20UP Is Building a Sound Rooted in the Texas Underground
From the earthy depths of experimental bass to the expansive stages of Electric Forest and Lost Lands, Dallas-based artist 20UP is carving out a sound that is as unconventional as the world that inspires it. Originally from East Texas, the dubstep producer and DJ blends dark textures, raw bass, and atmospheric sound design into music that feels as though it comes straight from the woods. But her trek from punk and indie rock to major festival stages reflects more than an evolution in sound. Rooted in the self-made spirit of her early influences and the sense of inclusion she found in the Texas underground, 20UP believes an artist's success matters more when it supports the community that made it possible.
Music has been part of Echo's life for as long as she can remember. Performing as 20UP, she explored music through choir and band, though color guard initially drew her in because of her love of dance and its connection to music. She knew she wanted to pursue something creative, and after high school, she studied music production and live sound.
“I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do yet, but I knew I wanted to work with music and people onstage,” 20UP says. “It was also a much more affordable alternative to a traditional college.”
Echo began building experience in live production and was preparing to take her first touring job as a stagehand when a car accident totaled her vehicle and disrupted her plans. “I couldn't take the jobs I'd lined up, so I had to step back and reset,” she recalls.
During that period, she kept finding ways to stay involved in music through bands, singer-songwriter projects, and managing local artists. Then came a key experience: her first music festival, Bonnaroo.
There, she saw Liquid Stranger and Of The Trees, and the performances fundamentally shifted her perspective on music. She was fascinated by the sound design, but just as much by the crowd's emotional response and the feeling of closeness the music created.
“The sense of community and interaction was different from what I'd experienced in the punk scene,” Echo says. “There was a real emphasis on inspiring one another, and I was intrigued by the way people interacted and supported each other, both within the crowd and professionally behind the scenes.”
That experience drew Echo to electronic music and eventually led her to produce and DJ. Although she was still discovering her direction, she knew she wanted to explore the relationship between sound, emotion, and community.
“Every genre creates its own kind of connection, but I became especially drawn to the relationship between the music, the crowd, and the community surrounding it,” she explains. “That's also why music festivals have become such a significant part of my experience. I'm enthralled by the entire experience: the build-up of getting to the show, the energy during the sets, and what happens afterward.”
As Echo began developing her own musical identity, artists like Of The Trees and Liquid Stranger became important sources of inspiration. When writer's block hit, or she needed to reconnect with her artistic instincts, she revisited their sets and production videos, studying the elements that first drew her to electronic music. But her influences go beyond sound. The darker, atmospheric world she creates reflects a personal aesthetic she's developed since childhood.
“I've always been drawn to darker, witchier aesthetics,” Echo says. “I was definitely an emo, punk kid growing up, and as I've gotten older, that style has evolved into something darker, witchy, and Gothic. I've spent years exploring things like tarot, magic, paganism, and astrology, and those interests naturally find their way into my creative world.”
That connection between personal identity and musical expression has become central to 20UP's creative process. She most enjoys making tracks that draw from this darker, more involved side of herself. She approaches production as world-building, layering unconventional samples and environmental sounds to create an atmosphere that transports listeners beyond the dance floor. Crow calls, recordings of people walking through the woods, and sounds she captures herself all become potential elements in that sonic landscape.
“It's about creating an atmosphere that appears immersive and transports people somewhere else,” Echo says.
That vision has begun attracting audiences on some of electronic music's biggest stages. Playing Electric Forest was one of 20UP's biggest career milestones, alongside her appearance at Lost Lands and opening for Distinct Motive at a sold-out show in Dallas. Yet one of her most memorable Electric Forest moments happened after her set ended. Meeting listeners face-to-face deepened Echo's appreciation for the connection that can develop between an artist and an audience.
“The stage had no backstage area, so when I walked off, I was immediately in the crowd,” Echo says. “It was my first time experiencing that level of interaction, with so many people wanting to talk, connect, and share their experiences with me. I met so many amazing people, and it was an unforgettable feeling.”
Echo's understanding of live music extends well beyond performing. Her experience includes front-of-house work, live recording, and festival stage management, giving her firsthand insight into the crews and logistics that bring an event to life. She's particularly encouraged by the growing recognition for the stagehands and behind-the-scenes teams who make live performances possible.
“We don't do it for recognition, but that appreciation means a lot,” Echo says. “I've been backstage my entire life, and I can't imagine my world without it. I love being part of bringing a show to life because I know how many challenges can come up along the way.”
From troubleshooting equipment to preparing a venue for doors to open, the work behind a show often entails navigating countless moving parts. Echo knows that reaching the start of an event can be an achievement in itself. That perspective has also shaped how she approaches her own performances. Understanding what happens behind the scenes has made her more patient with sound engineers, visual teams, and production staff, and it has helped her communicate her needs more efficiently.
“When you're working behind the scenes, knowing how to communicate clearly, get someone's attention, and properly request what you need as an artist, whether it's something specified in your rider or even a microphone, can make a huge difference,” Echo explains.
It has also changed how she responds when things go wrong. Set times shift, equipment malfunctions, and plans change, often for reasons outside anyone's control. Instead of becoming frustrated, Echo is better equipped to adjust and keep the bigger picture in mind.
The Texas underground has given Echo a place to find her people, develop as an artist, and put her community-first values into practice. Although she's been part of the scene for only about three years, she's grown largely by showing up consistently, supporting local events, and building real relationships.
She now hosts monthly open-decks sessions at Green Elephant, an opportunity that grew out of her involvement in the scene. For Echo, that kind of progress begins with supporting the venues and promoters who book her or her people and showing up for other spaces and the people building within genres she respects, too.
“When we support one another, we help create more opportunities for everyone,” she says.
She believes the scene would benefit from more candid communication between venues, promoters, and collectives, particularly when scheduling events and competing for audiences. Everyone wants their events to succeed, but those successes are interconnected: artists need to be paid, venues need to bring in revenue, and bars need customers. A healthier scene requires finding ways for those interests to coexist rather than treating every event as a competition.
Echo is equally passionate about recognizing the venues that helped artists get their start. As DJs and promoters establish their own collectives and move into new spaces, she believes they should continue supporting the places that gave them their first opportunities. “Those early opportunities helped people get where they are today, and I don't think that success should come at the expense of the places that helped make it possible,” she says.
As 20UP continues developing her sound and stage presence, she's focused on bringing a clearer creative outlook to her performances, including Beyond Existence. After a period of experimentation and discovery, she wants to deliver a more complete representation of what 20UP sounds and looks like. That process continues in the studio, where partnerships with other DJs and producers have played an important role in her development. Rather than viewing differences in sound or experience as barriers, Echo sees them as opportunities to learn.
“We're all different in our sounds and knowledge, but we can still come together, collaborate, and learn from one another,” she says. “We regularly share tracks, exchange feedback, and offer tips and tricks to help each other improve. I wouldn't be where I am today without those relationships and the time we've invested in working together over the past year.”
For all the milestones that have shaped her journey, from her early days in punk and indie rock to the festival stages she now reaches, Echo stays rooted in why she started making music. For 20UP, it's about carrying the spirit of the community that helped her grow into every new opportunity and helping create a Texas bass scene where others can do the same.
Follow 20UP on her platforms below:
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