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The Music Preview Guide to SXSW 2019
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Whether it be playlists, radio, blogs, writers or even music festivals, we all have our own trusted sources for discovering new music. We’ve asked some of our favorite curators from around the globe to highlight a few of the acts they’re most excited about seeing at SXSW 2019.
It is our hope that The SXSW Music Preview Guide points to something new that resonates with you.
I would like to thank those who have taken the time to contribute their words and shine a light on the great up-and-coming artists you’ll find in the following pages.
James Minor
Head of SXSW Music Festival
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Rock
From almost ditching music altogether during a period studying literature abroad to performing sold-out shows across Australia and the UK, and supporting the likes of Father John Misty, Alanis Morissette, and The Shins, the world is a better place thanks to Angie McMahon. Accolades like her Breakthrough Artist of the Year (AIR) nomination and her spots on the triple j Hottest 100 aside, McMahon’s songs are intelligent, distinguished and achingly cool — especially when she delves into her own indecisions.
Check out Angie McMahon at SXSW
Poppy Reid is the Managing Editor of Australia’s fastest-growing music media company, Seventh Street Media, which includes Tone Deaf, The Brag, The Industry Observer and numerous other publications under its umbrella. She was shortlisted for B&T’s Women in Media Awards in 2017, is the former Editor at The Music Network and a journalist who has been published in various publications including Rolling Stone, The Edge and Red Bull Music. When not writing about music, Poppy is binge-watching Netflix series with badass female protagonists.
Austin, TX Rock
When I first saw The Bright Light Social Hour during SXSW 2016, I knew they’d eventually become ATX icons. The trouble was definition. Shoving them into a pre-made genre would be like stuffing a tiger into a bird cage. Not only wouldn’t it work, it would be cruel. From the funky head music jam “Infinite Cities” and the rollicking “Back and Forth” to the jazz and blues-inspired “Slipstream”, Bright Light’s connective tissue is a beautiful sense of rhythm mixed with smoked out 70’s guitars and keys. Their latest single, “Lie to Me” off their new record Jude Vol 1 further muddles the classification waters. The album opens at maximum velocity with the shotgun blast guitar rocker “Give to Me Words”, follows with the slithering New Wave sparkler “Lie to Me” and closes with the hazy groove track “Swimming Out”. Another evolution for one of Austin’s most interesting bands.
Check out The Bright Light Social Hour at SXSW
Jerseyian turned Austinite Bill Tucker writes words for a number of sites and publications. He currently serves as Lead Blogger for The Austinot (hyper-local lifestyle blog), and as a columnist for skirmishfrogs.com (retro gaming). His past credits include the Entertainment Weekly Blogging Community, Texas Highways Magazine, and penning film reviews for a variety of sites and outlets. He enjoys video games, craft beer, Austin’s incredibly vibrant music scene, and convincing his friends Dr. Strangelove is one of the greatest films of all time.
Volta Region, GHANA Avant / Experimental
Ghanaian trailblazer Jojo Abot has been making a name for herself across the globe, having toured with the likes of Ms. Lauryn Hill and performing at MoMA, Radio City Music Hall and seen by over a million viewers worldwide at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. While searching for what it means to be oneself, Jojo’s methods of discovery and identity research are revealed by a style of music that fuses cultures and genres. Abot aims to disrupt the conventional bias towards race, color, class or sexual orientation and explore newfound views of spirituality and cultural identity, as she brings to the stage a unique artistic expression and a nonconformist, engaging attitude with her futuristic beats and visual aesthetics.
Francisco Gonçalves Silva is a Lisbon-born music journalist, copywriter and marketer with a background in music, tech and cultural/event management. Based in Berlin, he currently works as PR & Communications Manager for Piranha Arts, an independent creative company best known for organizing WOMEX — the World Music Expo — the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene.
Stockholm, SWEDEN Hip-Hop / Rap
Sadly, being sad is fashionable. Yung Lean, Bladee and the rest of the Swedish crews Sadboys and Drain Gaing have been some of the main exponents in anticipating the emo revival and applying it to trap. This formula has now become one of the latest commercial trends, as the sudden success of Juice WRLD shows.
Since the middle of this decade, Bladee has emerged as an adolescent aesthetic and musical icon. In his productions, he applies autotune to ethereal and angelic vocals, over cloud rap backing tracks in which the trance-y auras embrace you like a Xanax high.
While the exaggerated productivity of the “Soundcloud scene” means that not all of its material is remarkable, its influence on the current scene is unquestionable, which is impressive considering Bladee is barely 25 years old.
Organizing shows since he was 14, Pau Cristòful (1993) is now a booking agent for Primavera Sound and MUTEK Barcelona.
Kinshasa, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Electronic
Kokoko! channels the sound and struggle of Congo’s capital city of Kinshasa, creating a bombastic patchwork of dance music from homemade instruments along with minimal grooves that sound like Fela Kuti touring DFA’s studio circa 2006. The collective’s do-it-yourself energy feels distinctly African, but informed by the latest trends in global electronic music. Their debut 2018 EP Liboso pulses with lively beats, subtle synth lines bubble up between the grooves, and frenetic vocals take centerstage. Their live show is one of a kind, with the musicians clicking away on typewriters turned into drums, pitched water jugs, and makeshift one-string guitars. Parisian producer Debruit contrasts the lo-fi backdrop with a command center of electronics, but blends seamlessly into the controlled chaos. Don’t miss this rare US appearance.
Dan Gentile is a writer and DJ based in Austin who has written for publications like Austin Chronicle, VICE, Rolling Stone, American Way, and Wax Poetics. His writing focuses on emerging electronic musicians, DJs, and Texas barbecue. He can be found playing vinyl records at venues like Cheer Up Charlies, Sahara Lounge, and the South Congress Hotel.
Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND Rock
It’s either a miracle, a tribute to the sublime and everlasting power of a strummed electric guitar, or both, that seven albums and three decades plus into their career the Chills could make not only a pretty great album but a pretty great Chills album. Which is what they did with 2018’s Snow Bound. They’ve been around since before you bought your first record, probably, getting their start in early ’80s New Zealand underground as the most romantic, most gloomy and most-likely-to-own-a-keyboard band on Flying Nun Records, while still being just as jangly as all their equally semi-famous labelmates. They briefly went major label and recorded a three-minute epic called “Heavenly Pop Hit” that flirted with becoming an actual pop hit and was, in fact, heavenly. They took a couple decades off from recording and returned, improbably, with a good one in 2015 and a great one in 2018, still jangly, still romantic, but now a little less gloomy. Singer/songwriter Martin Phillipps, the Chills’ only permanent member, has said he wanted Snow Bound to be “a kind of Carole King’s Tapestry for aging punks.” I kind of wish he’d made that the album title.
London, UK-ENGLAND Electronic
The fact that Georgia grew up in a house that was also the studio of Leftfield, her father’s band, explains her good taste in combining electronic bases, pop potential and Arab references. Her second album will be released on Domino Records in 2019. She combines Chicago house with electro-pop suitable for the radio formula and reminds us both of Fever Ray and M.I.A., making us wish that summer comes to listen to and to dance her songs at festivals. The fact that Georgia has written, recorded and produced the album herself reaffirms her ability as an artist, as does the fact that Kate Tempest or The Flaming Lips already wants to work with her.
Organizing shows since he was 14, Pau Cristòful (1993) is now a booking agent for Primavera Sound and MUTEK Barcelona.
Montréal, CANADA Rock
Helena’s got that Cat Power glow and Hope Sandoval flow, but with her own colourful gusty blow, from head to toe. Her stories deliver everything from lonely moments to comforting slaps, and go hand in hand with the occasional afternoon cloud watching or window watching session. Helena’s first musical appearance was featuring on a track with her fellow hometown dream-popping gazers, Men I Trust, before releasing her own material, moving to Montreal, and touring a good portion of the world in the past year. There’s no sign of slowing down for this Canadian gem now that Fat Possum + Gorilla vs Bear’s new collaborative imprint, Luminelle Records, has her back. Helena’s that nightlight you’ve been waiting to plug in. Scented candles are recommended if you plan on listening to this alone or with your future lover.
Check out Helena Deland at SXSW
Mikey B Rishwain was born and raised in Stockton, California (home of Chris Isaak & Pavement). He started working in the music world at age 17, as a music buyer and store manager for local record stores as well as booking DIY concerts through out Northern California. He also worked for The Militia Group (Juliette Lewis, The Appleseed Cast), an independent record company based in Long Beach, for four years. Mikey eventually relocated to Montreal, where he rapidly established himself as a trendsetter ranking in the top 100 in Nightlife Magazine’s Montreal personalities that changed our nightlife, after being in the city for only a year! He has been Programming Director for M FOR MONTREAL, since 2007. His natural ability to discover the best up-and-coming acts has helped the careers of many artists including, Mac Demarco, Grimes and Half Moon Run. Throughout the years, he has been collaborating with VICE, NOISEY, BrooklynVegan, Cult MTL & others. He was nominated three times and won City Champion and Best Festival Networking Activity at the YMCA Awards (3 times), in Brighton, England.
London, UK-ENGLAND Jazz
Breaking out from the hustle and bustle of South London, Oscar Jerome has created his own world with his vivid medley of soul, West African rhythms, hip-hop, jazz, and punk. Sonic influences from Jay Dilla to The Clash are palpable through his soulful vocals and improvisatory guitar riffs, but in a fashion that is wholly his own — and reimagined in a way that will surely have everyone dancing.
Check out Oscar Jerome at SXSW
Hong Konger, New Yorker, and now Berliner, Jaclyn heads up brand partnerships (and was most recently the Interim Editor-in-Chief) at Majestic Casual, one of the Internet’s most beloved music and photography curators passionately bringing together different perspectives to tell some of the most exciting stories in the creative world. Come experience something new; Majestic Casual’s second-ever SXSW showcase presents an exciting live music lineup at Bungalow on March 15th.
Santiago, CHILE Pop
Chile is well known for having families making music together — Violeta Parra and her brothers, Los Jaivas and Los Bunkers are fine examples. Yorka Pastenes and her sister Daniela are becoming part of this tradition one love song at a time. Her sound has been described as folk, but in the recent years they have mutated into an exquisite pattern of soft tunes, catchy lyrics and mainstream pop that has earned them recognition from audiences and media alike.
Composer, activist, entrepreneur and bilingual singer, Francisca Valenzuela is one of the most active representatives of Chilean pop at an international level. The promising start of her career in 2007 with the hit single “Dulce”, was only surpassed by a constant recognition in the music world where she has two platinum albums, a Latin Grammy nomination and collaborations with artists such as U2, Miguel Bosé, Pablo Alborán, Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade and Pedro Aznar among others. Her discography produced independently through her own record label, Frantastic Records, include the albums Muérdete la lengua (2007), Buen soldado (2011) — both platinum records — and Tajo Abierto (2014). She’s currently promoting her newest singles “Tómame” (Drink me) and “Ya no se trata de ti” (It’s not about you anymore) from her upcoming album. Francisca is also founder and director of Ruidosa Fest, the festival and international feminist platform which seeks social and cultural transformation through the empowerment of women in the creative industries.
Seoul, SOUTH KOREA Electronic
Let’s start with the conclusion: Hitchhiker is one of the producers who created the modern K-pop sound. His career is an interesting one. He debuted in 1996 with a pop-rock song called “Odd Imagination” that became a one-hit wonder, then he formed the acid-jazz influenced modern rock band Roller Coaster, which sold more than 200,000 records in the early 2000s. After the band’s breakup, he started to dig electronic music and made K-pop songs working with SM Entertainment, the biggest K-pop company in Korea. He produced songs for famous groups including Brown Eyed Girls, BoA, f(x), Girls Generation, TVXQ, Super Junior, EXO and RedVelvet; until he turned himself into Hitchhiker, a computer generated character in silver space costume. As soon as he released the quirky “11(Eleven)” and its music video in 2014, he got huge attention not only from the Korean scene, but also from well-known EDM producers such as Skrillex and Diplo. Since then, he’s been playing and producing nonstop, and there’s no doubt that Hitchhiker is the hottest DJ/producer in the Korean pop music scene or even in the world of virtual reality.
Cecilia Soojeong Yi manages music and performing arts projects such as festivals and artist management. She used to work at the Korean Cultural Center in Spain and now she works as the executive manager for Zandari Festa, Asia’s premier independent and international showcase festival. In 2018, she co-founded the DMZ Peace Train Music Festival, taking charge of programming, booking and international relationships.
Valencia, SPAIN Rock
Rockabilly mambo, pachuco groove, Duane Eddy’s Spanish cousin. All three descriptions fit the music of the musician who was born Diego Garcia but is known as Twanguero. He did study flamenco early on but was smitten with rock and eventually landed in the kind of jangly, reverb filled twang guitar that was part of the earliest form of rock and roll. A series of albums made here in the US feature him in a variety of settings and his appearance at SXSW is highly anticipated.
Felix Contreras is host of Alt.Latino, NPR’s program about Latin Alternative music and Latino culture. It features music as well as interviews with many of the most well-known Latino musicians, actors, film makers and writers. Previously, Contreras was a producer and reporter for NPR’s Arts Desk and covered, among other stories and projects: a series reported from Mexico introducing the then-new musical movement called Latin Alternative; a series of stories on the financial challenges facing aging jazz musicians; and helped produce NPR’s award-winning series 50 Great Voices.
Havana, CUBA Funk
Cuba continues to be a source of endless musical creativity. Decade after decade of musical innovation has reached these shores in wave after wave cutting edge music. From mambo to Afro Cuban jazz to timba to hip-hop. Add Cimafunk (Erik Iglesias Rodriguez) to that list of musical exports. The native of Pinar del Rio moved to Havana and came up with a super charged and elegant mix of 70’s funk and hip hop with just the right amount of Afro Cuban thrown in. He’s about to embark on a limited tour of the US and SXSW is a great place to see him action for bragging rights when he blows up later.
Felix Contreras is host of Alt.Latino, NPR’s program about Latin Alternative music and Latino culture. It features music as well as interviews with many of the most well-known Latino musicians, actors, film makers and writers. Previously, Contreras was a producer and reporter for NPR’s Arts Desk and covered, among other stories and projects: a series reported from Mexico introducing the then-new musical movement called Latin Alternative; a series of stories on the financial challenges facing aging jazz musicians; and helped produce NPR’s award-winning series 50 Great Voices.
San Marcos, Texas Hip-Hop / Rap
Like most uprising collectives, PNTHN reaches to be explosive while ensuring that each member gets their spotlight. Unlike most collectives, this is a boy band you wish you were a part of. Formed in 2017, the 9 piece group from San Marcos, Texas, is made up of rappers, producers, an engineer, and a DJ. Together they pull in from different corners of Texas with an uncompromising mission of paving their way onto the music scene. PNTHN carries a deep-rooted Texas sound in their music. They push the limit with unhinged beats that come out brash yet equally luscious. Their music is turned up to eleven lyrically and sonically leaving listeners on a euphoric high thanks to the overall playful tone. With positive buzz from previous shows, it is safe to say that things are bound to get crazy when they show up to play their set at SXSW 2019.
For Beca Arredondo, music has always been a part of her life. She’s been fortunate enough to be in a career that she loves, where discovering artists, writers, and working with amazing, talented people fuels her blood each and every day. You bet, she’s on the hunt for the next big thing.
Bristol, UK-ENGLAND Pop
The ultimate party band – big, upbeat tunes that are total earworms and a huge, fun stage show – you’re guaranteed to have a good time with Bad Sounds. You can expect to hear tracks from their superb debut album Get Better, which was released last year via Insanity Records. Brothers Ewan and Callum are clearly influenced by many genres & eras and the result is an awesome musical mix of hip-hop beats and pop bangers. Be sure to check out the band’s first performances in America!
Abbie McCarthy is a TV & Radio presenter. She currently presents BBC Music Introducing in Kent and can also be heard covering shows on BBC Radio 1, as well as hosting the popular music podcast, Live Lounge Uncovered, which brings listeners behind the scenes of the BBC’s home of live music. You can catch Abbie on your TV screens, via 4Music & The Box Network, hosting Boxfresh, a show that shines a spotlight on the biggest new artists on the planet. Abbie is also the mastermind behind Good Karma Club, a club night championing the best acts around. Previous acts to have played the night include The Amazons, Pale Waves and Tom Grennan.
Beijing, CHINA Avant / Experimental
I’ve never seen this lot live, but the songs I’ve heard on record make me think of, variously: Captain Beefheart, Sonic Youth, Jon Spencer, Parquet Courts and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. They say they love Bo Diddley too, and you can hear his legendary ch-ch-chugg all over Siren, which I’ve been playing to death on Apple Music’s Beats 1. Hailing from Beijing but spending time in the US more recently, they clearly never got the memo about guitars being dead. This is good! They’ve also been working with Wharf Cat Records, who have a great history of putting out this kind of fare, so I’m feeling excited about seeing them in the flesh.
Check out Gong Gong Gong at SXSW
Matt Wilkinson presents on Apple Music’s Beats 1 Monday–Friday 11am–1pm — listen live via apple.co/B1_MattLive and on-demand at apple.co/B1_Matt.
Los Angeles, CA Electronic
LA-by-way-of-NYC producer Ben Shirken is the boy genius behind Beshken, and the mastermind behind all of your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) electronic jams, fusing together elements of indie rock, electronic, jazz, and house for an electrifying, yet effortless, soundscape. A live Beshken set is not one you’ll forget, and not one you’ll want to miss this year at SXSW.
Hong Konger, New Yorker, and now Berliner, Jaclyn heads up brand partnerships (and was most recently the Interim Editor-in-Chief) at Majestic Casual, one of the Internet’s most beloved music and photography curators passionately bringing together different perspectives to tell some of the most exciting stories in the creative world. Come experience something new; Majestic Casual’s second-ever SXSW showcase presents an exciting live music lineup at Bungalow on March 15th.
Santiago, CHILE Pop
After exploring a first album as an indie pop rock singer songwriter with romantic guitar and bass-based tunes, the young, chameleonic Oddó reinvented himself as an urban latino artist. His most recent singles, “Quiero Enamorarme’ and “Te Vas” are sparkly, fresh, effortless, left-of-center trap and reggaeton songs, full of quirky, easy-to-relate lyrics and fresh vibes. Oddó is taking the explosive trend of urban music and making it his own, one song at a time.
Composer, activist, entrepreneur and bilingual singer, Francisca Valenzuela is one of the most active representatives of Chilean pop at an international level. The promising start of her career in 2007 with the hit single “Dulce”, was only surpassed by a constant recognition in the music world where she has two platinum albums, a Latin Grammy nomination and collaborations with artists such as U2, Miguel Bosé, Pablo Alborán, Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade and Pedro Aznar among others. Her discography produced independently through her own record label, Frantastic Records, include the albums Muérdete la lengua (2007), Buen soldado (2011) — both platinum records — and Tajo Abierto (2014). She’s currently promoting her newest singles “Tómame” (Drink me) and “Ya no se trata de ti” (It’s not about you anymore) from her upcoming album. Francisca is also founder and director of Ruidosa Fest, the festival and international feminist platform which seeks social and cultural transformation through the empowerment of women in the creative industries.
Baltimore, MD Pop
With her third album Highway Hypnosis (Merge, 2019), Sneaks embraces the trap trend. However, she does it without betraying the idiosyncrasy that has placed her, with her two previous albums, as one of the most interesting artists of the punk scene of Baltimore and Washington. What was previously reduced to bass and drum machine is now supplemented by experimental hip-hop bases that exude anxiety and paranoia. However, what might sound visceral is here skeletal, infectious, atmospheric and spacious, reminding us more of Young Marble Giants or of Micachu than today’s hip-hop. With these 13 tracks compressed to half an hour, Sneaks picks the heritage up of post-punk without seeming a tribute and she adapts it to the present without being opportunistic.
Organizing shows since he was 14, Pau Cristòful (1993) is now a booking agent for Primavera Sound and MUTEK Barcelona.
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Pop
Australia’s Wafia crafts electro-pop with a soulful edge, a cross-genre blend that’s landed her both on Billboard Dance’s Ones To Watch list as well as a spin on Pharrell Williams’ Beats 1 radio show. Wafia’s fanbase is widespread. Born in the Netherlands to Syrian and Iraqi parents, perhaps the biggest draw to Wafia’s music is that it’s uniquely hers. Each song, both melodically and lyrically, is imbued with her story, whether she’s taking inspiration from her family — “Bodies” is about her Syrian family being denied refugee status to enter Australia — or finding strength after heartbreak in the post-breakup strut that is 2018’s “I’m Good”. Though the inspiration is personal, the connection is universal. As the artist explains herself, “I wanted the song to be as inclusive as possible, and live in a sonically accessible world, because enough things in the world divide us.”
Head of Content at Evolve Media Australia. Managing Editor of Music Feeds. Eurovision hopeful.
Perth, AUSTRALIA Rock
Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are breathing fresh air into psychedelic rock, one big ’70s-inspired guitar riff at a time. Brimming with searing energy, hypnotic melodies and did I mention those riffs? Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are certain to put on a show you’re going to remember. And honestly, who’s going to forget that name anyway? Psychedelic Porn Crumpets is for fans of fellow Perthlings Tame Impala and brothers in psych rock King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.
Check out Psychedelic Porn Crumpets at SXSW
Head of Content at Evolve Media Australia. Managing Editor of Music Feeds. Eurovision hopeful.
Nashville, TN Soul
The beauty of the expansive genre dubbed Americana is how many different sounds it really encompasses: singer-songwriter folk, soulful blues, swinging rhythm & blues, heaven-facing gospel. The beauty of New Jersey native Nicole Atkins is how gorgeously she adds to her crooner’s godsend of a voice to all of them. Her latest album, 2017’s wonderful Goodnight Rhonda Lee, came as she relocated to Nashville and battled the personal demons she found in the bottom of a bottle. What resulted is perhaps her most powerful collection of original songs to date, from the sexy slink of “Darkness Falls so Quiet” to the country swagger of the title track to the quiet-loud dichotomy of “A Little Crazy”. While she bares her soul on the record, she delivers the songs on stage with a wide-eyed assurance that feels equally playful and sincere, captivating as much with her personality as her dynamic range.
Check out Nicole Atkins at SXSW
Ben Kaye is News Editor for Consequence of Sound, a leading independent online publication covering the latest in music, film, and television. Raised just outside Boston, educated on Long Island (Hofstra University), and living in Brooklyn, Ben has been covering music and entertainment for some nine years now. In addition to helping run CoS’ daily news section, he contributes heavily to live coverage and features with both his writing and his photography. He has an in-depth knowledge of comic books and superheroes, as the owner of what some would call an obscene amount of comics and memorabilia.
Nashville, TN Pop
Hailing from Nashville, Dreamer Boy has put an interesting spin on the new wave of R&B-inspired lo-fi pop that has dominated the conversation on contemporary music. Zach Taylor takes his southern roots and imprints sultry vocal lines in the vein of Jamie Woon to create a sound all his own. With peers such as Omar Apollo and Rex Orange County, Taylor has made an impressive first move in his career with this project, Love Nostalgia.
Alexandra Berenson is Senior A&R at Vinyl Me, Please. She currently lives in Denver, CO.
Medellín, COLOMBIA Latin Hip-Hop
If there’s one act you shouldn’t miss, it is Mabiland. Mabely Largacha from Medellín, Colombia is producing a seamless sound of deep-stirring neo-soul with R&B. Mabiland, as Largacha’s musical handle, is drenched in powerful soulful rich harmonies and delicate melodies with confidence in her music and lyrical standpoint. 1995, Mabiland’s debut album released in 2018, features 10 tracks with expressions of raw emotions channeled through her songwriting and instrumentation. She offers soundscapes aligned to neo-soul, and yet with room for exploration such as “Mala Fama”, a more pronounced hip-hop track with a soulful and sleek harmony. As well as digging in the funk soul territory, “¿Qué Tu Quieres?” is a delightful romantic soul song swaying in slow R&B with Largacha’s irresistible sing-along chorus. The Colombian singer-songwriter beautifully bridges a trademark jazz soul with layers of sound interplaying pop and R&B. Mabiland is everything at once, and yet unique to her expression. She’s funk. Soul. R&B. Powerful. Harmonious. Mabiland is a resounding yes, a must see act.
Marty Preciado is a researcher, writer and editor. Marty’s research and writing focuses on transcultural exchange of politics and gender, with an emphasis on music, arts and culture.
London, UK-ENGLAND Electronic
Anchorsong’s video for 2018 single “Testimony” looks and sounds like a kaleidoscope, incorporating propulsive subcontinental rhythms, bouncing steel drums, and delicate violins in a pastiche that brings to mind the Avalanches’ more musical moments. The Tokyo producer, now living in London, has drawn attention for gripping live performances that range from solo MPC calisthenics to string quartet accompaniments. Following three CD/live DVD releases in Japan, he’s now three international LPs deep into his career on impressive labels like BBE Recordings and Tru Thoughts. Bollywood percussion supplies some of the inspiration for his 2018 release Cohesion, but true to name the album melts together a tasteful breadth of influences over a minimal bed of organic-sounding electronics that bring to mind Four Tet’s early work. Keep this cerebral beatmaker on your radar.
Dan Gentile is a writer and DJ based in Austin who has written for publications like Austin Chronicle, VICE, Rolling Stone, American Way, and Wax Poetics. His writing focuses on emerging electronic musicians, DJs, and Texas barbecue. He can be found playing vinyl records at venues like Cheer Up Charlies, Sahara Lounge, and the South Congress Hotel.
Montreal, CANADA Folk
Musician, filmmaker and activist: these are just a few of the many roles Elisapie Isaac takes on while being a worldwide ambassador to the Inuit culture. Born in the Canadian Arctic to an Inuk mother and a father with Newfoundland origins and awarded with a Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year with her former project Taima in 2005, the Montreal-based singer combines aboriginal musical elements with classical folk and stripped-down songwriting. Her new album The Ballad of the Runaway Girl — sung in Inuktitut, English and French — tells the story of an expatriate Inuk and the reconnection process to their roots, as a way of honoring her heritage. By embracing them, Elisapie can now sing truthfully about her past in a soulful, soothing way while evoking in her music the purity and vulnerable atmospheres of the northern lands.
Francisco Gonçalves Silva is a Lisbon-born music journalist, copywriter and marketer with a background in music, tech and cultural/event management. Based in Berlin, he currently works as PR & Communications Manager for Piranha Arts, an independent creative company best known for organizing WOMEX — the World Music Expo — the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene.
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Rock
Two sold-out Australian headline tours, support tours with Fall Out Boy and Biffy Clyro, and a label deal in Australia and New Zealand with Dew Process/Universal Music; WAAX are already ticking ascension boxes. If you could personify the global buzz around WAAX, it would look just like frontwoman Marie DeVita. Maz, as she’s affectionately known, is a tour de force of frenetic energy that can command an arena in the same breath as she can unpack her conquering of mental illness in tracks like ‘Labrador’. WAAX is not for the faint of heart, this band has enough backbone to strip paint, and enough small town ennui to see their dreams through to the end.
Poppy Reid is the Managing Editor of Australia’s fastest-growing music media company, Seventh Street Media, which includes Tone Deaf, The Brag, The Industry Observer and numerous other publications under its umbrella. She was shortlisted for B&T’s Women in Media Awards in 2017, is the former Editor at The Music Network and a journalist who has been published in various publications including Rolling Stone, The Edge and Red Bull Music. When not writing about music, Poppy is binge-watching Netflix series with badass female protagonists.
San Diego, CA Electronic
Come for her soothing vocals, stay for her addictive beats: Jackie Mendoza blends Latin pop and folk influences with electric ukulele for a vibrant, imaginative sound that combines the best of California and Mexico. Her creativity extends beyond comprehension; the multi-hyphenate is also a producer, songwriter, and director, showcasing her dizzying array of talents in 360 VR for her music video for “La Luz.” SXSW is her next riveting, dreamy, and unorthodox stage, and we’ll be all the better for it.
Check out Jackie Mendoza at SXSW
Hong Konger, New Yorker, and now Berliner, Jaclyn heads up brand partnerships (and was most recently the Interim Editor-in-Chief) at Majestic Casual, one of the Internet’s most beloved music and photography curators passionately bringing together different perspectives to tell some of the most exciting stories in the creative world. Come experience something new; Majestic Casual’s second-ever SXSW showcase presents an exciting live music lineup at Bungalow on March 15th.
Hanover, NH Pop
Musician, vocalist and producer Kelsie Hogue was inspired to start making music as a child by Lisa Simpson playing the saxophone. Now she writes catchy bubblegum bangers with a queer twist as Sir Babygirl. Her debut album Crush on Me sparkles and shimmers with slick, candy-coated hooks, drawing influence from late ’90s, early ’00s pop princesses like Britney, Xtina, and Avril Lavigne. There are hints of Lorde and of St. Vincent’s flashiest moments, paired with over-the-top, maximalist production and dance floor-ready beats. Sir Babygirl has the stage-presence to pull it off live, too; she delights in subverting the genre with outsize performances informed by drag and her background in theater and comedy. Expect a sugar rush and an impromptu onstage dance party with as many audience members as will fit.
Check out Sir Babygirl at SXSW
Amanda Hatfield is a photographer and writer from New Jersey. She’s contributed to BrooklynVegan in a variety of roles since 2010, and currently as photo editor and social media manager.
Long Beach, CA Hip-Hop / Rap
Rappers of Khmer descent have rarely been represented in hip-hop until $tupid Young’s arrival. A Long Beach native who reps his heritage proudly, Young is aiming to create a space for Cambodians in the genre with his authentic sound of West Coast gangster rap. Young’s music draws from his LBC upbringing in the hood, surrounded by crime and raised by Cambodian Crips, and his content deals a lot with living a street life he can’t quite leave behind yet. Young possesses a style that is very on trend with what the West is producing – straight-edged rhymes over hard-hitting production coming from the heart of L.A. Already collaborating with the West’s new generation like Mozzy and BlueFace, Young is claiming he’s the “hottest Asian rapper out,” with songs over a million streams on YouTube to back it up. Following in the footsteps of hometown heroes Snoop Dogg and Vince Staples, he’s well on his way.
Check out $tupid Young at SXSW
Eric Diep is a freelance hip-hop writer and journalist. A hip-hop nerd from the Northwest, he previously held positions as a news writer for BET and an editor at XXL, where he once traveled to 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion for a G-Unit cover story and interviewed Tony Yayo near a pool. He worked on the 2013 and 2014 XXL Freshman classes, profiling Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze, Troy Ave, and Lil Bibby respectively.
Seoul, SOUTH KOREA Rock
Piri, Haegeum, and Geomungo. These almost unheard-of instruments, played since the 6th century in Korean peninsula, meet artists who are equally influenced by traditional music and post-rock. The primitive sound of these ancient instruments that innately violate the rule of equal temperament demonstrate what ‘post-rock’ means, creating an atmosphere somehow classical and rebellious at the same time. Since their international debut in 2012, Jambinai has appeared on the lineup of the most well-known festivals such as Glastonbury (2014), Primavera Sound (2015) and Coachella (2019), as well as a performance at the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games in 2018.
Cecilia Soojeong Yi manages music and performing arts projects such as festivals and artist management. She used to work at the Korean Cultural Center in Spain and now she works as the executive manager for Zandari Festa, Asia’s premier independent and international showcase festival. In 2018, she co-founded the DMZ Peace Train Music Festival, taking charge of programming, booking and international relationships.
San Francisco, CA Pop
Los Angeles’ Foie Gras plays drone with full knowledge that one can’t often consume a whole ten to twenty minute piece at once, opting for shorter bites of bliss-driven guitar drifts. Individually, her songs are brief escapes from [insert typical soul-ripping doldrum of late capitalism here]; when they come together in records like 2014’s Bate Kush (best album title ever?), they’re a big whiplash you can zone out to. Foie Gras’ earlier work recalls taping a Grouper show from miles away, distant and super lo-fi yet highly intimate. Her single “Red Moon” from last year is heavier, not only by amping up the noise and adding cold, thundering industrial percussion, but also by cloaking her sound in dread. It feels like an awakening where you know your hunger is real even if you’re not quite sure what it is you hunger for.
Andy O’Connor is that dude you see at every metal show in Austin. He is also a freelance writer with bylines in Pitchfork, the Austin-American Statesman, NPR, SPIN, Noisey, and numerous other publications, covering metal, hardcore, and other forms of dudes screaming loudly. His Deaf Forever column, highlighting the best new metal releases, appears every month at Vinyl Me Please. Though a lifelong metalhead, Andy will also talk your ear off about Southern Rap, and born in Galveston, he reps the same area code as UGK. Whenever the Thick and Hearty comes back at Whataburger, that Whatasized with a Dr Pepper is his order. Most importantly, Andy is the proud father of an orange cat named Miles.
Stockholm, SWEDEN R & B
Over a short span of time, Ayelle has permanently established herself as a vanguard in the R&B soul scene. The London based Swedish-Iranian siren enthralls with her dusky sensual, moody seductive music, often partnering with visionary producers from the contemporary electronic scene to astound us with atmospheric brooding, emotive searing future R&B. She’s collaborated with Devault, Taska Black, Alex Lustig, Maths Time Joy, and more. Ayelle’s latest single “Obvious”, her first release since 2018 EP Slow Clap, is a serpentine slinking, mischievous twisting display of her sultry smoldering, smoky singed voice. She emits the provocative magnetism and feminine strength of BANKS, emblazoned with dark blistering synths and tempestuous rousing bass. The aforementioned Slow Clap opens with nocturnal pining “Mad”, a significant show of force when it comes to Ayelle’s heart-wrenching lyricism, so torridly impassioned and bitterly bruised. I find myself a willful prisoner to Ayelle’s vice-like spell, even if I’m not envious of many of the agonizing predicaments she discloses within her intimate songs. But that desperate desire, her bittersweet misery, and that ricochet resilience are familiar manifestations when it comes to love and obsession.
Amy graduated with a masters degree in comparative biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley before discovering how deep her passion for music runs. This insatiable obsession lead her to create I Heart Moosiq, a San Francisco based music blog that celebrates exceptional new music and highlights noteworthy artists, bands, and producers from all across the genres. She spends a profuse amount of her time listening to and writing about music. A lot of her spare time is spent attending shows and concerts, particularly ones at intimate venues where emerging artists are showcased. I Heart Moosiq is a rewarding experience and a heartfelt endeavor she plans on continuing for much time to come.
Berkeley, CA Hip-Hop / Rap
Berkeley native Koran Streets has built a reputation for his seemingly effortless ability to weave his story of perseverance into his music, captivating listeners with every emotive and unfiltered bar. While his career has started to shift in his favor, with 2018 notably a breakout year, his successes have been nothing short of hard-earned. At 27, the rapper has been tested in a multitude of ways, including suffering burns on over 28 percent of his body at age 13, overcoming being homeless and losing his best friend to murder. With a steadfast work ethic and a dedication to his vision, Koran Streets has navigated the most tumultuous chapters of his life with grace and an aptitude for growth. As exemplified by his 2016 debut You. Know. I. Got. It (The Album) and 2018’s Life 20s, as well as his acting roles in director Jonathan Singer-Vine’s critically acclaimed films Licks (2013) and Kicks (2016), Koran Streets is as vibrant as he is versatile in his talents.
Check out Koran Streets at SXSW
KC Orcutt is a freelance music writer currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. After going on tour with her favorite upstate New York rappers and tirelessly covering upstate New York’s music scene for five years, she began to try her hand at freelancing, expanding her pen game to sites such as Beatport, 12ozProphet and the Source Magazine. KC has since gone on to contribute to an array of reputed digital publications, including REVOLT TV, BET, XXL, UndergroundHipHop, Hypebeast, Spotify, HotNewHipHop and more. An enthusiast of her craft first and foremost, KC is inspired by music, art, culture and people who do things with passion.
Brooklyn, NY Hip-Hop / Rap
Rob Markman, a veteran hip-hop journalist who is head of artist relations at Genius, moonlights as an MC. For years, Markman chased his other dream to become a rapper, and found the courage to pursue it again after impressing The Breakfast Club‘s hosts with an acapella freestyle during an August 2016 interview. Since then Markman has focused on his music, a blend of sharp storytelling rhymes over “rapper’s rapper” beats, and getting major looks like opening for Logic and 2 Chainz. His debut Write to Dream features skits by DJ Khaled, Wiz Khalifa and Royce da 5′9″ among others, praising his jump from the rap writer covering the artists to becoming one himself. His second project, It’s Too Late at the Wake, will be another expression of Markman’s journey to rap stardom.
Eric Diep is a freelance hip-hop writer and journalist. A hip-hop nerd from the Northwest, he previously held positions as a news writer for BET and an editor at XXL, where he once traveled to 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion for a G-Unit cover story and interviewed Tony Yayo near a pool. He worked on the 2013 and 2014 XXL Freshman classes, profiling Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze, Troy Ave, and Lil Bibby respectively.
Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS Rock
Dutch-born Pip Blom has been slowly making waves outside of her native Amsterdam over the past two years, upscaling from her original solo incarnation to a full band and becoming increasingly more confident a live proposition in tandem. Now, having been snapped up by Heavenly Records for forthcoming debut LP Boat, it feels like Pip’s lo-fi, hooky indie rock has fully found its stride. There’s strains of Courtney Barnett in her laid-back, earworm vocals, and throwbacks to 90s alt-rock lynchpins (including recent tourmates The Breeders) across the nuanced, yet accessible melodies laced throughout the likes of recent track “School”. Pip is, essentially, very hard not to like — as Austin’s soon to discover.
Lisa Wright is the Features Editor and Live Events Booker at DIY – a nationwide music platform, with a monthly print issue and an online reach of more than a million unique users per month. She also currently writes extensively for Time Out and has had regular bylines in NME, Noisey and more. She has booked festival stages at Reading and Leeds, Bestival and All Points East, and ran a new music clubnight in London for six years, giving early shows to the likes of Wolf Alice, Slaves and the Fat White Family.
Chicago, IL R & B
The Chicago-based duo DRAMA deliver a unique style of dark electro-pop that blends evocative R&B vocals with infectious synth-laced dance melodies. Their tracks are unequivocally catchy with a bold and intimate vocal delivery that keeps a swaying crowd enraptured from start to finish. Consisting of musicians Na’el Shehade (producer) and Via Rosa (lead vocals), the duo continues to collect praise from critics alike following the independent release of their first EP, “Gallows”, in November 2016 and “Lies After Love”, May 2018. By injecting bouncy instrumentation with sultry but earnest songwriting, DRAMA has tapped into a formula that’s driving the contemporary electronic and indie-pop scene into the future.
A San Francisco-based music critic and the Senior Editor of EARMILK. David is a frequent contributor to various music and entertainment publications such as SPIN, Billboard, The Daily Beast, The Village Voice, SF Weekly and many more.
Austin, TX Hip-Hop / Rap
When you think of Austin, TX, I’m pretty sure hip-hop/rap music doesn’t come to mind. That’s all changing due to the likes of The Teeta. A rap veteran in his own right, The Teeta has been putting in work for well over a decade now. Arguably the face of the Austin rap scene, The Teeta and his wave of “pretty boy trap music” has pushed him to the forefront of the Live Music Capital as well as gained him statewide and some national attention with mentions in Pitchfork. With his 2018 releases of Killstreak 2 and American Pop, The Teeta has helped magnify the city of Austin as a major player in Texas rap. His electrifying high energy performances continue to elevate his status as an all-around great artist. The Teeta gives you everything you expected from a Texas rapper along with all the weird, hippy, nonchalant vibes Austin is known for.
Aaron “Fresh” Knight is a 30 year old media personality. He is currently working as a radio personality for KUTX 98.9 FM in Austin, TX, also co-hosting The Breaks Saturdays on the same station. Better known as “Fresh”, Knight has worked in music blogging, podcasting, and freelance writing.
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Electronic
Formerly known as Snakadaktal, Australian duo Phoebe Lou and Joseph Clough come back together as Two People, whose magically fragile synths are best enjoyed in a dark room with your eyes closed. Their latest single “I’m Tied, To You” is a masterclass in ethereal vocals and immersive bass-lines, mysterious and inviting all at once — and offers a sneak peek at a live SXSW set that is sure to stay with you long after the night ends.
Hong Konger, New Yorker, and now Berliner, Jaclyn heads up brand partnerships (and was most recently the Interim Editor-in-Chief) at Majestic Casual, one of the Internet’s most beloved music and photography curators passionately bringing together different perspectives to tell some of the most exciting stories in the creative world. Come experience something new; Majestic Casual’s second-ever SXSW showcase presents an exciting live music lineup at Bungalow on March 15th.
Charlotte, NC Hip-Hop / Rap
Based in Philadelphia, Ivy Sole is one of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop. The elusive artist released Overgrown in 2018 to a slow and steady build of fanfare. Her flow, fluid and clear like a glacial stream, gives you an intimate look into the moments in her life that have brought her to where she is today. With tracks ranging from slow and somber to straight-up banger, Ivy Sole is not one to miss this SXSW.
Alexandra Berenson is Senior A&R at Vinyl Me, Please. She currently lives in Denver, CO.
Austin, TX Soul
Smoke-filled hash halls packed to the brim with grooving hippies. A growling tiger lying in wait. Two lovers entwined in a last-chance embrace. All images conjured up within three minutes of listening to Kalu & the Electric Joint’s one-of-a-kind brand of trippy psych rock-a-soul. From the reggae tinged “Time Undone” to the beautiful 60’s era head-trip jam “Too Low to Get High”, Kalu’s crew of musical co-conspirators create sonic tapestries and vibrant images. While the band itself brims with talent, Kalu’s vocal work and scintillating guitar leads provides the jet fuel for the sound to truly soar. “Fighter” is a perfect example of this kinetic force. Backed by the backbreaking smack and crack of his backing band, Kalu rides a scorching blend of rock guitars and Latin rhythm to an explosive crescendo. ATX music at its absolute finest.
Check out Kalu & The Electric Joint at SXSW
Jerseyian turned Austinite Bill Tucker writes words for a number of sites and publications. He currently serves as Lead Blogger for The Austinot (hyper-local lifestyle blog), and as a columnist for skirmishfrogs.com (retro gaming). His past credits include the Entertainment Weekly Blogging Community, Texas Highways Magazine, and penning film reviews for a variety of sites and outlets. He enjoys video games, craft beer, Austin’s incredibly vibrant music scene, and convincing his friends Dr. Strangelove is one of the greatest films of all time.
Cardiff, UK-WALES Rock
Davey Newington of Boy Azooga is one of the most gifted songwriters in Britain right now. The guy has more talent in his little fingers than most bands do in their full lineups! He fronts Boy Azooga, who come from Cardiff, Wales, and arrived fully-formed a year ago armed with a debut album that wowed everyone who heard it. With smart, catchy songs and sky high choruses, the best of Davey’s tunes somehow manage to tap into the heavy, melancholic drama of Alex Turner’s most sad-eyed work (the stuff like Piledriver Waltz and Cornerstone – that’s Davey’s vibe). There aren’t many people around who can do that and make it sound so pristine and effortless, but Davey does it time and time again.
Matt Wilkinson presents on Apple Music’s Beats 1 Monday–Friday 11am–1pm — listen live via apple.co/B1_MattLive and on-demand at apple.co/B1_Matt.
Los Angeles, CA Pop
Losing yourself in the dreamy catchiness of The Pantones’ creations is easy, because this is music with a melancholic undertone but also an essentially optimistic, playful vibe. Comprised of sisters Angeline and Madeline Doctor as well as Isabel Salinas, the trio hails from sunny Los Angeles, a place not lightly associated with the moodier kind of music. The Pantones draw their inspiration from 80s legends: think of the versatility of The Cure, who helped defining goth but also felt equally at home within the pop genre and songs by The Pantones like “Corruption” and “Control” fall exactly in that spectrum. Clearly, the three-piece is only at the beginning of their career and with their skillful songwriting and delightful execution, they are definitely onto something. While playing live, they test out new material, shaping and refining their upcoming singles. We will be able to witness this during SXSW, when The Pantones perform outside their home state California for the first time.
Check out The Pantones at SXSW
At home in New York, Elke runs music blog glamglare which focuses on emerging artists in the indie pop, rock and electronic genres. The blog is best known for its Song Pick of the Day series, which has continuously featured a new single each day since 2015, often giving artists their first media exposure. Covering SXSW since 2014, glamglare also runs an official SXSW showcase with its first installment last year. Elke founded ENOBO music & media, which glamglare is part of, and provides management and other services for artists. When asked about her favorite band in a cab ride from AUS to Downtown Austin for SXSW 2017, The Strokes were the answer — but ask her again.
London, UK-ENGLAND Hip-Hop / Rap
Thanks to profile-boosting features by Drake on ‘More Life,’ Skepta and Giggs have opened the doors for more grime artists to be embraced in America. Novelist, a 22-year-old South London MC, is part of the new class of British rappers (Dave, AJ Tracey) who are poised to break through and take over 2019. He just released his debut album Novelist Guy, a meticulous effort of introspection and political statements over commanding production. Compared to his peers, Novelist is very much a traditionalist, staying with unapologetic grime that draws a bit of nostalgia. Look for many of his album’s highlights— “Afro Pick, “Stop Killing the Mandem,” “Whole 9 Yards”—to transform into a cathartic experience when he hits the stage.
Eric Diep is a freelance hip-hop writer and journalist. A hip-hop nerd from the Northwest, he previously held positions as a news writer for BET and an editor at XXL, where he once traveled to 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion for a G-Unit cover story and interviewed Tony Yayo near a pool. He worked on the 2013 and 2014 XXL Freshman classes, profiling Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze, Troy Ave, and Lil Bibby respectively.
Los Angeles, CA Hip-Hop / Rap
JAG is a testament to how as an artist, your authenticity is your most important asset. Whether the South Central, Los Angeles native catches your ear with his explosive freestyle abilities or his club-ready anthems, his versatility — paired with his consistency — is guaranteed to stand out. With a background in battle rap translating effortlessly into his songwriting, JAG is a rapper’s rapper who has a penchant for adapting his style to accent a varied soundscape across hip-hop and R&B. From his breakout viral freestyle “The Kapernick Effect” to collaborating with the likes of Ty Dolla $ign, Cozz, Problem, Sy Ari Da Kid, Cassidy and Trey Songz, JAG is setting his own bar high with each passing day, all while touching on social justice issues in his rhymes, overcoming adversity in his own life and inspiring others to stay true to their own vision. As exemplified by his lyricism and well-rounded approach, JAG is cultivating a reputation built on a foundation of persistence, dedication and top-tier execution.
KC Orcutt is a freelance music writer currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. After going on tour with her favorite upstate New York rappers and tirelessly covering upstate New York’s music scene for five years, she began to try her hand at freelancing, expanding her pen game to sites such as Beatport, 12ozProphet and the Source Magazine. KC has since gone on to contribute to an array of reputed digital publications, including REVOLT TV, BET, XXL, UndergroundHipHop, Hypebeast, Spotify, HotNewHipHop and more. An enthusiast of her craft first and foremost, KC is inspired by music, art, culture and people who do things with passion.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
It’s undeniable that Liily is a new force to be reckoned with in the alt rock scene. The San Fernando Valley band hit the ground running last fall with their blistering knockout of a first single, “Toro”. They followed it up with “Sold”, and most recently, “Sepulveda Basin”, garnering acclaim for their manic fevered rock. Despite the fact that their members are teenagers, or perhaps because of it, there’s an unrestrained fury and a raw tension to the intense squall that is their music. With the uproarious vehemence of Rage Against The Machine or Queens Of The Stone Age and the oblique angles of Foals’ mathy art rock, Liily is poised to have their breakout year. Liily’s debut EP I Can Fool Anybody In This Town arrives on March 8 via Flush Records, just in time for their SXSW appearance. Known for their wild, frenetic live energy, this young band is surely ready to shred the stage with what’ll likely be the most volatile sets of this year’s festival.
Amy graduated with a masters degree in comparative biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley before discovering how deep her passion for music runs. This insatiable obsession lead her to create I Heart Moosiq, a San Francisco based music blog that celebrates exceptional new music and highlights noteworthy artists, bands, and producers from all across the genres. She spends a profuse amount of her time listening to and writing about music. A lot of her spare time is spent attending shows and concerts, particularly ones at intimate venues where emerging artists are showcased. I Heart Moosiq is a rewarding experience and a heartfelt endeavor she plans on continuing for much time to come.
Los Angeles, CA Americana
Bedouine first caught my attention when I saw her perform in a church-turned-venue during Iceland Airwaves in 2018. There’s an exceptional level of warmth that radiates from Bedouine when you absorb yourself in her words, guitar strums, and lyrics that literally makes you feel as if you’re being embraced. Don’t be fooled by Bedouine’s simple setup — the power of her music is without boundaries.
Fabi Reyna is a Mexican-American guitarist who founded and runs She Shreds Media—the world’s first and only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. Best known for her influence in shifting narratives about womxn, guitarists, and industry representation through language and education. Reyna also organizes national events, provides consulting and creative services, as well as performs with two 2019 SXSW showcasing artists: Reyna Tropical and Sávila.
Stockholm, SWEDEN Rock
Stockholm’s Viagra Boys are bound to end up on a couple “best/worst band names of SXSW” gruel blogs, but don’t write them off. Their punk can be dancey but isn’t dancepunk, resembling Flipper trying to make sense of The Faint. Vocalist Sebastian Murphy channels Iggy Pop’s effortlessly cool “I’m Bored” drawl in “Sports,” and in the song’s video, he makes moping around shirtless in Adidas trackpants and a sleazy gold chain look way sexier than it has any right to be. The rest of the band is committed to groove and he’s the lovable jackass who threatens to derail it all, and that’s what keeps it together. Viagra Boys also tap into The Stooges’ Fun House harsh sax with “Slow Learner” and “Shrimp Shack,” giving a 2019 face to a timeless protopunk classic. For all of Austin’s changes, nailing The Stooges will still get your tab picked up fast.
Andy O’Connor is that dude you see at every metal show in Austin. He is also a freelance writer with bylines in Pitchfork, the Austin-American Statesman, NPR, SPIN, Noisey, and numerous other publications, covering metal, hardcore, and other forms of dudes screaming loudly. His Deaf Forever column, highlighting the best new metal releases, appears every month at Vinyl Me Please. Though a lifelong metalhead, Andy will also talk your ear off about Southern Rap, and born in Galveston, he reps the same area code as UGK. Whenever the Thick and Hearty comes back at Whataburger, that Whatasized with a Dr Pepper is his order. Most importantly, Andy is the proud father of an orange cat named Miles.
New York, NY Punk
Enter a futuristic world filled with beats, beauty, art, and distortion—that’s Public Practice. The NYC-based four-piece is made up of former bandmates of the gritty WALL and bubbly indie band Beverly, though Public Practice isn’t quite the combo of those genres. Their debut EP Distance Is A Mirror, released in the fall of last year, is a Ridley Scott Blade Runner approach to art school punk. The group’s unique and energetic vibe makes for an aesthetically and sonically captivating performance. Inspirations from bands like Devo, Talking Heads, and Depeche Mode are undeniable in the dark undertones prevalent in their melodies. On stage the frontwoman Sam York moves with an edge, like a dystopian creature dancing as an act of rebellion. To miss an act like this is a risk to your future survival.
Check out Public Practice at SXSW
Elena Childers was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA by a punk rock drummer from the mountains of Kentucky and a rebellious scientist from the capital of Chile. Now living in Brooklyn, NY, she’s a rebel with no cause needed and a podcast host/ music journalist for BTRtoday and Alt Citizen. Catch her backstage at all the coolest underground shows in NYC.
Montreal, CANADA Punk
There’s not much to gather about these pranksters on the internets. Lucky me, I got to see these kids sip on cheap French Canadian beers in random back alley’s of Montreal. Aside all the sippin’, they recently dished out their first single “Hank Williams” that sounded like Devo got slapped in the face by The Fall. In 2018, Pottery quickly went from playing for their friends to open for OH SEE’s and Parquet Courts. Their next big moves are dropping out of school and dipping out of Canada to play SXSW and taking on the rest of the States and Europe. They claim to be making these brave moves “because it is fun”.
Mikey B Rishwain was born and raised in Stockton, California (home of Chris Isaak & Pavement). He started working in the music world at age 17, as a music buyer and store manager for local record stores as well as booking DIY concerts through out Northern California. He also worked for The Militia Group (Juliette Lewis, The Appleseed Cast), an independent record company based in Long Beach, for four years. Mikey eventually relocated to Montreal, where he rapidly established himself as a trendsetter ranking in the top 100 in Nightlife Magazine’s Montreal personalities that changed our nightlife, after being in the city for only a year! He has been Programming Director for M FOR MONTREAL, since 2007. His natural ability to discover the best up-and-coming acts has helped the careers of many artists including, Mac Demarco, Grimes and Half Moon Run. Throughout the years, he has been collaborating with VICE, NOISEY, BrooklynVegan, Cult MTL & others. He was nominated three times and won City Champion and Best Festival Networking Activity at the YMCA Awards (3 times), in Brighton, England.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
Who were those two figures in white leather in the last Smashing Pumpkins video? They are Drab Majesty, whose human bodies reside in Los Angeles even though their post-punk sounds come from another world. They look like badass alien bikers, and sound like them too: Mona D drapes heavenly keyboards on thick, while Deb Demure conjures spaced-out riffs that don’t lose their elemental grit no how much flanger or chorus is applied. That secret rock is key: Deb’s spindly guitar line in “Cold Souls” drives a tender ode to losing someone to a far-away, unimaginable dimension, and “Kissing the Ground” imagines new wave as thrash. It’s how they fit touring both with dance-goths Cold Cave and rising metal stars Deafheaven — and just this winter, the Pumpkins, another band who harnesses both lush and crunch. Still, Drab Majesty is an experience unto themselves, full of light and sick licks.
Check out Drab Majesty at SXSW
Andy O’Connor is that dude you see at every metal show in Austin. He is also a freelance writer with bylines in Pitchfork, the Austin-American Statesman, NPR, SPIN, Noisey, and numerous other publications, covering metal, hardcore, and other forms of dudes screaming loudly. His Deaf Forever column, highlighting the best new metal releases, appears every month at Vinyl Me Please. Though a lifelong metalhead, Andy will also talk your ear off about Southern Rap, and born in Galveston, he reps the same area code as UGK. Whenever the Thick and Hearty comes back at Whataburger, that Whatasized with a Dr Pepper is his order. Most importantly, Andy is the proud father of an orange cat named Miles.
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Punk
Melbourne punks Amyl & the Sniffers are making waves for their energetic, raucous and utterly mesmerizing live shows and now they’re coming to tear up stages at SXSW 2019! Emerging from the underground scene of Australia’s East Coast, the four-piece band released their 10-track debut album Big Attraction & Giddy Up last year and these songs really do come alive live, they’re absolutely packed full of attitude and riffs.
Check out Amyl & The Sniffers at SXSW
Abbie McCarthy is a TV & Radio presenter. She currently presents BBC Music Introducing in Kent and can also be heard covering shows on BBC Radio 1, as well as hosting the popular music podcast, Live Lounge Uncovered, which brings listeners behind the scenes of the BBC’s home of live music. You can catch Abbie on your TV screens, via 4Music & The Box Network, hosting Boxfresh, a show that shines a spotlight on the biggest new artists on the planet. Abbie is also the mastermind behind Good Karma Club, a club night championing the best acts around. Previous acts to have played the night include The Amazons, Pale Waves and Tom Grennan.
New Orleans, LA Folk
Exchanging New York for New Orleans, Haitian-American Leyla McCalla found in her new chosen home a deeper connection to her Haitian roots and a new found musical identity. A classically trained cellist, she also plays tenor banjo and guitar. Her compositions combine elements from Creole, Cajun and Haitian to American jazz and folk music. While settling in Lousiana, she joined the Carolina Chocolate Drops before pursuing her own path. With her debut Vari-Colored Songs – a Tribute to Langston Hughes, McCalla reflected on themes of social justice and pan-African consciousness. Now, with her new album The Capitalist Blues she replaces the cello for the tenor banjo to question the current political environment with a critical eye, determination and a strong belief in the power of change.
Check out Leyla McCalla at SXSW
Francisco Gonçalves Silva is a Lisbon-born music journalist, copywriter and marketer with a background in music, tech and cultural/event management. Based in Berlin, he currently works as PR & Communications Manager for Piranha Arts, an independent creative company best known for organizing WOMEX — the World Music Expo — the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene.
Berlin, GERMANY Rock
Marrying a sprinkling of grunge with more than a helping of 80’s bassline, Laura Carbone’s album shouts to the history of American music despite her German heritage. Carbone blends the ethereal whispers of 80’s synth and song construction with the torn jeans and dusty roads of classic Americana, and seems comfortable bouncing effortlessly from genre to genre.
Versatility is her greatest strength, no two songs of hers sound truly alike. Her latest single “The Flowers Beneath Your Feet” showcases a softer, country tinged opening before bursting into a passionate ball of flames. In all situations she feels comfortable, whether love or heartache, rage or grace, it’s all fuel to the fire, and she communicates that blaze in sparkling clarity.
Check out Laura Carbone at SXSW
Graduate of Northern Arizona University, Drew finished in three years, and quickly realized he should’ve stayed for round four. Currently living in beautiful Los Angeles, California, where there’s no AC, the rent is high, but the people and weather are gorgeous, so you take your lumps where you have to. Drew thrives on listening to/babbling about music that confuses people, sometimes even himself, and is very glad to have a platform to force people to read his thoughts on music they may or may not have heard.
Sydney, AUSTRALIA Hip-Hop / Rap
When ‘CLOUDS’ received its global premiere on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music Beats 1 show, Australia had already predicted Kwame’s schedule was about to get a lot busier. The Western Sydney producer, writer, rapper and engineer has the brash upward thinking of Tyler The Creator, and the international appeal of Cardi B — Kwame has set his story to music, and we’re still on chapter one.
Poppy Reid is the Managing Editor of Australia’s fastest-growing music media company, Seventh Street Media, which includes Tone Deaf, The Brag, The Industry Observer and numerous other publications under its umbrella. She was shortlisted for B&T’s Women in Media Awards in 2017, is the former Editor at The Music Network and a journalist who has been published in various publications including Rolling Stone, The Edge and Red Bull Music. When not writing about music, Poppy is binge-watching Netflix series with badass female protagonists.
Bristol , UK-ENGLAND Punk
Hailing from Brighton but armed with a twitchy, idiosyncratic sound that owes as much to krautrock experimentalism as more traditional English eccentricities, Squid are fast making a name for themselves as one of the UK’s most original, intriguing new bands. Debut single proper ‘The Dial” — released as part of acclaimed producer Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground series — acts as a suitably odd calling card: full of twisted shrieks, hypnotic, repetitive motifs and strange otherworldly sounds, it’s a statement of broad-reaching intent. Live, meanwhile, the band are a bunch of experimental mad scientists. Swapping vocals, stretching songs and generally creating an air of somehow simultaneous chaos and precision, theirs is a show that immediately earmarks Squid as ones to keep a firm eye on. Do that thing.
Lisa Wright is the Features Editor and Live Events Booker at DIY – a nationwide music platform, with a monthly print issue and an online reach of more than a million unique users per month. She also currently writes extensively for Time Out and has had regular bylines in NME, Noisey and more. She has booked festival stages at Reading and Leeds, Bestival and All Points East, and ran a new music clubnight in London for six years, giving early shows to the likes of Wolf Alice, Slaves and the Fat White Family.
Singapore, SINGAPORE Electronic
For a minimalistic take on indie pop, look no further than Linying; the singer-songwriter emerges from Singapore with a breathy lilt that is as hypnotizing as it is vulnerable. The first Singaporean female artist to sign to Universal Music Singapore, she breaks glass ceilings as easily as her voice breaks gracefully over soft piano melodies and humming reverb, breaking norms and hearts along the way.
Hong Konger, New Yorker, and now Berliner, Jaclyn heads up brand partnerships (and was most recently the Interim Editor-in-Chief) at Majestic Casual, one of the Internet’s most beloved music and photography curators passionately bringing together different perspectives to tell some of the most exciting stories in the creative world. Come experience something new; Majestic Casual’s second-ever SXSW showcase presents an exciting live music lineup at Bungalow on March 15th.
Iquique, CHILE Latin Indie
Natalia is a proud daughter of the North of Chile — the barren, intimidating and beautiful Atacama desert. Her colorful, expressive mix of dance, pop and tribal beats makes her a unique and exciting exponent of the new wave of Chilean singer-songwriters and performers.
Check out Natalia Norte at SXSW
Composer, activist, entrepreneur and bilingual singer, Francisca Valenzuela is one of the most active representatives of Chilean pop at an international level. The promising start of her career in 2007 with the hit single “Dulce”, was only surpassed by a constant recognition in the music world where she has two platinum albums, a Latin Grammy nomination and collaborations with artists such as U2, Miguel Bosé, Pablo Alborán, Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade and Pedro Aznar among others. Her discography produced independently through her own record label, Frantastic Records, include the albums Muérdete la lengua (2007), Buen soldado (2011) — both platinum records — and Tajo Abierto (2014). She’s currently promoting her newest singles “Tómame” (Drink me) and “Ya no se trata de ti” (It’s not about you anymore) from her upcoming album. Francisca is also founder and director of Ruidosa Fest, the festival and international feminist platform which seeks social and cultural transformation through the empowerment of women in the creative industries.
Dublin, IRELAND Punk
There’s a relentless wave of momentum growing around Fontaines D.C. — and for good reason. If you’re not already caught up within it, chances are high that you will be by the end of SXSW. Whilst both celebrating the rich history of Dublin’s counterculture and spearheading its future, the Irish foursome marry a visceral brand of post punk to a lyrical core based on poetry and pub talk in equal measure. The results are anthemic, hypnotic and utterly engrossing. With a slew of highly rated single releases to date and their debut album just out on Partisan, catch them at SXSW before they go supersonic, and prepare to meet your new favorite band.
Check out Fontaines D.C. at SXSW
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Justin Sweeting has over eighteen years music industry experience, centered within Asia. Having established the pan-regional, cross media platform AMP (Asia’s Music Platform) for Channel [V], Justin went on to co-found Magnetic Asia as Music Director. Magnetic Asia operates festivals & events: Clockenflap, Sonar Hong Kong, YourMum, Ticketing; and offers further agency services to a broad reach of clients including digital marketing, PR, production and consultancy. Connecting the dots between Asia and the global industry at large, Justin enjoys spreading the word on the region’s music potential and is actively involved in its positive evolution.
Los Angeles, CA Pop
After first breaking onto the scene with her debut single “White Noise”, singer-songwriter Lauren Salamone — or Ella Vos, as she’s better known — has become one of the most exciting new names in pop music. Since, she has amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify following the release of “Words I Never Said”, a beautiful composition filled with heartfelt melodies, dreamy soundscapes, and inspiring lyrics that showcase her power of vulnerability and unique ability to truly connect with listeners. In January of 2019, we saw the release of her follow-up EP Watch and Wait, which focuses on the emotions and experiences following her diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma. This indie pop queen has proven herself as a force to be reckoned with in every sense of the phrase and is certainly not one to miss at this year’s SXSW Music Festival.
WE FOUND NEW MUSIC is an artist discovery platform dedicated to introducing exceptional artists to music industry leaders, music organizations and fans. Since 2012, we have helped introduce artists through performance & interview sessions, blogs, radio shows, and weekly LA concerts with today’s most relevant artists, including Billie Eilish, Alec Benjamin, Kim Petras, Imagine Dragons, and Bishop Briggs. We book the artists we discover at our weekly concert series, at LA’s live music concept, Madame Siam, as well as additional top level LA venues. This will be WE FOUND NEW MUSIC’s fifth time presenting an official showcase at SXSW, this time, teaming up with We The Beat, to create a unique 12 band lineup at The Palm Door on Sixth Street, on the evening of March 14th.
Los Angeles, CA Pop
Madge was raised as a Mormon and as a classical musician, and once you see her perform you’ll realize how surprising that is. The singer/producer makes pop music with an edge, combining catchy choruses and sweet, airy melodies with confrontational lyrics, abrasive sounds, and a punk spirit. “My music is a saccharine assault,” she said in a Pigeons & Planes interview in 2018. “If it was a kitten it would bite your hand and then lick it.” Madge’s debut show in New York City was a night to remember, going above and beyond what most emerging artists are able to do without elaborate set designs and big budget productions. No spoiler alerts, though—check out Madge at SXSW this year and see it for yourself.
Jacob Moore started Pigeons & Planes in his bedroom in October of 2008. He ran the website independently for years before joining Complex and running the site as an owned and operated property. Pigeons & Planes is a music brand that focuses on discovery and curation, produces live shows, and creates original editorial, video, and social content around new music.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
Illuminati Hotties is like if the Beach Boys, Modern Baseball, and Rilo Kiley had a baby. Infusing 1950s doo-wop surf pop elements with FM fuzzed-out vocals and distorted guitars, the project from Sarah Tudzin breathes new life into what is typically thought of as indie pop. Cheekily candid and surprisingly vulnerable, Tudzin shares confessions of potential lovers slipping away and toxic relationships between screams about suffocating debt and the resentment of exes moving on. The debut record Kiss Yr Frenemies incites all the overwhelming feelings and emotions that accompany your twenties by skillfully extracting the small, but meaningful, moments and giving them a worthy platform to be showcased. It’s more personal than reading someone’s diary — it feels like tearing through a strangers room and instantly becoming intimately familiar with them through the significant mementos of their life.
Check out illuminati hotties at SXSW
Alt Citizen is a music and culture website and magazine focused on New York City’s emerging and underground artists. Established in 2012, Alt Citizen has been putting on shows and events, creating magazines, and daily digital content.
London, UK-ENGLAND Rock
Meet the Frankenstein’s monster of rock ‘n’ roll, Warmduscher. This big scary lean mean music machine is sewn together by six seasoned miscreants from the United Kingdom. Singer Clams Baker comes from the groups Mutado Pintado and Paranoid London, which also includes The Witherer — aka Little Whiskers — who plays synth. Then drummer Lightnin’ Jack Everett and guitarist The Saulcano also play in Fat White Family — but The Saulcano also has a solo project called Insecure Men, which includes bassist Mr. Salt Fingers Lovecraft, who is also from the band Childhood. Got all that? Yes, they’re intimidating and a little confusing, and put on a show that sins enough for the world, but they’re one hell of a party. Last year they released Whale City, an album full of temperamental rock that gives you goosebumps and turns your skin green. A band like this only comes around once in a lifetime.
Elena Childers was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA by a punk rock drummer from the mountains of Kentucky and a rebellious scientist from the capital of Chile. Now living in Brooklyn, NY, she’s a rebel with no cause needed and a podcast host/ music journalist for BTRtoday and Alt Citizen. Catch her backstage at all the coolest underground shows in NYC.
Brighton, UK-ENGLAND Rock
Having a shit day? Wrap your ears around Brighton quartet Penelope Isles’ warm, enveloping embrace of a single “Round” and let its sweetened harmonies and lilting, Real Estate-esque charms work their magic. One of the first tracks of theirs to prick up ears, it’s a solid introduction to a band who place these kind of spine-tingles at their core. Helmed by co-vocalists Lily and Jack and veering between more driving fuzz and softer moments of restraint, Penelope Isles (now signed to Bella Union) might skirt around the spectrum of volume but at their core they’ll always make your heart melt just a little. And that’s OK by us.
Check out Penelope Isles at SXSW
Lisa Wright is the Features Editor and Live Events Booker at DIY – a nationwide music platform, with a monthly print issue and an online reach of more than a million unique users per month. She also currently writes extensively for Time Out and has had regular bylines in NME, Noisey and more. She has booked festival stages at Reading and Leeds, Bestival and All Points East, and ran a new music clubnight in London for six years, giving early shows to the likes of Wolf Alice, Slaves and the Fat White Family.
Hong Kong, CHINA Punk
Hong Kong is a city in transition, and no band locally encapsulates the sentiments of an angry and agitated generation in the present climate better than David Boring. Taking their name from the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, David Boring plant their musical flag somewhere between no wave, post punk and noise rock. The group’s debut LP Unnatural Objects and their Humans was released in 2017 and sets out an aggressive, nihilistic vision that is enraged, unapologetic and crucially, without resignation. Live, they are all about cooped-up release. A wall shattering, multi-layered sonic assault culminating in the on stage tension and intensity between singer Janice Yau and guitarist Jason Cheung. Qualities and local relevance which encouraged the late Anthony Bourdain to seek them out to feature in Parts Unknown during his final trip to the city last year, and should have you making beelines for their SXSW performances come March.
Check out David Boring at SXSW
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Justin Sweeting has over eighteen years music industry experience, centered within Asia. Having established the pan-regional, cross media platform AMP (Asia’s Music Platform) for Channel [V], Justin went on to co-found Magnetic Asia as Music Director. Magnetic Asia operates festivals & events: Clockenflap, Sonar Hong Kong, YourMum, Ticketing; and offers further agency services to a broad reach of clients including digital marketing, PR, production and consultancy. Connecting the dots between Asia and the global industry at large, Justin enjoys spreading the word on the region’s music potential and is actively involved in its positive evolution.
Saguenay, CANADA Folk
MUNYA’s dreamy indie pop is lacy chiffon and gauzy nostalgic, with a gently poignant sweetness. The French-Canadian artist’s incandescent voice and her oft-psych swirled purls pull you in regardless if she’s serenading us in English or in French. Josie Boivin, a Quebec-based singer-songwriter and producer, is a classically trained pianist, opera singer, and jazz student who set up her studio at home in the kitchen. She’s since released debut EP North Hatley and a sophomore EP named Delmano, the latter of which has catapulted her to a new level of indie favoritism on the world stage. Opening track “Hotel Delmano” exudes the ’60s-inspired charm of Cults, finely braided with Men I Trust’s lush woozy groove then bathed in the dream-like fog of Ruth Radelet (Chromatics). A third EP later this year will culminate in an EP trilogy, each named after significant places in Boivin’s life. NYLON named MUNYA as one of their 15 artist to watch in 2019. Having caught her residency in San Francisco when she opened for Cults, I can attest to MUNYA’s intoxicating stage enchantment.
Amy graduated with a masters degree in comparative biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley before discovering how deep her passion for music runs. This insatiable obsession lead her to create I Heart Moosiq, a San Francisco based music blog that celebrates exceptional new music and highlights noteworthy artists, bands, and producers from all across the genres. She spends a profuse amount of her time listening to and writing about music. A lot of her spare time is spent attending shows and concerts, particularly ones at intimate venues where emerging artists are showcased. I Heart Moosiq is a rewarding experience and a heartfelt endeavor she plans on continuing for much time to come.
Brooklyn, NY Rock
It’s high time you got your invite to The Nude Party. This HiFi rock ‘n’ roll six-piece got their start in the basements of house parties in Boone, NC. They were so rambunctious they would end up playing the entire gig naked, eventually getting everybody at the party to strip nude (hence the band name). Though it’s a rare occasion to catch them buns-out on stage these days, these mountain boys still know how to throw one heck of a party. Now based in NY, these boys have been blazing their trail to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. Just last year they released their debut self-titled album, toured Europe and opened for huge acts like Jack White and The Arctic Monkeys. Their swinging melodies rock harder than ever and have a hint of twang to stay true to their mountain roots. Believe me, you won’t experience a party like a Nude Party party anywhere else.
Check out The Nude Party at SXSW
Elena Childers was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA by a punk rock drummer from the mountains of Kentucky and a rebellious scientist from the capital of Chile. Now living in Brooklyn, NY, she’s a rebel with no cause needed and a podcast host/ music journalist for BTRtoday and Alt Citizen. Catch her backstage at all the coolest underground shows in NYC.
Chicago, IL Pop
Singer-songwriter, producer and fashion designer, Tatiana Hazel is a multifaceted talent meticulously crafting every step of her sound and performance. Hazel’s English and Spanish songwriting is enthralled with R&B-infused pop and dance, accompanied by layering of arrangements and soulful vocals and harmonies. Beyond music, Hazel extends her art expression to fashion as well — she handcrafts every outfit for her live performances. Hazel, born and raised in Chicago, had an early music education. She taught herself to play guitar at age 11, a noticeable talent in her songwriting. Toxic, her 2018 debut EP, showcases the sums of all her talents, from introspective songwriting to ensemble attack of rhythm and dance. Hazel’s dedicated attention to her artistry is evidenced in the delicate yet intricately–woven high-tech pop compositions such as “Knew You Would” and “Can’t Help but Notice”. In “Por Ti” her soulful voice harmonies are maximized as instrumentation to the pop and dance orchestral grandeur of the track. No doubt, Hazel’s music is sending seismic waves through the current pop music landscape.
Check out Tatiana Hazel at SXSW
Marty Preciado is a researcher, writer and editor. Marty’s research and writing focuses on transcultural exchange of politics and gender, with an emphasis on music, arts and culture.
London, UK-ENGLAND Jazz
The Comet Is Coming is a London-based trio consisting of drummer Max Hallett and synth player Dan Leavers, who otherwise constitute the jazz-funk-kitchen-sink duo Soccer96, and saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, who on any other day may be leading his acclaimed bands Sons of Kemet or Shabaka & the Ancestors, or carting his sax from session to session and being the future—and the current—of jazz. As a trio, they play propulsive, groove-based, space-is-the-place techno psych-rock hip-hop jazz designed to melt your brain, revive your feet and scramble your notion of what jazz is supposed to be. The conversations between those locked-down grooves and that galaxy-orbiting saxophone are as good a cultural conversation as is happening anywhere in music these days. If TCIC isn’t one of the hottest draws at this festival you may be at the wrong festival, and if you’re not running out right now to get in line, I don’t know what else to tell you.
Check out The Comet Is Coming at SXSW
Brooklyn, NY Punk
Noise, Punk, Goth, Hardcore, call it whatever you like, but Grim Streaker undeniably channels and blurs aspects of all these genres in their music. From the frenzied and palpitating “Miami Girl” to the strutting grooves of “A.D.D” the Brooklyn-based quintet paints a pulsing shadowy sonic landscape. Singer Amelia Bushell’s infectious vocal attack locks in with guitarists Dan Peskin and Micah Weisberg, bassist Bill Dvorak, and drummer Piyal Basu, who have all been playing together since the band formed in 2016. Their first single “Guts” was released in January of 2017 and was produced by Mike Kutchman (Parquet Courts, Wall, Bush Tetras). Grim Streaker’s charismatic and wild live shows have had them play with METZ, Andrew W.K., A Place to Bury Strangers, Thunderpussy, Jacuzzi Boys, and more. From playing DIY spaces in Brooklyn to returning to play this year’s SXSW, Grim Streaker is not slowing down.
Check out Grim Streaker at SXSW
Alt Citizen is a music and culture website and magazine focused on New York City’s emerging and underground artists. Established in 2012, Alt Citizen has been putting on shows and events, creating magazines, and daily digital content.
Portland, OR Rock
If you can imagine all of the best things that the Pacific Northwest has brought us—Mt. Eerie, Grunge, Sleater Kinney, The Girls Rock Camp, and lush mountain ranges—reimagined and told through the perspective of an Indigenous Swinomish/Iñupiaq woman; if you can imagine the magic that would bring to your life then you can imagine Black Belt Eagle Scout.
Check out Black Belt Eagle Scout at SXSW
Fabi Reyna is a Mexican-American guitarist who founded and runs She Shreds Media—the world’s first and only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. Best known for her influence in shifting narratives about womxn, guitarists, and industry representation through language and education. Reyna also organizes national events, provides consulting and creative services, as well as performs with two 2019 SXSW showcasing artists: Reyna Tropical and Sávila.
Montréal, CANADA Rock
If you’re looking for your new favorite psych-inspired French outfit, then look no further than Anemone. Hailing from Montréal, this band has carved out a signature space in the pervasive 70’s-psych-revival movement. They’ve put out their music on Luminelle, the visionary label started by Gorilla v Bear founder Chris Catalini, and are among some incredible contemporaries such as: Helena Deland, Hanna Vu & MUNYA. With driving beats and catchy hooks, Anemone are able to position themselves between the esoteric and the accessible. From their live shows you can expect the following: killer fashion choices, sultry French lyrics & lots of dancing.
Alexandra Berenson is Senior A&R at Vinyl Me, Please. She currently lives in Denver, CO.
Houston, TX Hip-Hop / Rap
Keeping in the tradition of Houston rappers giving you gritty street tales, Doeman emerges from the Southeast side of H-Town. The self-proclaimed Barrio God has held true to that title, strongly representing the Latino community. Citing Big Pun and SPM as musical influences, you can hear it in Doeman’s raps. He has the lyrical ability of Pun mixed in with grimy, gritty tales of the streets of the Southside. In a post-DJ Screw era, artists like Doeman have helped lead Houston rap into a new frontier.
Aaron “Fresh” Knight is a 30 year old media personality. He is currently working as a radio personality for KUTX 98.9 FM in Austin, TX, also co-hosting The Breaks Saturdays on the same station. Better known as “Fresh”, Knight has worked in music blogging, podcasting, and freelance writing.
Austin, TX Pop
As a director and screenwriter, Terrence Malick has made himself quite a career celebrating Austin, Texas and its ever vibrant music scene. Call it felicitous serendipity, then, that his work should bring together the latest bright young band to come from the Live Music Capital of the World. Laura Colwell and Stephen Salisbury met in an editing booth as they worked on Malick’s 2017 film “Song to Song”, eventually bringing guitarist Michael Bain, drummer Sarah Schultz, and bassist Justin Harris into the offices to begin practicing as Sun June. Together, the group delivered a debut album, 2018’s Years, that is lush with tender folk pop harmonies and comforting reverb. Songs like “Slow Rise II” and “Johnson City” wrap around listeners with the snugness of a cool blanket, even in their sadder moments. Gentle and familiar, Sun June are perfect company for a warm Austin night.
Ben Kaye is News Editor for Consequence of Sound, a leading independent online publication covering the latest in music, film, and television. Raised just outside Boston, educated on Long Island (Hofstra University), and living in Brooklyn, Ben has been covering music and entertainment for some nine years now. In addition to helping run CoS’ daily news section, he contributes heavily to live coverage and features with both his writing and his photography. He has an in-depth knowledge of comic books and superheroes, as the owner of what some would call an obscene amount of comics and memorabilia.
New York , NY Rock
It’s 2019, luckily we have Native Sun to pummel sound into New York’s once-infamous rock landscape, which recently often feels sterile and lifeless. Native Sun are a rock band built on nothing but riffs and good intentions. Their sound is fast and revels in existence — it’s like a dog lapping up the sunshine happy to be alive. After releasing tracks like “Big Succ(ess)” and “11th street,” it’ll be refreshing to see them bring their surreal realism to SXSW.
Alt Citizen is a music and culture website and magazine focused on New York City’s emerging and underground artists. Established in 2012, Alt Citizen has been putting on shows and events, creating magazines, and daily digital content.
Los Angeles, CA Singer-Songwriter
“Who’s Gonna Stop Us?”: the song and the video tell an intriguing story wrapped in a stylish cinematic soundtrack full of suspense. It makes you wish that someone would turn it into a feature film to reveal what is further going on with these characters. L.A. singer/songwriter Dre Babinski aka Steady Holiday originally planned to use “Who’s Gonna Stop Us Now?” as the anchor for an overarching concept behind her latest record Nobody’s Watching, but eventually decided against it. Still, even without the grand theme, the album maintains a strong feel of place and time, straight out of a 60s spy movie where agents wear tuxedos and talking wristwatches could only be found in secret underground labs. Steady Holiday’s SXSW show could mark one of the many unforgettable moments of your time in Austin.
Check out Steady Holiday at SXSW
Software engineer by day, Oliver has been writing about music since 2010 and considers all-female quartet Warpaint to be the best band in the world. He is the co-founder of New York-based music blog glamglare which focuses on emerging artists in the indie pop, rock and electronic genres. The blog is best known for its Song Pick of the Day series, which has continuously featured a new single each day since 2015, often giving artists their first media exposure. Covering SXSW since 2014, glamglare also runs an official SXSW showcase with its first installment last year.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
Danny Nogueiras first cut his teeth drumming for FIDLAR and producing records for the likes of Together PANGEA, garage punks known for their rowdy party songs. When it came time to start recording on his own, however, the Southern California native chose to go down a path more closely reflecting the sort of honest emotionality he brings to his songwriting. That’s why NO WIN’s debut album downey adheres more towards to sumptuous power pop production that Nogueiras grew up on. In fact, much of downey is a representation of where he came from, a melancholic look back at the days that he lived as well as those on which he’s missed out. But just like the mixing by acclaimed producer/engineer John Goodmanson (The Posies, Sleater-Kinney) keeps things bright and hopeful, so too does Nogueiras’ lyricism as he dwells not only on bygone days, but on possibilities yet realized.
Ben Kaye is News Editor for Consequence of Sound, a leading independent online publication covering the latest in music, film, and television. Raised just outside Boston, educated on Long Island (Hofstra University), and living in Brooklyn, Ben has been covering music and entertainment for some nine years now. In addition to helping run CoS’ daily news section, he contributes heavily to live coverage and features with both his writing and his photography. He has an in-depth knowledge of comic books and superheroes, as the owner of what some would call an obscene amount of comics and memorabilia.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
Jackie Cohen blessed us with a two-part EP project in 2018 – Tacoma Night Terror. Cohen, who produced both projects with her husband and Foxygen member Jonathan Rado, was able to attain an almost impossible mix of Nancy Sinatra and Todd Rundgren in the backdrop of 2018 Los Angeles. With a backing band comprised of members of The Lemon Twigs, this album manages to bridge the gap between a throwback 70s vibe and contemporary accessibility without any gimmicks. Lyrically, her songs tackle challenging life scenarios paired with smiling accompanying music. Make sure not to miss her set, she’s about to have an incredible 2019.
Check out Jackie Cohen at SXSW
Alexandra Berenson is Senior A&R at Vinyl Me, Please. She currently lives in Denver, CO.
Austin, TX Bluegrass
Four-piece picking and plucking culled from the heart of Austin’s country heritage, Wood & Wire’s brand of blistering bluegrass threatens to rattle the foundations of any venue lucky enough to host them. The keyword here is authentic. Rather than lean on punk rock riffs played on mandolins, the foursome recreates the energy and thrust of 50’s era bluegrass with chops, precision, and soul lifting energy. Scorchers like the searing banjo-driven “Eliza” showcase Wood & Wire’s impressive technique and knack for boot stomping rhythm, while “Texas” tells the story of an on-the-run outlaw via a plaintive, oft somber campfire tune. But the Spotify tracks only tell half the story. Wood & Wire’s live show is a kung fu kick of explosive energy and astounding musicianship that must be experienced to be believed. Required viewing for this year’s festival.
Jerseyian turned Austinite Bill Tucker writes words for a number of sites and publications. He currently serves as Lead Blogger for The Austinot (hyper-local lifestyle blog), and as a columnist for skirmishfrogs.com (retro gaming). His past credits include the Entertainment Weekly Blogging Community, Texas Highways Magazine, and penning film reviews for a variety of sites and outlets. He enjoys video games, craft beer, Austin’s incredibly vibrant music scene, and convincing his friends Dr. Strangelove is one of the greatest films of all time.
Philadelphia, PA R & B
Pink Sweat$ may be one of the best breakout artists of 2018. He started his career in the music industry as a songwriter, having worked with artists across genres like Florida Georgia Line and MAX, but decided to combine his songwriting skills with his vocal talent to create Volume 1, his debut EP. Songs like “Honesty”, “Cocaine”, and “Would You” show just how versed Pink Sweat$ is in R&B music, while remaining unique by using elements of other musical genres. He credits his struggle with achalasia (a disorder that makes it difficult for food and drink to be passed through the esophagus) as what made him decide to become a singer and to truly find himself. Though Volume 1 is a brief collection of songs, the future is bright for Pink Sweat$, and it’ll be exciting to see him continue to grow as an artist.
Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a BA in journalism and a minor in creative writing. Despite not being musically inclined herself, her passion for music spans multiple genres and can be reflected by her large and ever-growing vinyl collection. She credits Bob Dylan as her inspiration and has always wanted to pursue a career that combines her love of music and writing.
Los Angeles, CA Pop
Paul Hernández, under the handle of Katzù Oso, is a pop singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Hernández, from the corner of his world in Montebello, California, began producing music and recently his 2018 debut EP, Pastel. The sound of Katzù Oso intones airy-voiced English and Spanish vocals sailing wistfully over dreamy synth-drenched pop. Pastel explores upbeat synth pop that gradually roars into dance and upbeat songs. Hernández’s “Give it Up To You” track embodies the core of his EP: a dreamy ballad sweeping a gentle spirit of R&B-flavored pop. Not only is Katzù Oso’s music a complete dream, but his backstory too. Paul Hernández has written his music entirely in his bedroom, but since the release of his first single, “Sophie”, in April of 2017, Katzù Oso began growing quickly while building a loyal grassroots following. Hernández went from playing his music in backyard shows to music festivals, sharing stage with Mazzy Star, Kali Uchis and Sza. Katzù Oso is the mirror of Hernández’s exploration in intersections of sound and identify, being influenced with the sounds growing up east of Los Angeles and being young and brown in the United States.
Marty Preciado is a researcher, writer and editor. Marty’s research and writing focuses on transcultural exchange of politics and gender, with an emphasis on music, arts and culture.
Austin, TX Rock
By weaving bursts of slamming emo crunch into a tapestry of dreamscape synth and multi-layered vocals, Austin’s own Blushing is pure harmonious dissonance. Bitter guitar fuzz supports shimmering harmonies and an ever-escalating soundscape on the aptly named “Sunshine” while “The Truth” nestles a punchy shoegaze rhythm into a cozy blanket of hi-fi synth. Their breakout single, 2017’s “Tether”, begs an unseen lover to forget the past and fly away amidst a hazy cloud of electronic smoke and post punk slam. Across a short life span of two EP’s and a pair of singles, Blushing has evolved from the Daria-era 90’s indie sound reminiscent of fellow locals Moving Panoramas to an enveloping shroud of effect laden chords, and serene, sweeping emotion. Best served with tender love letters, meditation, and sunshine bursting through spent rainclouds.
Jerseyian turned Austinite Bill Tucker writes words for a number of sites and publications. He currently serves as Lead Blogger for The Austinot (hyper-local lifestyle blog), and as a columnist for skirmishfrogs.com (retro gaming). His past credits include the Entertainment Weekly Blogging Community, Texas Highways Magazine, and penning film reviews for a variety of sites and outlets. He enjoys video games, craft beer, Austin’s incredibly vibrant music scene, and convincing his friends Dr. Strangelove is one of the greatest films of all time.
Jersey, NJ Electronic
Ski-masked quartet Blood Cultures hail from New Jersey, and not much else is known about the enigmatic artists. All gimmicks aside, the music confidently speaks for itself. Their signature lo-fi tones are at once delightfully vintage and firmly futuristic. Pristine sound design hallmarks Blood Cultures’ body of work, led by 2017’s transportive Happy Birthday LP. The lead track “Indian Summer” first piqued the pop listening public’s interest in Blood Cultures after surfacing from anonymity on SoundCloud, and the fascination has only grown from there. Their newest, “Dunk on Me”, is a sublime cacophony situated atop an unexpected trap beat, marrying Blood Cultures’ retro, buzzy soul with metallic, industrial samples fit for an underground rave.
Check out Blood Cultures at SXSW
Katey Ceccarelli is the dance/EDM editor for EARMILK. Katey hails from Atlanta and currently resides in Brooklyn. She is a publicist by day, and can be found raving in dark warehouses by night.
Brooklyn, NY Rock
Crumb, the Brooklyn based quartet composed of Lila Ramani (guitar, vocals), Brian Aronow (synth, keys), Jesse Brotter (bass), and Jonathan Gilad (drums), have recently made a name for themselves with their syruppy blend of psychedelic jazz-rock that you can’t help imagine yourself slipping into an LSD-infused dream state upon ingesting. Originally coming together in 2016 to develop and record an assortment of songs Lila had written in college, the collective recording effort would eventually become their debut self-titled Crumb EP. After spending the following year split between Boston and New York, they managed to put out their Locket EP, which has since amassed an impressive 20 million streams on Spotify. The band is currently on a nationwide tour and will be making a stop in Austin, Texas for this year’s SXSW Music Festival.
WE FOUND NEW MUSIC is an artist discovery platform dedicated to introducing exceptional artists to music industry leaders, music organizations and fans. Since 2012, we have helped introduce artists through performance & interview sessions, blogs, radio shows, and weekly LA concerts with today’s most relevant artists, including Billie Eilish, Alec Benjamin, Kim Petras, Imagine Dragons, and Bishop Briggs. We book the artists we discover at our weekly concert series, at LA’s live music concept, Madame Siam, as well as additional top level LA venues. This will be WE FOUND NEW MUSIC’s fifth time presenting an official showcase at SXSW, this time, teaming up with We The Beat, to create a unique 12 band lineup at The Palm Door on Sixth Street, on the evening of March 14th.
Seoul, SOUTH KOREA Electronic
Kirara’s music recalls the golden era of Japanese electronica in the late 90’s when Shibuya-kei was reaching its peak. While she tends to use sweet pop melodic elements in her tracks, she adds depth by layering the melodies on top of big beat rhythms that represent her identity as a transgender musician. Her third full-length album Sarah, which is pronounced the same as an imperative verb “be alive” or “survive”, is a meditation on the feelings of worry, hope, yearning, and anger Kirara experienced after the death of her LGBTQ friend. Kirara organizes her gig every month in Seoul by herself, and every single live set starts with the voice of a girl full of confidence, which became a signature of her live performance saying “Kirara is beautiful and strong. You all dance.”
Cecilia Soojeong Yi manages music and performing arts projects such as festivals and artist management. She used to work at the Korean Cultural Center in Spain and now she works as the executive manager for Zandari Festa, Asia’s premier independent and international showcase festival. In 2018, she co-founded the DMZ Peace Train Music Festival, taking charge of programming, booking and international relationships.
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Rock
Singer/songwriter Elizabeth Stokes and guitarist Jonathan Pearce of Auckland, New Zealand indie pop band The Beths can trace their friendship back to high school; they met the rest of the band studying jazz at the University of Auckland. The ease of their sunny multi-part harmonies and earworm melodies gives away their shared history — it’s the kind of affinity that can only be developed through enough time together. That’s only part of the charm of Future Me Hates Me, The Beths’ delightful debut full length, and one of the most immediately enjoyable debut albums of 2018. Its easy sweetness is tempered with self-deprecatingly witty lyrics and just the right amount of crunchy guitar. Fans of Alvvays should find a lot to love with The Beth and their instantly likable music.
Amanda Hatfield is a photographer and writer from New Jersey. She’s contributed to BrooklynVegan in a variety of roles since 2010, and currently as photo editor and social media manager.
Austin, TX R & B
With the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Willie Nelson, and Gary Clark Jr coming out of Austin, the city is well-known for its rock and country roots. What if I told you that there was an artist who could give you all three of those gentlemen, along with the soulfulness of Otis Redding, and the stage presence of James Brown? That artist would be the Austin-born and bred Jake Lloyd. With the release of his 2018 self titled album, Lloyd has been making a name for himself as the genre-bending stage killer you just have to see.
Aaron “Fresh” Knight is a 30 year old media personality. He is currently working as a radio personality for KUTX 98.9 FM in Austin, TX, also co-hosting The Breaks Saturdays on the same station. Better known as “Fresh”, Knight has worked in music blogging, podcasting, and freelance writing.
Tokyo, JAPAN Electronic
Live electronic pop five piece Yahyel formed in 2015, and first garnered wider attention with their 2016 single “Once”. Along with their two albums to date, Flesh and Blood and Human, Yahyel have cemented their dark musical vision amidst a growing international audience, and return to SXSW after making a solid impression in 2018. Kindred spirits with the likes of James Blake (had he a more dystopian bent) and The xx, Yahyel revel in creating spaces within their music, allowing the songs to take on new forms and shapes as they evolve. There’s an other-dimension quality to their music, as if they are soundtracking a dance party in The Matrix. Dark soundscapes intertwine with delicate, melodic vocals all set against an absorbing live visual show, which is nigh on impossible but get drawn into. Seek them out, you won’t be disappointed.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Justin Sweeting has over eighteen years music industry experience, centered within Asia. Having established the pan-regional, cross media platform AMP (Asia’s Music Platform) for Channel [V], Justin went on to co-found Magnetic Asia as Music Director. Magnetic Asia operates festivals & events: Clockenflap, Sonar Hong Kong, YourMum, Ticketing; and offers further agency services to a broad reach of clients including digital marketing, PR, production and consultancy. Connecting the dots between Asia and the global industry at large, Justin enjoys spreading the word on the region’s music potential and is actively involved in its positive evolution.
London, UK-ENGLAND Singer-Songwriter
We have been following Eliza Shaddad since 2016, when she released a string of captivating songs and videos from her EP Run. Last fall she dropped her debut full-length Future, which takes her music to new heights. In ten pensive, emotionally charged songs, she reflects about life decisions and how they can affect one’s future. Coming out of a long-term relationship when she wrote the album, she had many conflicting feelings to cope with, which lends the album a level of authenticity that listeners can connect with. Aside from the scope of her latest record, Eliza probably has other intriguing stories to tell. Born to Sudanese and Scottish parents, she grew up in several different countries and cultures, speaks several languages and studied philosophy as well as jazz music. We cannot wait to see Eliza at her SXSW show, and hope to see you there too.
Check out Eliza Shaddad at SXSW
Software engineer by day, Oliver has been writing about music since 2010 and considers all-female quartet Warpaint to be the best band in the world. He is the co-founder of New York-based music blog glamglare which focuses on emerging artists in the indie pop, rock and electronic genres. The blog is best known for its Song Pick of the Day series, which has continuously featured a new single each day since 2015, often giving artists their first media exposure. Covering SXSW since 2014, glamglare also runs an official SXSW showcase with its first installment last year.
Monterrey, MEXICO Latin Rock
Must see act. Dreamy synthesizer and beats intersected with an R&B approach, Méne is a blissful comfort that he labels as ChillTrap. Hailing from Monterrey, México, Méne has amplified his space in digital platforms, as well as maximizing tools as SoundCloud for his online presence and distribution. Yet to release an LP, Méne has firmly set his footprint in Mexico’s music landscape with single releases in indie record label powerhouses as NWLA and La Fabrika. Recently, “Nada”, single released in 2018, showcases the singer-songwriter’s harmonies over slightly-trap coated R&B, revealing precisely the essence of his sound. Méne has caught the attention of Worldwide Records, who has scheduled Méne’s EP debut for March 2019.
Marty Preciado is a researcher, writer and editor. Marty’s research and writing focuses on transcultural exchange of politics and gender, with an emphasis on music, arts and culture.
Lockhart, TX Rock
One member of XETAS resides in Lockhart now, but they’re still one of the most essential bands of Austin punk. They’ve played Red River underground mainstay Beerland frequently, and their music sounds like a perfect night there: raucous and loud, sensitive and conscious, experienced best up close, not for the mainstream yet open to any and all curious. With them, you don’t have to choose between noise and pop, pitting or dancing; you can have your hooks with your raw energy! They are roaring and they want you to roar with them. XETAS also have a new album due out later this year — here’s a chance to act like you knew.
Andy O’Connor is that dude you see at every metal show in Austin. He is also a freelance writer with bylines in Pitchfork, the Austin-American Statesman, NPR, SPIN, Noisey, and numerous other publications, covering metal, hardcore, and other forms of dudes screaming loudly. His Deaf Forever column, highlighting the best new metal releases, appears every month at Vinyl Me Please. Though a lifelong metalhead, Andy will also talk your ear off about Southern Rap, and born in Galveston, he reps the same area code as UGK. Whenever the Thick and Hearty comes back at Whataburger, that Whatasized with a Dr Pepper is his order. Most importantly, Andy is the proud father of an orange cat named Miles.
Los Angeles, CA Rock
I listened to SASAMI’s debut album in early 2019 and I’m sure that it will end up among my favorite albums of the year. Her songs evoke 90s indie-rock at its most personal: delicate, almost whispered, vocals; warm fuzz riffs; nostalgic dissonance; distorted guitar and songs that simmer until they become instant classics. This is the first work of this multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, SASAMI is a former collaborator of Cherry Glazerr, Curtis Harding and Wild Nothings, among others. The recent success of Mitski, Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy shows the need for examples of women guitarists in the urban era and in this regard SASAMI has produced one of the best albums of recent years. You can enjoy it via Domino on March 8.
Organizing shows since he was 14, Pau Cristòful (1993) is now a booking agent for Primavera Sound and MUTEK Barcelona.
Chicago, IL Electronic
The spirit of Chicago’s Wax Trax, who made industrial music thrive in America’s underground, lives in electronic duo Grün Wasser. Dark, hard hitting, and a touch poppy, they’re like a warehouse party in that it’s grimy but inviting and uniting. In pitch black, discrimination isn’t allowed, only dance. They’re heavy enough for longhairs who aren’t ashamed to be seen at Elysium or Barbarella, and the arena-ready snares in “Trace It Back” from last year’s Predator/Prey will attract anyone with a need for harsh pulses. It’s not all afterhours dancefloor though, as “Diagnosis” features errant acoustic guitars swimming against an ambient current, and “Saying Silence” has screeching metal-on-metal that will make any Midwestern noise head proud.
Andy O’Connor is that dude you see at every metal show in Austin. He is also a freelance writer with bylines in Pitchfork, the Austin-American Statesman, NPR, SPIN, Noisey, and numerous other publications, covering metal, hardcore, and other forms of dudes screaming loudly. His Deaf Forever column, highlighting the best new metal releases, appears every month at Vinyl Me Please. Though a lifelong metalhead, Andy will also talk your ear off about Southern Rap, and born in Galveston, he reps the same area code as UGK. Whenever the Thick and Hearty comes back at Whataburger, that Whatasized with a Dr Pepper is his order. Most importantly, Andy is the proud father of an orange cat named Miles.
Chicago, IL Pop
Tasha’s blend of indie, pop, and R&B is ethereal, dark, positive, and relatable in a way that keeps her latest record, Alone At Last, in constant rotation. As a lover of guitar, I am constantly searching for ways in which it’s being used unexpectedly and Tasha is a true exemplar of how it can be used to blend worlds and genres into song. Tasha is an artist not to be missed at this year’s SXSW.
Fabi Reyna is a Mexican-American guitarist who founded and runs She Shreds Media—the world’s first and only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. Best known for her influence in shifting narratives about womxn, guitarists, and industry representation through language and education. Reyna also organizes national events, provides consulting and creative services, as well as performs with two 2019 SXSW showcasing artists: Reyna Tropical and Sávila.
London, UK-ENGLAND Rock
To put it boldly, Black Midi are one of the most talked-about bands in the UK right now. They came out of the same Brixton scene that gave the world Shame and Fat White Family, but stylistically and sound-wise they’re on a different planet altogether. With a tendency to play to themselves rather than their audiences (literally, because much of the time they’re facing each other onstage), there can be little doubt that they’re some of the most accomplished musicians to emerge from this part of the world in years. Jazz, hardcore, bossa nova and post punk: it’s all in the mix. At the heart of the band is drummer Morgan Simpson, whose skills are already reaching legendary status around the capital. He’s from a similar school as Zach ‘eight arms’ Hill from Death Grips, who are a band Black Midi probably spent at least a few weeks taking notes from as hungry teens. With barely any actual music released, they come to SX hot off the heels of signing with Rough Trade – a surefire sign that the hype is about to go into overdrive.
Matt Wilkinson presents on Apple Music’s Beats 1 Monday–Friday 11am–1pm — listen live via apple.co/B1_MattLive and on-demand at apple.co/B1_Matt.
London, UK-ENGLAND Jazz
New, innovative jazz music has been boiling under the surface (and away from the zeitgeist) for a while now, but the bubble is finally starting to burst and new jazz artists are gaining the popularity and the acclaim that they deserve. One home for some of the best modern jazz is the UK, and among the UK’s best exports in recent years has been Ezra Collective. They’ve got crossover appeal with pop (they did a song with Jorja Smith in 2018), and their music also takes notes from modern hip-hop and electronic music, classic ’60s jazz, Afrobeat, and more, and it truly sounds like they’re doing something new and fresh. If you haven’t heard Ezra Collective but you’re into stuff like Kamasi Washington and Thundercat, or rap albums like Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly and Noname’s Room 25, you should change that now.
Check out Ezra Collective at SXSW
Andrew Sacher has been writing about music at BrooklynVegan since 2010, but he’s been obsessing over it since hearing The Beach Boys at age 6. In addition to writing, he’s helped curate events and playlists. He has represented BrooklynVegan at SXSW for the past five years, as well as at music festivals like Firefly and Lockn’, and on BBC Radio 1. He is currently a senior editor at BV and living in New York City.
Nelson, NEW ZEALAND Pop
Robinson has spent the past 2 years honing her craft, working with respected producers and lyricists such as Fred Gibson (Ellie Goulding), Daniel Ledinsky (Tove Lo, Rihanna), and Adam Argyle (James Bay, Ella Henderson). After recently being named one of YouTube and Vevo UK’s 2019 Artists To Watch at only 21 years old, this Aussie songstress is already on her way to becoming one of the hottest new pop sensations out. Hit play on her viral hit “Nothing to Regret” for a taste.
WE FOUND NEW MUSIC is an artist discovery platform dedicated to introducing exceptional artists to music industry leaders, music organizations and fans. Since 2012, we have helped introduce artists through performance & interview sessions, blogs, radio shows, and weekly LA concerts with today’s most relevant artists, including Billie Eilish, Alec Benjamin, Kim Petras, Imagine Dragons, and Bishop Briggs. We book the artists we discover at our weekly concert series, at LA’s live music concept, Madame Siam, as well as additional top level LA venues. This will be WE FOUND NEW MUSIC’s fifth time presenting an official showcase at SXSW, this time, teaming up with We The Beat, to create a unique 12 band lineup at The Palm Door on Sixth Street, on the evening of March 14th.
Sydney, AUSTRALIA Pop
Ranging from early 70s synth pop to contemporary indie electronic, the singles of art pop quartet I Know Leopard are a hot staple at Australia’s radio stations, growing the band’s popularity. With their latest song “Landmine”, I Know Leopard explore their talents even further and deliver a band-defining track. The song is blissfully sublime in its production yet also a little bit dangerous thanks to its infectiously catchy melody. Glistening with mellow strings, and tempting with alluring vocals, “Landmine” recalls the songwriting of John Lennon and that of the many 70s bands he had influenced. I Know Leopard pursue what they have started with “Landmine” on their upcoming album, dishing up shimmering soft rock full of promise and glamour. We can only imagine what a live performance might look like but are certainly ready to get hooked on new songs and dazzled by visuals that complement the sexy vibe.
Check out I Know Leopard at SXSW
At home in New York, Elke runs music blog glamglare which focuses on emerging artists in the indie pop, rock and electronic genres. The blog is best known for its Song Pick of the Day series, which has continuously featured a new single each day since 2015, often giving artists their first media exposure. Covering SXSW since 2014, glamglare also runs an official SXSW showcase with its first installment last year. Elke founded ENOBO music & media, which glamglare is part of, and provides management and other services for artists. When asked about her favorite band in a cab ride from AUS to Downtown Austin for SXSW 2017, The Strokes were the answer — but ask her again.
Montreal, QC, CANADA Electronic
French born, South American raised, and Montreal-based globe-trotting ethereal producer Ouri makes dance music for foggy days. Her Ghostly International debut We Share Our Blood sounds like cloud rap, sans the bars and plus harmonic elements imported from her training in cello and harp. Swirling textural clouds reveal breakbeat backbones and a vulnerable pop vocalist who invokes the R&B swagger of Kelela, then pivots into the type of chin-scratching electronic beats most associated with her Michigan-based label. Collaborator Mind Bath adds androgynous vocals a la Rhye, but the production is still center stage. A Boiler Room performance showcases their ambitious live approach, electro drum pads and Prophet synth stabs peeking through the digital haze, proving that the reverbed out ambient head-nodders can also shake hips. Expect a dark and immersive dance floor.
Dan Gentile is a writer and DJ based in Austin who has written for publications like Austin Chronicle, VICE, Rolling Stone, American Way, and Wax Poetics. His writing focuses on emerging electronic musicians, DJs, and Texas barbecue. He can be found playing vinyl records at venues like Cheer Up Charlies, Sahara Lounge, and the South Congress Hotel.
Hobart, IN R & B
Omar Apollo is one of many young, emerging creatives doing things on their own terms. He’s a singer, guitarist, and producer, but unlike a lot of the lo-fi DIY artists making noise right now, Omar’s polished songwriting and clean presentation hint at major crossover potential. He’s got hooks strong enough for a radio pop hit, soulful vocals that could lace an R&B slow jam, and the guitar chops for any blues, funk, jazz, and rock ambitions. Apollo is a first generation Mexican-American from Indiana, and growing up as “the only brown kid” in his school forced the young artist to believe in himself at an early age, even when others didn’t. He’s only 21 years old, but he doesn’t come across as a new act still finding his footing—his skills are matched by his confidence. Each year at SXSW, there’s the chance to see a few acts at that magical point in their career right before the masses fully catch on. This year, Omar Apollo is one of those artists.
Jacob Moore started Pigeons & Planes in his bedroom in October of 2008. He ran the website independently for years before joining Complex and running the site as an owned and operated property. Pigeons & Planes is a music brand that focuses on discovery and curation, produces live shows, and creates original editorial, video, and social content around new music.
