Editor’s note: This is the sixth post in a series covering the best talent at the fest. Listen to these artists-to-watch now, and get them on your festival schedule for March. This selection of must-see artists comes from @SXSWISLIFE.
Milky Chance
German duo Milky Chance make folk, reggae, and electronica-influenced pop music. Formed in 2012 in Kassel, Germany, Milky Chance showcase the talents of singer/songwriter Clemens Rehbein and DJ Philipp Dausch.
Young Thug
Jeffrey Williams, better known by his stage name Young Thug, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia who is signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Brick Squad Records, Asylum Records and Atlantic Records.
Odesza
Odesza (stylized as ODESZA) are an American electronic music duo from Seattle consisting of Harrison Mills (aka Catacombkid) and Clayton Knight (aka Beaches Beaches). Their first release, Summer’s Gone, was a mixture of dreamy, sun trickled melodies, glitched out vocals, crunchy drums and large sweeping bass lines. Two tracks from Summer’s Gone, “How Did I Get Here” and “iPlayYouListen,” reached #1 on the Hype Machine Popular chart, cementing the duo as a force in the underground electronic community.
Lolawolf
LOLAWOLF is a trio from New York fronted by Zoë Kravitz. The band includes Jimmy Giannopoulos and James Levy from Reputante. Pitchfork describes them as “surging electronic pop.” Neon Gold called lead track “Drive (Los Angeles)” “a perfect piece of distinctive, melody-driven, back-to-the-future synth candy.” They have a glitched-out, deep-web rave aesthetic to their lyrics and production, and they self-release their music. Zoë doesn’t “have the intention of being a popstar or care if people like it or not, but if they do, that’s awesome.”
Stromae
Stromae (who sings only in French) is a stylish, Brussels singer-songwriter (born Paul Van Haver), who describes his sound as a mix of “hip-hop, dance music, salsa and French folk music,” His cuts are insanely danceable, bursting with bright electro beats.
BRONCHO
The Oklahoma City band crafts sing-along anthems that combine punk and garage-rock. Compared to punk bands of the ’70s (Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Stooges), or the new-school garage-rock undertones of The Strokes and The Strange Boys. They combine raw guitar chords and energy, with DIY sentiment, but hi-fi production.
Vic Mensa
Vic Mensa is an American rapper and former member of the group Kids These Days from Chicago, Illinois. He released his mixtape INNANETAPE online last year to critical acclaim. Vic is the leader and co-founder of the SAVEMONEY collective with frequent collaborator Chance The Rapper.
RAC
Remixers to indie luminaries such as Washed Out, Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Death Cab for Cutie, RAC (short for Remix Artist Collective) is the brainchild of producer/multi-instrumentalist André Allen Anjos. Anjos began releasing original RAC songs in 2012, and hasn’t stopped since.
Ibeyi
20-year olds, Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz, better known as Ibeyi are French-Cuban twins. Pronounced ee-bey-ee, their name means “twins” in yoruba, the native language and culture of their Cuban father. They mix Latin jazz, hip-hop, and African music.
Melanie Martinez
Melanie Martinez is a 19-year-old vocalist with a bent toward alternative singer/songwriter pop and electronic music. From Long Island, New York, she is known for being a member of Team Adam in the third season of the tv vocal talent show, The Voice.
You can hear all these ‘Must See Artists’ and many more here. Listen to @SXSWISLIFE‘s master playlist to get acquainted with ALL of the music at the festival. For your partying needs, check out the#SXturnt playlist, the #SpotifyHouse playlist, and the #CultureCollideOnRainey playlist.
