Students gathered in the G.B. Dealey Center for New Media on Monday to hear from Oscar nominees Adrian Quesada, a UT studio art alumnus, and Abraham Alexander in a conversation with radio-television-film lecturer John Peyton. Quesada and Alexander co-wrote “Like A Bird” for the film “Sing Sing,” which the 97th Academy Awards nominated for Best Original Song.
“Sing Sing” follows the true story of a man, “Divine G” (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing maximum-security prison in New York for a crime he didn’t commit. He finds passion in performing theater alongside Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and a group of other incarcerated men.
Alexander said the nomination, especially being up against big names like Elton John, is an honor.
“I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I’m feeling,” Alexander said during the conversation. “It took (Adrian and me) 10 hours to call each other because he (was) like, ‘You crying, bro? I’m crying.’”
Quesada, member of Austin band Black Pumas and formerly Grupo Fantasma, who backed Prince on several occasions, is familiar with Grammy Award wins and nominations, but “Like a Bird” is his first Oscar nomination.
Peyton’s music students attended the conversation — including Martin Leon, public relations sophomore and Austin-based singer-songwriter. Leon said Peyton encouraged him to present himself as an artist.
“(Quesada said to be) unapologetic to yourself (in the talk),” Leon said. “Both of my parents are immigrants, and being a musician from a border town … was very difficult, especially when I moved over here to Austin. … I’m taking what they told me about just being myself and putting myself out there.”
Peyton said he can see Leon achieving success in the industry in the future.
“I tell my students, you can be anything you want, except younger,” Peyton said. “(They can) pursue whatever they want to pursue, and if it doesn’t work, they still have time to pursue something else.”
Alexander, born in Greece, moved to Fort Worth at a young age. Quesada, originally from Laredo, said his Texas roots played a major role in his music journey.
“I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of (Laredo),” Quesada said during the conversation. “It wasn’t until I was older (that) I started realizing how much that shaped my journey as an artist … I was always between two cultures, two languages, two countries. … I know now… how much that had a hand in what I do.”
“Sing Sing” director Greg Kwedar asked Quesada to work on the film, and Quesada sent Alexander a text with the trailer of “Sing Sing,” writing, “Dare you not to cry.” Soon after, Alexander got involved. The pair worked remotely on the song, sending files to each other.
“I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself,” Alexander said. “When we (started working), it was this instant, kismet, divine thing that was happening. … It all fit (together) like a glove.”
The pair performed “Like A Bird” on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Feb. 4 — Alexander’s late-night TV debut. Alexander said he looks forward to attending the Oscars and meeting most of the cast and crew for the first time, including producer Monique Walton, MFA film alumna.
“It’s so dope for Texas to be represented at the Oscars in (this) magnitude,” Alexander said. “It just goes to show you how beautiful the state is.”
