SXSW is essentially a United Nations conference for artists. Each country sends its best entrepreneurs, film-makers, and musicians to a city in Texas to show their skill-set and hopefully get attention from industry types. While it might be cliche, SXSW has the potential to make dreams come true, and each of these countries listed below brings something unique to the table. Listed below is each country, a link to it’s party, and three bands from that country that are worth checking out.
“Burners” begins with circa 1994 beats updated into a classier, more ethereal backdrop to smooth, yet still intimidating rhymes. Despite ditching the lo-fi edge that defined the sounds of the Wu-tang, Fudgemunk manages to retain the aggressive and sinister quality in the sound that made old school hip hop so intoxicating. As the song progresses, sounds are layered more thickly in the background, and in general progresses much more in the style of Gang Starr than Wu-tang, eventually turning into a drugged out, low-key dj set.
The choice to end the song with a dj set raises questions about the song’s frequent use of ODB’s line “burnin hot” from the 1995 song “Brooklyn Zoo”. The words were originally delivered in ODB’s boisterous and unhinged style, in short a sort of musical polar opposite from the groove that “Burners” spends about the last 5 minutes of the song on. It seems almost like an unintentional statement about the replacement of old school hip hop’s edginess with a turn to passivity, either in the form of consumerism, or in the case of “Burners”, drug use and mysticism.
Whatever the case, in sum the track is well worth a listen and delivers a fresh perspective on classic sounds.
Alyssa Thomas, who records under the moniker Fairy Godmother, recently dropped a new EP, titled Attic Space. Released on cassette via UK imprint Fox Food Records, the album features contributions from (Sandy) Alex G members Alex Giannascoli and John Heywood on drums and bass respectively. One gravitates towards the enchanting, incisive melodies. Breathing in the fresh, open air of the space afforded and then utilizing that space too, as a barrier that holds one in close, what initially floats in the personally ethereal captures an unforeseen density, retracing one’s steps, while reaching out into the future.
NYC folkster Common Jack is playing at Mercury Lounge on March 30th, in support of Giant Stone. The Virginia-bred, New York-based guitar picker is a master of the sweet and the morally dissonant. On his most recent release from August of 2017, a song entitled "One Too Many Days," Common Jack laments the violent travesty that was the protests in Charlottesville, VA. Channelling The Avett Brothers, Conor Oberst and early Bob Dylan with gentle finger-picking and mournful harmonica, Common Jack’s sentiment is one of deep frustration, but above all else, weariness. He’s weary of the carnage, the hatred and the fallacies of monochromatic American civic pride, of which there seems to be no end in sight. He croons, "I heard a voice begin to shout that both sides are to blame/I never thought I’d argue about a Nazi USA." Listen to the track below, and don’t miss Common Jack at Mercury Lounge on the 30th. – Ethan Ames
Allegra Anka (of Cayetana) recently shared Dreams We Talk About, an EP comprised of two new/old songs, which were engineered & co-produced by Matt Schimelfenig (Three Man Cannon). “Walls” warmly blooms in a relaxed, afternoon groove, as a drum machine coaxes a casual, uplifting beat, set off by clean, strolling guitar lines. That optimistic instrumental setting mingles with lyrics that explore reading personal relationships and the complexity of allowing someone in, compared with fortifying yourself.
If you haven’t heard of Patzy yet, well, that’s because there’s not a whole lot to say yet. Their About page consists of "Patzy are some friends who play music in Nashville, TN. But hey, they share a name with the guy that bangs coconuts together in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So that’s pretty neat. On a more important note, Patzy has debuted their first single, "Pat’s Chord Pool," a dreamy piece of psych pop drenched in reverb and orchestral tendencies. Check out the single below and be sure to look out for their Opus Uno coming out this Spring. – Chris Thiessen
Brand new melodic punk band from right here in Toronto. Service Delay is throwin’ back to the early 2000’s pop punk. Post-Enema of the State Blink 182 and American Idiot Green Day era tunes. This 5 piece keep their tunes tight and rockin’ with some really good energy all while not losing the melodies. Their debut EP “Koda” was released in January and features 5 slammin’ pop punk tunes. Friday March 30th they’ll be playing Sneaky Dees with Rivaltown, Weigh the Anchor and Minority 905. – Kris Gies
Whiner are this generation’s goth kids. Their melancholic lyrics are tempered by a glam-soul sensibility, while driving drums and dream guitar hooks work to keep their songs from being too saturated in emotion. Indeed, Whiner’s unique blend of genres creates a sound centered on the strength of both not caring and caring too much. If you can’t get enough of their addictive artistry, you’re in luck. Whiner will be performing in a Sunnyvale residency every Tuesday in April, headlining shows with emerging artists. – Amanda Ogea
The ethos of SXSW has always been about the band/artist who has yet to be discovered. However with the all of the noise surrounding the fest and the deluge of music that seemingly has no end – it can be extremely difficult keeping your head above water and actually discover new music. Here is a tasting board of some bands/artists that you may not recognize, but their sound proves them to be worth your while.
United Ghosts:
Los Angeles band United Ghosts blends a seemingly dizzying collection of influences (Dreampop, Psychedelia, Electronica, Krautrock) into a cohesive, hypnotic sound that celebrates its influences, while keeping one eye firmly set towards the future.
U.S. Girls:
This year marks a significant anniversary for U.S. Girls, the protean musical enterprise of multi-disciplinary artist, Meg Remy. 10 years ago Remy first used a 4-track recorder and a microphone to self-produce a series of spontaneous, starkly musical, ‘instant expressions’.
Thandi Phoenix:
At just 24, the Sydney singer-songwriter has been touted as “one of Australia’s most promising up and comers” (The AU Review), with songs that blend pop with electronica and raw, honest storytelling.
Mnkybsnss:
MNKYBSNSS is an electronic music duo conformed by Mono Urina and Kike Vélez, from Barranquilla, Colombia. The group originated in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the year 2013, where both members were studying music and music production.
Altre Di B:
Since 2005 Altre di B has played hundreds of gigs all over Europe, carrying around a lively and energetic sound inspired by bands such as TV on the Radio and the Vines.
Draper:
After the release of his second EP, Draper acquired many high-profile remixes, including Twin Atlantic, Passion Pit and Ellie Goulding. His remix for Goulding appeared on her Tesco exclusive edition of her album Halcyon.[7] After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a 1st class honours degree in Media Technology, Draper was invited to DJ for Rita Ora at the Capital Summertime Ball 2012.
Bbymutha:
BbyMutha’s gaining a foothold in the rap game alongside many other female artists thanks to a raw honesty, a refusal to be anyone but herself. Others try to box her in as the mom of rap, but she won’t become a gimmick, putting the totality of her life on display – an attitude which extends equally to the production that she chooses. The hyperactive retro house of “Beautiful Ratchet” and the gritty, smoldering “Rules” that just went viral on Twitter recently, manage to feel united despite their vast differences, her laconic flow and smirking charm tieing everything together.
Champagne Superchillin:
Let the bubbles take control! That was the lyrical takeaway (sung in French, subtitled in English) from the music video announcing Champagne Superchillin’s first album, Destino. The album is an invitation to an artsy cult with champagne and vibey dance parties instead of Kool-aid and total bummers. Let the bubbles take control… seriously.
Bambara:
Bambara is a Brooklyn-based dark, noise/punk band with a Western slant. The trio, consisting of twin brothers Reid and Blaze Bateh and childhood friend William Brookshire, formed in Athens, GA. Their 3rd LP SHADOW ON EVERYTHING, Bambara’s first release on Wharf Cat Records, comes out on April 6th.
DUCKWRTH:
In 2016, DUCKWRTH took the energy he developed in New York back to Los Angeles where he created and released his critically acclaimed debut LP, I’M UUGLY. IM UUGLY was a project that merged the most unique parts of DUCKWRTH’s personality and talents to create a sound and visual palette that indicated he had not only grown as an artist but well on his way to being a music icon and visionary for his generation.
Totally Mild:
Melbourne’s Totally Mild write songs that are lush and luxurious, polished to sparkle. Her, the band’s highly-anticipated sophomore album, is full of narrative heart, but with a Stepford sheen. Teasing out a thematic tension between the loving and the lacklustre, the domestic and the deluxe, vocalist/guitarist and songwriter Elizabeth Mitchell’s voice is crystal clear.
Otzeki:
Mike Sharp and Joel Roberts are East Anglia-bred, London-based duo Otzeki, part of the burgeoning electronic/rock/pop genre sweeping Britain at the moment. The pair initially turned heads with their 2016 debut EP Falling Out, featuring the uber-catchy “Hope in Hell,” successfully combining vocals oozing beautiful desolation with a driving beat. Singles such as “True Love” and “All This Time” and EP Sun is Rising followed, showing their aptitude in fusing irrepressible electronic beats, R&B infused vocals, and alt-rock guitar into something truly intriguing.
Great Good Fine OK:
Brooklyn synthpop duo Great Good Fine OK met one evening in 2013 and by the next morning had written their first song together, “You’re the One for Me,” a gauzy, heart-thumping anthem that hit #1 on Hype Machine twice in one month and instantly established the group’s sound with Jon Sandler’s dancefloor falsetto soaring over Luke Moellman’s lush post-Space Age production, the perfect soundtrack for retrofuturism.
Wake Island:
Wake Island is a Montreal electronic duo, deftly manoeuvring between genres, crafting songs that mix minimal techno beats with 90s rock/pop influences. The band is comprised of Philippe Manasseh and Nadim Maghzal, both Lebanese immigrants who met while studying in Montreal in the early 2000s.
Hot flash Heat Wave:
San Francisco rock quartet Hot Flash Heat Wave rose to prominence in the Bay Area music scene in 2015. Their versatile sound, at times reminiscent of golden 60s, power pop, dream pop, post-punk and indie rock, demonstrates a dynamic range of songwriting prowess centered around consistently infectious, sun-soaked melodies and guitar hooks.
Cloud escapes into a state of blissful euphoria on "Two Hands Bound." The lavish sound singer-songwriter Tyler Taormina creates overflows with effervescence, as gossamer electronic textures and buoyant percussion hits build into a vibrant carnival of beautiful colors. But beneath the lively exterior also lies a heartfelt message: you’re ultimate the architect of your own happiness, even when outside forces try to convince you otherwise.
"Two Hands Bound" is the latest single off of Cloud’s full-length Plays with Fire, which was just released on March 9 via Audio Antihero. Juan Rodríguez
In the new video for “Grieving Friend of a Superman” (streaming below) by the San Francisco baroque alt pop group Leon + the Fantastic, stop motion animation is used to convey an otherworldly experience. The video, directed by Japhy Riddle, follows an astronaut (played by frontman Leon Rosen) as he journeys back on Earth and is disoriented by how unrecognizable it is following advances in technology. This is the first single to be released from the upcoming debut EPLet Me Cool, which is currently available for pre-order and set to be released on May 18th. – Lilly Milman, Photo by Jenya Lum
Nyxy Nyx recently shared a new full-length album, HappyLand. Wading into the soothing waters of melodic, psych-pop isolation, a spellbinding, stripped-down strangeness grabs one’s attention. However, on the other end of the spectrum, a grittier, fuzzy friction helps to shape the dynamic. That lullaby, run-ragged sound envelops in a haunting haze of comfort.
