Several established and up-and-coming musicians from the San Antonio area are set to perform at this year's South by Southwest Conference & Festivals, the Austin festival that is making its first in-person return since 2019.

SXSW takes place March 11-20, and the scheduled lineup of San Antonians participating in official SXSW music showcases runs the gamut of genres, from hip-hop and cambia to avant/experimental and Americana.

San Antonio will be represented by artists, such as Angel Cintron, Intre, Lisa Morales, Nothing Lost, Akasha Luxe, ALIZA1K, Volcán, Paradox Rei, Claire Rousay and Bombasta.

A Los Angeles native born to a Mexican mother and a Jamaican/Italian father, Intreago Pinero—aka Intre—describes himself as “an elite MC delivering aggressive bars full of poetic value over gritty production.”

Intre said he started writing music and structuring rhymes at age 8, inspired by the likes of Nas, Big Pun and Zach De La Rocha.

“I actually learned how to speak English properly, which helped me academically as well because of rhyming,” Intre said. “Once I reached the age of 12, I would battle rap in both English and Spanish, defeating others twice my age. My first project was titled ‘Virtue Is Knowledge,’ which remains unreleased to this day.”

Intre’s released content includes his albums, “The Blue Album” and “Doomsday Era,” both of which are available on his Spotify page along with other albums.

This year is Intre’s first appearance at SXSW, something the artist considers a personal goal. He said he plans to make the most of his time at the festival.

“I have been attempting to be this since 2014, and to finally get that nod to be able to represent my brand of music on the platform is beyond satisfying,” Intre said. "Times have been difficult for everyone the past few years. I keep hearing this year is gonna make up for lost time on the last few. I expect a lot of major artist and meaningful connections being made.”

Focusing on ambient music, Rousay said her sounds are based “on personal emotions and the minutiae of everyday life—voicemails, haptics, environmental recordings, stopwatches, whispers and conversations—exploding their significance.”

Rousay has worked with a number of record labels, including Longform Editions and American Dreams, and she has received acclaim from National Public Radio and Pitchfork magazine.

Rousay said she has been playing music for more than 20 years, having started on piano because her mother has long been a piano instructor and performer.

“She was a massive inspiration and supportive person, especially early in my musical life,” Rousay said of her mother. “She still is one of the most amazing musicians I know. Her dedication and respect for music, practice and live performance is what made me fall in love with music initially.”

Rousay previously performed at SXSW, but this year will be her first performance there under her given name and playing her original work.

Rousay said she is excited to play at SXSW and to be performing live, in general.

“Not performing for one, two, three years is so devastating for musicians. Connecting with other people in a live music setting is crucial to my mental well-being. I am sure other folks could agree,” Rousay said.

Rousay’s March 15 performance at The Green Jay Bar and Venue will be a showcase of American Dreams artists, who she considers friends.

“These artists ... all create such singular work that has enriched my life so much. I am honored to be performing alongside them,” she said.

Indie Latin group Volcán features full rhythm and brass sections. They are led by Jaime Mejia, who in 2014 enlisted former college classmates and band members from previous music projects to assemble a project focusing on creating original Latin music.

Meija said the result is now “a proper orquesta emulating classic Latin rhythms and traditional sounds, outfitted with a new modern take.”

“After a few months of rehearsals, local shows at small venues and bars, the ensemble grew in size. Eventually, the addition of a full horn and percussion section shifted the band toward its signature sound,” Mejia added.

This is Volcán’s first performance at SXSW, and Mejia said he and his fellow band members are excited to reunite with their fans.

“There is something deeply special about connecting with people through our music. Having the opportunity to do that live and in person again is something we won't taking for granted,” he said.

Intre and Meija said it benefits San Antonio’s creative community when multiple local artists represent the Alamo City’s diverse musical sound at SXSW, where crowds include casual music fans and a presence from numerous record labels.

“It is vital that artists from San Antonio are contributing to SXSW because representation matters,” Intre said. “It also allows the market to grow and the music from San Antonio to be taken seriously.”

Mejia said Volcán started as a vehicle to fill a void in San Antonio’s music scene.

“Representation is the core reason we do what we do. We believe it's important to show all of Texas and the rest of the nation the best of what our city has to offer, with an international push in sight,” he said.

Rousay said she has mostly enjoyed Austin’s proximity to San Antonio, especially during SXSW season. But she also said some other artists choose not to participate in SXSW because of negative community traits they frequently associate with Austin, such as gentrification.

“When I was a younger person, this closeness and SXSW led to so many opportunities to attend and perform at events that otherwise might not have happened,” Rousay said. “I love the idea that SXSW could be an equal opportunity space. This is not a reality at the moment, but the San Antonio/Austin connection does have some upsides."

More information about the SXSW music festival can be found at www.sxsw.com.