRY: My friend group started throwing shows two years ago. I was always watching them put it together behind closed doors, and I wanted to try it my own way. When I originally sat down, I told myself “I should be throwing my first show by the end of this year.” Four months later, I threw Harmany and it just snowballed. It was unlike anything. It was really fun. I had asked Kroinked and Sonus to be a part of it from there.
When we first put it together, it was really just a party. I was younger, like 18. I didn't know anything about anything, so I was just trying to make a party come together. I wanted to see if I could actually do it.
We wanted to make it feel like a show, and not have all the nuisances of your stereotypical party. Most rap parties end up being dangerous or getting shut down, and we just wanted to present an amazing night where everybody can come together. When I threw the first Harmany, it was collectives of people that we've never seen before being together, and all of them were getting along. It was really simple, and it was really cool.
It was this “explosive release of energy” and sense of connection that inspired Hxnry to name the show Harmany, as a play on the word “harmony” as understood both musically and socially.
It wasn't until the night after the first one that we looked at each other and were like, “Dude, this is the coolest thing ever.”
I've got plans. I want this to be my life. I want this to be a thing that Austin sponsors, with multiple weekend-long festivals. The underground ACL. Hopefully it'll be talked about by artists who are just starting, like, “I want to perform there one day.”
I'm from California and I [spent] a lot of time in Nevada. Reno's slogan is “The Biggest Little City in Nevada,” so Harmany is “The Biggest Little Show in Austin.”
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WHAT MAKES HARMANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LOCAL FESTIVALS?
HXNRY: Community is a big one. We've had people who built friendships that started at Harmany, and now they come to other events together, and you see them posting each other like, “I'll see you like the next Harmany.”
[At] the Harmany I threw in January, there was this kid from Tennessee who was like, “I've been listening to you since you literally started,” and naming me songs that nobody should know. It was really crazy. There's people that have gotten Hxnry and Harmany tattoos, and we all have our Harmany tags.
It’s what it means to the people involved. The recurring artists, they want to see it come together, so they'll help. They'll do anything. A majority of the lineup is there early to help put it all together. It's all DIY, so we all set it all up.
KROINKED: Harmany is just a place where everybody can come together as an actual community. No beef, no drama, nothing like that. Everybody can put their differences aside and just mosh — unleash your demons — just for one night.
HXNRY: It's as many surprises as we can jam-pack into a night.
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HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT HARMANY BEEN?
REZERECT: I just like the energy of the crowd. I like how most everyone stays until the end, and everyone's not just standing around. When I come here and I actually see people moving to my music, I enjoy it. It makes me feel like I'm actually like connecting with the audience. It’s amazing, very thrilling.
SKYLER: Every time I've done Harmany, I always — don't take this the wrong way — but I always make a lot of money at them. That just shows how good the pool is and how supportive the community is with vendors and local artists. Every time I do a Harmany, it's just super f*cking fun. I'm able to do my business, but I'm still able to have fun with all my friends.
I've literally acquired a fan base through Harmany; that's amazing. Like, I have regulars that literally wait for Harmanies to see my new design and they'll save money to come and buy it.
It’s a very fun, positive experience for everybody. It gives a lot of artists a local platform. People come from out of state, so they get to build a platform in another state. That's huge. Yeah, Harmany [stands] out way more from all the other local shows that I've attended or visited.
Another electric Austin summer came to an end this year with a unique alternative festival as its grand finale: Harmany, presented by Hxnry, Kroinked, and Sonus.
Hxnry is a local musician, owner and operator of Soundhaüs Studios, and the creator of Harmany — what has evolved into a full-scale community event since its beginning in 2022. It includes an insane lineup of trap, metal, screamo, rock, and rap artists, handcrafted clothing and art vendors, tattooing, acrobatics, jaw-dropping magic and stunt shows, exclusive raffles, and a positive environment of people to party with. The festival, originally inspired by a circus theme, is nothing but genuine energy.
Freakish masks decorate the crowd. Clown makeup smudged around people’s eyes. Anarchy symbols drawn on foreheads and hanging from chains. A middle-aged rockstar couple browsing the art booths. Cosplayers and punk fashion left and right. Artists hopping off the stage and performing face-to-face with those singing along. Moshers battling and picking each other up. I even joined the pit for the first time because, for once, it didn’t seem so scary. It was alive.
Kroinked and Sonus have been Hxnry’s right-hand men in the operation, helping out with everything from bookings and set-up to networking and promotion. Beyond preparations and logistics, Kroinked is a fashion designer who works Harmany as a vendor selling his original clothing and merchandise. Sonus is a hardcore electronic artist, drummer for CALL IT WHATCHU WANT, and a Georgetown-based studio owner who has been performing in Harmany’s sets since 2023. Together, the three of them curated the annual fest and plan to continue growing its scale.
HOW DID HARMANY BEGIN? HOW IS IT EVOLVING?
HXNRY: My friend group started throwing shows two years ago. I was always watching them put it together behind closed doors, and I wanted to try it my own way. When I originally sat down, I told myself “I should be throwing my first show by the end of this year.” Four months later, I threw Harmany and it just snowballed. It was unlike anything. It was really fun. I had asked Kroinked and Sonus to be a part of it from there.
When we first put it together, it was really just a party. I was younger, like 18. I didn't know anything about anything, so I was just trying to make a party come together. I wanted to see if I could actually do it.
18-year-old Hxnry couldn’t have imagined what his experiment would become: a full-fledged event upgraded with private security, grade-A sound systems, professional amenities, contracting, sideshow acts, organized runtimes, and more.
We wanted to make it feel like a show, and not have all the nuisances of your stereotypical party. Most rap parties end up being dangerous or getting shut down, and we just wanted to present an amazing night where everybody can come together. When I threw the first Harmany, it was collectives of people that we've never seen before being together, and all of them were getting along. It was really simple, and it was really cool.
It was this “explosive release of energy” and sense of connection that inspired Hxnry to name the show Harmany, as a play on the word “harmony” as understood both musically and socially.
It wasn't until the night after the first one that we looked at each other and were like, “Dude, this is the coolest thing ever.”
Even with the amazing progress Harmany has made, the vision is far from complete. Austin’s punk scene is in need of something new, something big, and Harmany is on the come-up to fulfill the call.
I've got plans. I want this to be my life. I want this to be a thing that Austin sponsors, with multiple weekend-long festivals. The underground ACL. Hopefully it'll be talked about by artists who are just starting, like, “I want to perform there one day.”
No matter how big Harmany grows, it’ll always embody a piece of home: the close-knit community that becomes of Harmany-goers, the care its organizers put in, the support for local creatives. After all, home is in the very slogan.
I'm from California and I [spent] a lot of time in Nevada. Reno's slogan is “The Biggest Little City in Nevada,” so Harmany is “The Biggest Little Show in Austin.”
Photo by Maddie Lindell
WHAT MAKES HARMANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LOCAL FESTIVALS?
HXNRY: Community is a big one. We've had people who built friendships that started at Harmany, and now they come to other events together, and you see them posting each other like, “I'll see you like the next Harmany.”
[At] the Harmany I threw in January, there was this kid from Tennessee who was like, “I've been listening to you since you literally started,” and naming me songs that nobody should know. It was really crazy. There's people that have gotten Hxnry and Harmany tattoos, and we all have our Harmany tags.
It’s what it means to the people involved. The recurring artists, they want to see it come together, so they'll help. They'll do anything. A majority of the lineup is there early to help put it all together. It's all DIY, so we all set it all up.
When conducting the interviews, I met with Hxnry and most of Harmany’s lineup at an Airbnb where everyone would spend the night before the show. All out-of-pocket, everyone pitching in. What I saw was an insanely talented pool of people gathered together, enjoying company, and ready to contribute to the next day’s setup. When it comes to the music industry, it’s easy to see ego taking the stage. Harmany is different: down-to-earth culture and humble participants. Curating a legendary experience is the entire goal.
KROINKED: Harmany is just a place where everybody can come together as an actual community. No beef, no drama, nothing like that. Everybody can put their differences aside and just mosh — unleash your demons — just for one night.
Suffice to say, as long as you rock with a hardcore show, Harmany welcomes you.
Another special feature of Harmany is its shock factor. Each year they have a secret performer who’s disguised as just another member of the crowd until they appear on stage. This year we were thrilled to find REZXREKT under the mask.
At the end of the night, the audience is satiated of their suspense once again during the ultimate raffle: winner gets a one-of-a-kind vinyl record, complete with songs and signatures from the entire lineup, and a sick cover design by Kroinked. I’m still jealous I wasn’t picked, but at least I got lucky enough to find an exclusive Harmany CD inside my Kroinked Mystery Bag, among tees, stickers, lighters, and more.
HXNRY: It's as many surprises as we can jam-pack into a night.
Photo by Maddie Lindell
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT HARMANY BEEN?
REZERECT: I just like the energy of the crowd. I like how most everyone stays until the end, and everyone's not just standing around. When I come here and I actually see people moving to my music, I enjoy it. It makes me feel like I'm actually like connecting with the audience. It’s amazing, very thrilling.
Another loyal participant in Harmany is Skyler, creator and sole operator of their clothing brand Crucify Humanity. Each year they run a booth at Harmany, and have loved the experience.
SKYLER: Every time I've done Harmany, I always — don't take this the wrong way — but I always make a lot of money at them. That just shows how good the pool is and how supportive the community is with vendors and local artists. Every time I do a Harmany, it's just super f*cking fun. I'm able to do my business, but I'm still able to have fun with all my friends.
I've literally acquired a fan base through Harmany; that's amazing. Like, I have regulars that literally wait for Harmanies to see my new design and they'll save money to come and buy it.
It’s a very fun, positive experience for everybody. It gives a lot of artists a local platform. People come from out of state, so they get to build a platform in another state. That's huge. Yeah, Harmany [stands] out way more from all the other local shows that I've attended or visited.
Whether you’re a local creative, musician, or small business owner looking to expand your platform, a concert-goer always looking for the next live function, or someone new to the scene craving a party, come out and unleash your demons at next year’s Harmany. I know I’ll be there. ■
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