About Honey Made
Meet the band.
Willie Barnes II
Donald Ford Jr.
Brian Cokeley
Chris Barnes
Marcus Cardwell
Mark Saldana
Grant Hudson
Dustin Hunter
Joseph Morrow
Donald McDaniel
Austin’s Honey Made is redefining contemporary R&B/Soul while honoring the genre’s golden era. Drawing inspiration from the raw grooves of James Brown, the kaleidoscopic energy of Sly and the Family Stone, and the shimmering harmonies of Earth, Wind & Fire, Honey Made blends timeless R&B roots with a fresh, contemporary edge. The band brands this Texas R&B. It is sweet R&B/Soul with Texas grit! Since their formation in 2018, the band has become one of Austin’s treasured live acts, voted Best Live Band in Austin, by Austin Fit Magazine twice in a row.
Their reputation for electrifying shows has also earned them multiple official SXSW Showcasing Artist slots including 2025 and 2026, a headlining spot at YouTube’s DIY Musician Showcase, and performances at festivals including the Red Poppy Festival, AISD Juneteenth Celebration, and Slice of Pflugerville (opening for The Spin Doctors). They’ve also shared stages with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The Soul Rebels, Funk You, and music legends such as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Lee Fields, Big Freedia, and The Motet (as members of their first iteration, Mama K & The Shades).
The band released its first full length album titled "Brand New" in November 2020 and produced by Grammy Award winner Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.
The group is gifted with not one, but two dynamic frontmen who display seemingly endless energy and effortless vocal teamwork. The repertoire includes crowd-pleasers like Vibin, Upstairs, Chcken Sweats and Pass Me By.
Honey Made’s studio output is just as compelling as their live show. Their 2020 EP Couple Few and debut album Brand New—produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos—set the tone for their signature mix of hard-hitting funk, hip-hop grooves, and soulful hooks. In 2023, they followed up with Charge It To The Band Fund, praised for its tight arrangements and unrelenting energy. Their most recent release, Pass Me By (2024), continues to showcase the band’s evolving sound and songwriting depth.
“… is rife with all the goodies of the vintage funk-rock and soul jams from yesteryears. The production is super funky and edgy while the vocalists bring that catchy, call and response type performance to the forefront.”
Critics have lauded Honey Made for their “athletic musicianship” and “infectious hooks” (CultureMap) and for delivering tracks that are “rife with all the goodies of vintage funk-rock and soul jams” (The Word Is Bond). The A&R Factory described their single “Perfect Getaway” as containing “enough Soul to induce goosebumps from the first few notes.”
In June 2025 the band achieved a 5-star Milestone with the data analytics firm Chartmetric being ranked among the Top 25 Contemporary R&B/Soul Artists in the World. This was driven by the popularity of our track Vibin that had spins on over 25 AAA and Non-Commercial outlets in the US, Spotify Editorial placement on the Retro Soul and Fresh Finds R&B playlists and bolstered by global R&B Blogs and independent radio syndication.
With growing radio airplay across the U.S., a devoted Austin fanbase, and a live show that pulls audiences straight onto the dance floor, Honey Made is poised to spread their funk-fueled gospel far beyond Texas.
Follow Honey Made on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and at honeymadeatx.com.