We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeff Hortillosa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jeff thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Long story short, my band Whiskey Shivers didn’t make it past Covid. At the same moment that our business plans came to a grinding halt, the weight of responsibility in all of our personal lives all grew larger at the same time. It was a difficult decision, but we all decided to move on with our lives.

Fortunately for me, in spring 2020, I also began working at a nonprofit called The Other Ones Foundation. TOOF (as we call it) has the mission of transitioning Austin’s homeless neighbors into an engaged community through shelter, opportunity, and support.

At the time it was a small operation of less than twenty people. My first job was for a program called the Mobile Hygiene Clinic – a shower trailer that delivered essential services to encampments and other areas where folks experiencing homelessness tended to concentrate. 18 months later, I became the book-keeper. In my first three years, the nonprofit has grown to a multi-million dollar organization with six times the amount of staff as when I joined. Up until now, since I have been a photographer on the side since 2017, I acted as the unofficial photographer and documentarian.

In January 2022 I started a production company called Loose Day Productions with my business partner Jason Hatch. Through these professional experiences I’ve learned more about creating videos, on top of my interests in photography and music.

All things combined, beginning in January 2023, I became the full time Digital Creative Specialist with the Other Ones Foundation, which essentially means I deal with creating videos, photos, podcasts, and other useful content for both social media and grant proposals.

It’s been an odd shift going from full-time musician, to 9-5 non profiteer, and now finally back into a full-time creative both in the nonprofit and private markets. This is an incredibly fulfilling point in my life, which not only allows me the stability to further pursue my solo music endeavors, but also contribute to society in a meaningful way.

TOOF has done so much good for our community, and I hope the world. I normally don’t like to brag, but we’ve gotten a ton of folks off the street and into stable housing. We’ve reconnected folks with their estranged families and gotten them bus tickets back home. We’ve helped people get jobs. We’ve helped folks achieve the healing that they once thought impossible, and get them back on track to a fulfilling life as a properly-utilized asset to society.

And I have to shout out HOME FREE – based on a true story, half comedy/half coming of age tale, between a young college student and his wise neighbor who happened to be homeless – a film by Onion Creek Productions (Austin). We’ve been working closely with Onion Creek to help ensure the story is told from a humanist and non-exploitative perspective. As well proceeds from the film will go directly into Austin service providers. It’s a killer soundtrack by the legendary Adrian Quesada too!

Premiering at Chinese Theater in the Dances with Films Fest on July 2nd!

Jeff, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always been a performer and kind of a nerd. I taught myself guitar and drums in middle-school, and by high school I was doing awesome stuff like, playing in bands, and acting in school plays. This continued on as I nerd-ed my way through college: acting in theater, and playing music the whole time. I thought, perhaps that I would find the most joy in being a teacher. Seemingly it was a confluence of my talents for school and performing. I obtained a Masters degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education in Spain, then decided to move to Austin and play music instead.

I quickly joined a bluegrass band called Whiskey Shivers, playing guitar and writing songs. It was a hell of a time with some great friends. Our first year we played some 200+ shows just in Austin and the surrounding Area. We got a little attention on the internet, and began touring the US. Some 10 years later, we racked up 200+ shows, and over 250,000 miles of travel (you read that correctly) across the US, and Europe. We got to be in a movie called Pitch Perfect 3, NBC’s Revolution, Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, as well as Rolling Stone magazine, BBC World Beat, a ton of music festivals, and a bunch of other stuff that I would have to think harder about to remember.

Shivers broke up, and I don’t really play bluegrass that much any longer. I still write and perform as the folk singer songwriter Horti, and occasionally do Robin Alice stuff.

Musically, my main focus now is on my power trio SIPA. People say we’re a vibe. We say we’re psychedelic garage jazz.

And as I said, I’ve gotten into the video production world, and have an Austin-based production company called Loose Day Productions.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You know, playing in Whiskey Shivers was pretty tough. There were several years in a row when we were on the road 6-8 months out of the year. Our personal lives were constantly being disrupted, put on hold, or neglected. Our mental health and own battles with addiction were tested daily. As high as the highs were, so too were the lows.

Music became business. And it got to be depressing. It was a privilege that I cherish to this day, since we got to do things maybe 95% of Austin bands don’t get to experience. However, it was also a vicious downward spiral where, for example, thousands of people could be cheering you on, applauding, and shouting and your name, and you’re left wondering, “But why am I so unhappy?”

One thing I’ve had to learn-unlearn-relearn-unlearn-relearn-etc, is to pursue things for the intrinsic joy. To write songs from the heart, without ego or expectation, and let the music take control. To be able to pursue creating with a childlike curiosity can be a difficult thing to do.

It’s easy to become obsessed with numbers and “making-it” or whatever, especially in this town. And that sucks.

I’m working on learning everyday how to listen to myself, create things that bring me joy first and foremost.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The longest drive I’ve ever done is a straight shot from Seattle to Austin. It takes about 35 hours nonstop.

I’ve done it five times.

It’s terrible for the body, no doubt, but hittin that second sunrise in the deserts of New Mexico is an experience you can’t buy.  

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jeffhortillosa.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jeffhortillosa
• Facebook: facebook.com/jeffhortillosamusic
• Youtube: youtube.com/jeffhortihortillosa

Image Credits
Jason Hatch John Valley, and Donald “Hippy” Montgomery