‘Connecticut is in the house,” ANoyd — aka Dashorn Whitehead — says repeatedly while showcasing at the grungy club 512 at this year’s South By Southwest. Each time Whitehead mentioned his home state, there was a roar, which emanated from the 300 music fans checking out his fast-paced, inventive material.
“I love this guy,” DeMarkus White, 22, of Austin says. “He’s got skills.”
The charismatic Whitehead, 24, is a gifted wordsmith and a composed rapper, who paced the 45-minute set like a veteran. Whitehead, who finished his second South By Southwest by performing eight times, including day parties and official showcases, had a game plan every time he hit the stage from March 14 through 18.
“You learn what works and what doesn’t work down here,” Whitehead says. “If you’re playing a set like I did tonight, you might want to deliver it with more energy. During the day, your favorite record might not work as well. You have to figure out what is the best way to connect with the crowd. I switch my set up every time I perform here.”
The Bloomfield native and resident impressed with his energy and clever wordplay. “It’s all fun for me,” Whitehead said. “It’s dope being down here. You get caught up with everything that’s going on in Austin. There is no place like this city and there is nothing like South By Southwest. You don’t understand it unless you come down here. It’s the greatest if you’re [a recording artist].”
Tens of thousands of music aficionados and members of what’s left of the music industry descend upon Austin every March. Sixth Street, the main South By artery, was congested with foot traffic for most days of the 31st annual event held March 10 to 19.
“It never ends here,” Whitehead says. “It’s inspirational. I had to show them what I got.”
“A Time and Place,” the next ANoyd album, which is scheduled to drop April 18, was previewed. The album, which will be distributed by Empire, home to Kendrick Lamar and D.R.A.M., was well received. Whitehead stalked the stage with an old-school T-shirt, which featured the wrestler “The Rock.”
“I grew up watching wrestling,” Whitehead says. “It reminds me of being home back in Bloomfield.”
Unlike many of his peers at South By, the Bloomfield High alum, class of 2012, isn’t leaving home for Los Angeles or Brooklyn.
“There are a number of reasons why I still live in Bloomfield and why I will stay there,” Whitehead says. “First off, I want to show that it’s possible for me to have this career, while living in Connecticut. I’m the hometown hero that kids look up to. If I can do something positive in Bloomfield, they can do something positive in Bloomfield.”
The eloquent and soft-spoken Whitehead proudly views himself as a role model.
“Kids need someone to look up to,” Whitehead says. “I hope they see that I work hard. I have to continue doing that because if I quit, then they will quit. I started out rhyming as a freshman in high school and you can see where it took me.”
Whitehead will be touring behind his album, but when he’s not on the road he spends all of his time in Bloomfield.
“I do that because I love it there,” Whitehead says. “It inspires me. I’m not much for hanging out but you might see me on the basketball court or at Mr. Pizza. I got what I need back home.”
ANoyd’s website is livinanoyd.com/music/
