Artists Take On Austin! Who To See This March
March 11th through the 17th, WLUW will attend SXSW in Austin, Texas for a second time! The festival showcases artists like The Black Keys, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Flo Milli, and more. However, their primary focus is their massive lineup of independent artists — many of whom frequent the WLUW airwaves. In addition to the official SXSW showcases, a number of unofficial showcases will be held at venues around Austin. Ahead of the festival, we asked some of our writers who they think we should check out while we're there! Read their comments below...
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Canadian R&B and hip-hop singer, producer, and songwriter PARTYNEXTDOOR was the first artist signed to Drake’s record label OVO Sound. Jahron Brathwaite, the man behind PARTYNEXTDOOR’s The Weeknd and Brent Faiyaz-like melodies, is no stranger to the Canadian Hot 100 and Billboard Hot 100, with the song “Come See Me” (featuring Drake) peaking at 73 and 55, respectively, and earning him a nomination at the 59th Grammy Awards. His second album PartyNextDoor 3 successfully topped the Billboard 200 at spot number three. PARTYNEXTDOOR has taken the music industry by storm at the mic and as a producer. He co-wrote Rihanna’s hit single “Work,” the double-platinum “Sex With Me,” and DJ Khalid’s quintuple-platinum single featuring Rihanna, “Wild Thoughts.” His latest EP, R e s e n t m e n t offers dreamy vocals and outer-world-like melodies about resentment in a relationship and a painfulness described by the chorus “When in doubt, you run.” It landed a top 10 debut on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. He’s amassed over 6.3 billion streams across all platforms with 3.6M followers on Instagram and 1.3M subscribers on Youtube. PARTYNEXTDOOR’s music is a living homage to the 80s and 90s R&B of the past, exploring the complex perspectives of love, pain, and relationships.
Written by Heidi Reissenweber
Holiday Ghosts
Holiday Ghosts is an underground Indie Rock ‘n’ Roll band consisting of UK south coasters Katja Rackin on drums, Sam Stacpoole on guitar, Morgan Lloyd Matthews on bass, and Ben Nightingale on guitar. They released their first album ‘Holiday Ghosts’ in 2017 which amassed over 190,000 streams on their song ‘Paranoia.’ Holiday Ghosts’ Garage Rock vocals are grounded by the bass and given the perfect head-thrashing beat by the guitar. They’re everything punk, spunk, and jangle. Following their latest rock success ‘Absolute Reality,’ which is being taken on tour in 2024, the band has recently announced the release of their fifth album ‘Coat of Arms.’ They’ve played accredited stages left and right across the UK and Europe from the Latitude Festival to the Left of the Dial, from the Pyrenees mountains to now making their way into the states in Austin TX. Holiday Ghosts’ fiery lyrics and striking melodies have skyrocketed the band’s name in the UK music scene and there’s no doubt it’ll continue globally.
Written by Heidi Reissenweber
if i die in mississippi
Started by Jona Hope in 2015, if i die in mississippi is a self-described “lofi-ambient-bedroom-pop” project. Having released six albums since, the artist has gained notoriety through their Alex G and Modern Baseball covers. Each song evokes a nostalgic aura through its thoughtful lyrics and lofi instrumentals, making you feel right at home. The project has since ended with “before I leave,” an album consisting of unfinished songs, b-side’s, and covers — their most popular record on Spotify. Still, Hope continues to explore other musical endeavors following the projects end in 2021.
Written by Matthew Sorce
Connor McLaren
The Indianapolis-based artist Connor McLaren is single-handedly bringing back rock and roll. He will take the stage at SWSX after a breakout year in 2023. Bringing a refreshing psychedelic-folk sound, his debut album "Innocence" creates a sense of childhood nostalgia. Tracks “Candy Rain” and “In My Eyes” showcase the singers unique sound. His performance is one you don’t want to miss!
Written by Bri Guntz
SMUT
Chicago band Smut will be heading to SXSW. They have become fast local favorites and are sure to put on an amazing performance. They’re latest album How the Light Felt perfectly showcases their brand of shoegaze. Their recent singles “18 tons” and “Y Signal” are reminiscent of 90s alt-rock. Lead singer Tay Roebuck’s dreamy vocals blend perfectly with Andrew Min’s and Sam Ruschman’s guitar riffs, Bell Cenower’s bass lines, and Aidan O’Connor’s drums. If you’re looking for a new take on a nostalgic sound, check out Smut at SXSW.
Written by Ciara Belfiore
Cardinals
Cardinals is a six-piece hailing from Cork, Ireland. They’re a must see for fans of indie rock, and they recently made Rolling Stone UK’s Ones to Watch in 2024 list. Cardinals latest single “Unreal” is a wonderful blend of distortion and joy. They’re an up and coming act that’s sure to cement themselves in the ever growing Irish alternative scene. Lead Singer Euan Manning is backed by Kieran Hurley and Oskar Gudinovic on guitar, Aaron Hurley on bass, Finn Manning on accordion, and drummer Darragh Manning. Their blend of pop and rock influences matched with lyrics that are deeply tied to the city they grew up in are an exciting match. Be sure to check out their performance at SXSW and keep an eye out for their next release.
Written by Ciara Belfiore
Faye Webster
Singer-songwriter Faye Webster produces a unique sound for the pop alternative/indie scene. She takes listeners into a dream-like state with her gentle, airy voice and the iconic hum of a steel guitar in certain songs. Her lyrics explore storytelling through love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the depths of understanding yourself and others. This poetry, accompanied by her distinct music composition, describes the all-too-familiar feelings experienced during young adult relationships and understanding the emotions that come with it. She uses this intimacy and closeness to create a sense of nostalgia and comfort for all listeners.
Written by Paige Lynn
Hollows
Based in Manchester, Hollows forms a three-person alt/rock band, carrying everything from an individual sound to catchy lyrics and melodies. Signified by layered-up guitar sounds, distinctive drums, and carrying vocals, the band brings a new feeling to the familiar genre. The drums create a heartbeat for the energizing music in their nine available singles. The lead vocalist provides a voice that pierces through the speaker, effortlessly captivating listeners to feel an emotional connection. In their boundless creativity, Hollows invites listeners to explore themes of introspection and self-discovery through their musical perspective.
Written by Paige Lynn
Searows
Relatively new in popularity, Alec Duckart, also known as Searows, uses his poetry to give his music a sense of loneliness, together with his audience. Producing his first record Guard Dog alone, Searows invites his listeners to the scary depths of solitude, vulnerability, and rumination, unlike other artists of this genre. Becoming a new pillar in the painful confusion and self-discovery of young adulthood, Alec's feelings are far from unfamiliar to any listener. The phrase “you are not alone,” as cliche as it can be, is truly felt when experiencing Searows music. He provides a comforting presence within this darkness and a guiding hand out of it.
Written by Paige Lynn
Rachel Chinouriri
This indie pop artist is one everyone should keep their eye on. Rachel Chinouriri is English born, from South London. Rachel went viral on social media for an acoustic version of her single, ‘So My Darling,’ and at the young age of 24 has an album out, as well all multiple singles. She’s been influenced by artists such as James Blake and Coldplay but adds her own spin, producing a unique indie alternative sound. She has a new album, ‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’ coming out in the next couple of months, so stay tuned!
Written by Melanie Cammarano
Howler Honey
California gave the world a smoky, alternative indie duo known as Howler Honey. Childhood friends Juju and Matt Wayne make up this two-piece band. With one album out so far, they’re most notable for ‘Summertime Slow,’ ‘Tyrannosaurus Barbie,’ and ‘Mess Around.’ The multi-instrumental vocalists give us music riddled with sultry, dirty, melodies that they coin as “California Noir.” The group is set to have a new album coming out this spring, which will be their second. Make sure to keep an eye on Howler Honey, good stuff is coming!
Written by Melanie Cammarano
Flo Milli
Flo Milli, also known as Tamia Monique Carter, is a rapper and songwriter from Mobile, Alabama. The 24-year-old signed with ‘94 Sounds, an imprint of RCA Records in 2019 following her 2018 single “Beef FloMix” and her following 2019 single “In The Party” both of which went viral on TikTok. In 2020 she released her debut mixtape Ho, Why is You Here? which was featured on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time list. Most recently, Carter released a 2023 single titled “Never Lose Me” which went viral on social media and was within the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100. Flo Milli is scheduled to perform at Stubb’s on March 13, presented by Mass Appeal x Hulu, then again at Austin City Limits presented by Rolling Stones Future of Music.
Written by Marisa Panella
ILLENIUM
Nicholas D. Miller, known professionally as ILLENIUM is performing March 16 at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. The DJ, Producer, and songwriter has released five studio albums including Fallen Embers in 2021 which earned Miller his first Grammy. ILLENIUM’s most notable songs include “Good Things Fall Apart” with Jon Belliopn and “Takeaway” with The Chainsmokers which both peaked at number three on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronica Songs chart. Miller has also released well-known remixes such as the Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down” and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero.” He was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 music list in 2020.
Written by Marisa Panella
STRFKR
STRFKR spills out rattling indie-rock, playing with electronic sounds and clattering ambient flourishes. Coming together in Portland, Oregon in 2007, STFKR is made up of frontman and original founding member Joshua Hodges as well as Keil Corcoran, Shawn Glassford, and Patrick Morris. The four are multi-instrumentalists and their soft, floaty vocals are contributed by Hodges, Corcoran, and Morris. Together, they’ve released 12 albums since their breakout self-titled project, S********r (2008), which is awash in the sort of nostalgic mid-aughts pop joy that draws fans to The Postal Service, MGMT, or Matt and Kim. It also features their most well-known song, pulsing indie anthem, “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second.” Their 2024 release, Parallel Realms, is an album to dance to. Swooping melodies and their telltale synthetic symphony score the album. Groovy tracks like “Holding On” bury stories about desperation behind upbeat instrumentals while “Under Water/In Air” spells out undying devotion and flys on a twinkling guitar hook. Atmospheric breaks give the band some room to stretch their legs without vocals (Interspace 2, 3, 4, and 5). Perfect for fans of Tame Impala, Glass Animals and The Strokes’ The New Abnormal.
Written by Mia Thompson
The Black Keys
Ohio alternative-rock duo The Black Keys take the stage at SXSW on March 16, at 12:30 a.m. at Stubb’s. Guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney joined forces in 2001, releasing their freshman project, The Big Come Up, in 2002. By 2003, the two were opening for Beck on his Sea Change tour. Since then, The Black Keys have won the 2013 Brit Award for International Group, five Grammys — including Best Rock Album for El Camino in 2013 — and an MTV Music award for their song “Tighten Up,” a jangling indie-rock track. Their sound is heavily influenced by blues; their debut album features a cover of “Do the Rump” by Junior Kimbrough (read more about The Black Keys and their blues inspiration on the Tennessean). Delta Kream, Auerbach and Carney’s 2021 album is a deep dive into the genre with versions of songs by the likes of John Lee Hooker and R.L. Burnside. Their grinding, static-laden guitar riffs, however, propel their sound into indie-rock. Now, Auerbach and Carney are gearing up for the release of their 13th album, Ohio Players, having put out the first three singles. These offerings range from soulfully mournful and orchestral (“I Forgot to Be Your Lover”) to catchy, grit-fueled expressions of desolate freedom (“This Is Nowhere”). Perfect for fans of Cage the Elephant, The White Stripes, and good-old-fashioned Blues.
Written by Mia Thompson
bar italia
Alternative-rock trio bar italia bring their playfully dark stylings to the SXSW stage at Empire Garage, on March 13. The London-based group — made up of Nina Christate, Sam Fenton, and Jezmi Fehmi — weave eerie, droning tapestries of steady guitar and vocals, producing intoxicating tracks that give the heady feeling of peering through a smoke-filled bar, exploring its unlit corners. Their first two albums, 2020’s Quarrel and 2021’s Bedhead, were put out through World Music, British artist Dean Blunt’s music label with Inga Copeland, and Blunt’s influence certainly shines through. Their 2023 album, The Twits, tells stories of twisted (no pun intended) realizations underscored by a whining guitar (“Shoo”), folksy pop love stories fringed with insecurity (“Jelsy”), and soft-punk croonings (“Hi fiver”). The alternating vocals between the trio make each song a conversation on the brink of breakdown. Perfect for fans of Jockstrap, Dry Cleaning, and (of course) Dean Blunt.
Written by Mia Thompson
Check out the full SXSW 2024 lineup here!