If you happened to pass by the Cactus Café late one night, you might have heard the familiar strum of a guitar drifting into the Austin night. On stage you’d find Kylie Hernandez, a senior advertising major at the Moody College of Communication and country-pop artist whose mix of heartfelt originals and classic covers filled the campus landmark with Texas charm.
Inspired by artists like Dolly Parton, Hernandez has been playing music for as long as she can remember. Her recent single, “To Texas,” celebrates her home state and includes several lines that connect back to her time here in Austin.
While she’s found inspiration in her hometown, the city known as the Live Music Capital of the World, UT Austin has given Hernandez the tools to grow as an artist. Through UTalent Records, the University’s student-run record label, she’s been able to perform, collaborate, and connect with Austin’s local music community. “UTalent Records is UT’s student-run record label on campus,” she explained. “I was one of their signed artists when I was a sophomore, and now I serve as one of their songwriting chairs.”
Hernandez also noted that her coursework in the Moody College of Communication has provided her with hands-on experience in a field that complements her career goals. “My favorite part of being an advertising major is probably that everything that I learn in my classes goes hand in hand with what I want to do after graduation,” Hernandez said. She added that her favorite classes focus on content marketing, as they’ve helped her build her personal brand as an artist.
Beyond the classes and on-campus gigs, Hernandez said it’s the community at UT that has kept her motivated. “I think the culture is my favorite part about being a Longhorn. Everybody is super supportive, and it means the world to have friends that are not only Longhorns but support my music and everything that I do,” she said. That support was easy to see at her recent Cactus Café performance, where many of her friends came out to cheer her on.
With one album and a handful of singles already released, Hernandez is well on her way to making her mark beyond campus. As she looks toward graduation, her goals are set as high as the lights in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. “One of my biggest goals after graduating from UT is to hopefully become a Longhorn Legend someday.”
From growing up in Austin to performing at iconic stages right here on the Forty Acres, graduating senior Kylie Hernandez has found her rhythm, and she’s just getting started.
