Welcome 2 Houston – Slim Thug feat. Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, UGK, Lil Keke, Z-Ro, Trae, Rob G, Lil O, Big Pokey, Mike D and Yung Redd

Welcome 2 Houston is a who's who of the Houston rap scene – a major player in hip-hop for over a decade. Houston's characteristic "chopped and screwed" style slows down the beat to emphasise the lyrics and the bass. Slim Thug, Mike Jones, and Chamillionaire have all seen major international success.

Window Seat – Erykah Badu

Queen of neo-soul Erykah Badu was born and raised in Dallas, where she was living when she signed with Universal in the mid-1990s. Her 2010 gem Window Seat illustrates that she's still operating at a creative peak, even as she collaborates with a new generation (Flying Lotus, Janelle Monáe).

Clementine – Sarah Jaffe

Sarah Jaffe hails from the hip north Texas town of Denton, home to a vibrant creative community. Jaffe is one of a coterie of young female singer-songwriters (also including Sarah Jarosz, Sahara Smith and others) leaving their mark on Texas, and the popular Clementine is one of the best songs from the group.

Anna Marie – Whiskey Myers

The latest generation of Texas country artists are imbuing southern classic rock (Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd) with their own Texan tendencies. Whiskey Myers, a quintet from Tyler, Texas, are one of the best rising examples of the new style, as exemplified by the down-home stomp of Anna Marie.

Kmag Yoyo – Hayes Carll

No one's quite sure how to categorise Hayes Carll. He wins Americana awards while getting accolades from rock magazines. A true Texan, to the core, Carll offers witty sociopolitical critiques that would rustle more feathers if the music weren't so good.

Bright Lights – Gary Clark Jr

Gary Clark Jr carries on Texas's lineage of great blues guitarists (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins), and has hit the US top 10 in the process. While his talents extend beyond the blues, the electricity of Bright Lights epitomises why Austin audiences are excited by this hometown hero.

Back and Forth – Bright Light Social Hour

Austin is well-known as the live music capital of the world, and is overflowing with talented artists performing constantly. The Bright Light Social Hour is a group of native Austinites who cut their teeth in the local scene and are now one of the top live draws in the area.

Volver, Volver – Piñata Protest

Piñata Protest are the hottest new band from San Antonio. Their combination of accordion and distorted electric guitars seamlessly melds the regional conjunto style with a punk-rock ethos. Much more than a gimmick, Piñata Protest embody the musical melting pot that is Texas.

One Armed Scissor – At the Drive-In

At the Drive-In is easily the most influential musical group to emerge from El Paso. They broke up in the early 2000s, but their chaotic and intense post-hardcore continues to spawn bands across Texas, through their members' subsequent projects, such as Sparta and The Mars Volta.

First Breath After Coma – Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky are the soundtrack to Texas – a status secured after their influential work on the film Friday Night Lights. Their instrumental post-rock evokes the endless countryside that makes up most of Texas, illustrating the inherent warmth and beauty in a landscape that too many dismiss.

Austin music website Ovrld.com provides a view of the city's music scene, with reviews, interviews and podcasts

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