Echoes of Tomorrow: The Future Soundscape | The AUXdacity

The AUXdacity looks ahead to the future of music. This episode explores emerging trends, groundbreaking technologies, and innovative sounds that are redefining the industry. 

From AI-generated compositions to virtual reality concerts, Echoes of Tomorrow examines both the exciting possibilities and ethical questions surrounding the next era of music—asking how technology will reshape creativity, access, and artistry.

Sherard "Shekeese" Duvall is a TV/film producer, media literacy educator, and South Carolina hip-hop ambassador with nearly 30 years in hip-hop culture, more than 25 years in film and television, and over a decade in media literacy education. As the founder of OTR Media Group, a Columbia, S.C.-based global leader in culturally intelligent media, he has worked on hundreds of projects for major brands and outlets including 50 Cent, BET, ESPN, VH1, and Forbes, while delivering workshops to students and educators across more than a dozen South Carolina counties. His expertise in media literacy, nonfiction storytelling, and hip-hop culture has earned him features in outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, Fox, and local TV news across the Carolinas.

Dr. Jabari M. Evans is an Assistant Professor of Race and Media at the University of South Carolina's School of Journalism and Mass Communications and a faculty affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His research examines the subcultures that urban youth and young adults of color develop and inhabit to understand their social environments, identity development, and professional aspirations, with a focus on self-expression through social media and digital technologies. He is the author of Hip-Hop Civics (University of Michigan Press, 2025) and Drill Rap, Sex Work, and the Digital Underground (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025), and holds a Ph.D. in Media, Technology and Society from Northwestern University. Before entering academia, he built a two-decade career as a hip-hop performer and producer under the moniker "Naledge" as one half of the rap group Kidz in the Hall.

Toni Esther is a Columbia, South Carolina-based artist whose sound defies easy categorization — blending hip-hop, soul, and raw lyricism into a genre she lives out loud. A well-rounded creator who sings, raps, writes, and produces her own music, Toni's artistry is rooted in an "Out of the Box" philosophy — a reflection of both her thinking and the depth of meaning woven into her lyrics. Over six years of making music, she has performed across South Carolina and in Charlotte and Atlanta, releasing two albums, three EPs, and a collection of singles — including her project The Vulnerability Project, which invites audiences into an honest, healing space. She began her career singing in the church, and that foundation of purpose and authenticity continues to shape everything she creates.

Episode Playlist

Listen to the companion Spotify playlist for Echoes of Tomorrow: The Future Soundscape.