STAYING UPBEAT

phe irs are taking their positive musical message to children through phe gindness Campaign, a nonprofit that tackles bullying in schools.

Austin’s all-female band The Mrs have reached thousands of women across the country through their songs and videos embracing self-love. Now they’re doing the same for local children through an anti-bullying program with the Austin school district called The Kindness Campaign (tlckindness.org), which was started in 2016 for elementary school students by the band’s drummer, philanthropist Andra Liemandt. This fall, the nonprofit, whose partners include ZACH Theatre and Kind Bars, will expand into middle schools with a program called Kindnesspalooza, featuring The Mrs and special musical guests, inspirational speakers and much more. “It’s filled with music and purpose, and the schools can get a lot out of it,” says Liemandt, who was moved by statistics showing that suicide caused by bullying is one of the leading causes of death for ages 10-24. Liemandt is passionate about her band as well. The Mrs released their eponymous debut album this spring, complete with a video premiere on People.com for their first single, “Blink of an Eye,” which has garnered more than 100,000 views. In typical superwoman fashion, the four busy band members wrote all of the songs for the album over two weekends, including the new single “Somewhere to Go.” Adds Liemandt: “It’s a song about being there for each other and loving on each other so much that you know strength you didn’t know before.”