Soundscapes of Influence: The Story Behind the Music in Navigating Dove Springs

As the ‘Navigating Dove Springs’ documentary unfolded, sound carries viewers into the community’s struggles. Community leaders spoke about the challenges and resilience of their neighborhood amidst economic pressures. Displacement Prevention Navigators discussed connecting residents with aid so they could stay in their homes. But underneath these voices, a tune ebbed in harmony with their stories, drawing viewers deeper into the personal narratives and highlighting the community's struggles and resilience.

That melody was provided by three artists who know the area well. The ‘Navigating Dove Springs’ theme was a collaborative effort by Dove Springs musicians Abe ‘the Ambassador’ Hernandez, Christian Herrera aka the Mask, and Ru ‘Rumuzik’ Lopez. Hernandez gathered the group after being contacted by the Decibel team.

“We just saw the trailer, and once we listened to that, you can just hear they’re not talking about something happy,” says Hernandez. “But [it’s] like everyday struggle.”

Abe the Ambassador (left) and The Mask (right) discuss the choice to use spoken word lyrics instead of rap. “You’re just hearing Ru talk,” The Mask says. “I feel like it pulls the listener in.”

In the documentary, the Decibel team gathered a years’ worth of reporting around housing. The hour-long special explored how citywide issues like rising rent, bills and gentrification are impacting residents in Dove Springs. They were challenges that Lopez instantly recognized from his time growing up in the area.

“Being one of the last neighborhoods to be gentrified is definitely something that is hard to take on,” he says. “But we take pride in a lot of our people still having the seeds planted in the neighborhood.”

All three artists had their own musical talents take root in Austin. Hernandez grew up behind Turntable Records, a record store still owned by his uncle. The exposure to different kinds of music catapulted him into the local DJ scene. Herrera is a music producer renowned for creating standout beats. He collaborates with various artists, having produced the hip-hop/rap album Mileon with Y2. Lopez got his start freestyling at parties in high school before landing a record deal with Top Dollar Records. But even as success carried them forward, the community always brought them back.

“Everybody in the community is what I'm all about,” says Hernandez.

“We wanted anybody from Dove to feel proud listening to it,” says Herrera. “Just like, ‘oh yeah, that’s my hood.’”

Music producer The Mask adjusts the settings on a track. He helped create the theme music for the documentary ‘Navigating Dove Springs’.

Hernandez says their goal was not to convey a message but to enhance the documentary’s narrative with a rich, musical backdrop.

“The project was not about necessarily trying to get a message out there, because I think the documentary does that perfectly,” Hernandez says. “It was just for us to add to that and give it a musical symphony behind it, to be pulled in by the music and hear what they’re saying and let the story be told.”

That story was often one of endurance. Home prices have skyrocketed in the area, and many residents have been finding themselves priced out of their community. While the City of Austin operates several programs to help families stay in their homes, finding them can be difficult. The city launched a pilot program last year to help connect residents with those resources. Throughout ‘Navigating Dove Springs,’ these navigators talked about the struggle to get people the help they needed, but also the joy and resiliency in the community.

“I’ve always been an underdog,” says navigator Rachel Salgado in the documentary. “So I love when I work with an individual who’s also considered an underdog.”

That’s a key element in the music as well. Hernandez says the residents cherish their strong community ties, preserving their roots, with many still deeply connected to the neighborhood.

“That’s what Dove Springs is known for, if you ask me,” he says.