“I’m a big fan of the super talented Vanessa Lively. I can truthfully say she is spot on. She combines folk and Americana with homespun imagery. She is a world wise singer-songwriter and is 125% authentic.” - Bob Livingston
VANESSA LIVELY
eclectic, groove-based songwriter, artist, and nonprofit founder based in Austin, Texas.
Texas-based Vanessa Lively is a bilingual songwriter, artist, and community builder whose heart-centered songs explore the wild, tender terrain of being human. Rooted in her Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish heritage, she blends folk and Americana with an activist spirit and deeply soulful voice. Her latest album, Mirroring the Wildness, reached #8 on the FAI Folk Chart in July 2026 and features collaborations with Ben Bedford, Paul Curreri, Mark "Gumby" Williams, Luciri, Carrie Rodriguez, Colin Brooks, JT Bates, and David Sinko. Beyond the stage, Vanessa founded Austin nonprofit Home Street Music, using music to build community, restore dignity, and create connection with people who have experienced homelessness.
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"Folk music on fire with worldly rhythms and a Latin pulse." -The Austin Chronicle
Texas-based Vanessa Lively is a bilingual songwriter, artist, and community builder whose heart-centered songs explore the wild, tender terrain of being human. Rooted in her Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish heritage, she blends folk and Americana with an activist spirit and deeply soulful voice. Her latest album, Mirroring the Wildness, reached #8 on the FAI Folk Chart in July 2026 and features collaborations with Ben Bedford, Carrie Rodriguez, Colin Brooks, JT Bates, and David Sinko. Beyond the stage, Vanessa founded Austin nonprofit Home Street Music, using music to build community, restore dignity, and create connection with people who have experienced homelessness.
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“My mission is to use my music and my art to inspire others to live more passionately and collaboratively, thus creating a more peaceful and joy-filled world...full of people lit up from the inside, alive with fire. This is how we can make our world a better place...living authentically, honestly, with a generous heart and a loving spirit.” - Vanessa Lively | Vanessa Lively is an eclectic, groove-based folk songwriter and founder of the nonprofit music program based in Austin, TX called Home Street Music. She has been leading this music program since its inception in 2017. Lively brings passion and fire to her heart-centric writing style and way of living.
Musical career
Lively's musical style is influenced by her Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish heritage, as well as a mix of folk, funk, pop, and world music. Her 2022 album, Truth Is, was recognized as a top release by several radio outlets, including a #1 New Release by Kansas Public Radio. A new body of work is set to be released January 2026. Throughout her career, Lively has used her music to express her compassionate and activist spirit. Her performances are described as energetic, bilingual, and beat-driven.
Nonprofit work with Home Street Music
Lively founded Home Street Music in 2017 after winning the "Artist Activist Award" from the nonprofit Music to Life. The organization offers free, weekly music circles for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness, providing a safe space for artistic expression and community building. Lively's program has helped participants build confidence, regain a sense of dignity, and rekindle their creative talents.
Additional creative work
In addition to her music, Lively is a visual artist and graphic designer. Her life experiences, which include travels from Texas to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, are woven into both her music and her advocacy work.
Press photos
Photo by Kara Elyse (courtesy of Austin Woman Magazine)
Photo by Nicola Gell
Photo by Gaby Deimeke
Photo by Rodney Bursiel (courtesy of Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio)
Photo by Nicola Gell