Editor’s note: This is the tenth 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. This list comes from @SXSWISLIFE.
Smallpools
In the vein of Foster the People, Passion Pit, Fun., and Jukebox the Ghost, Los Angeles-based indie rockers Smallpools specialize in shimmery, ebullient, and effusive electro-pop.They were formed in 2013 around the talents of Sean Scanlon (vocals), Mike Kamerman (guitar), Joe Intile (bass), and Beau Kuther (drums).
Fetty Wap
Based in New Jersey, but influenced by Gucci Mane and other Southern hip-hop acts, Fetty Wap first hit in 2015 when he rapped and sang his way through his hit single “Trap Queen.”
Tuxedo
Grammy nominated engineer, producer and artist Alec Dixon began recording original music under the name TUXEDO in the fall of 2013. Alec melds a happy medium of funk, soul and R&B. He will definitely make you get on your feet and shake your groove thang.
Basecamp
A trio with musical influences that extend far beyond their hometown of Nashville, BASECAMP has set off on a path of experimentation that consistently pushes the boundaries of R&B and lo-fi electronic music. With haunting melodies, intensified by thumping bass lines and heavily percussive drums, their sound will make you “shudder”.
Tove Lo
Tove Lo is the stage name of Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson from Stockholm, Sweden, a pop singer and songwriter. She has written songs for a number of artists, including Icona Pop, Girls Aloud, and Cher Lloyd. Her stage name is a combination of her real name and the Swedish word for “lynx”, a childhood nickname.
Empires
Chicago indie rock group Empires began in 2007 when guitarist Tom Conrad, formerly of pop-punk act the Academy Is… approached singer/songwriter Sean Van Vleet about writing music together. Their self-produced mix of punchy garage tones and soaring, tuneful songcraft quickly won them a following.
Yung Lean
Jonatan Leandoer Håstad, better known by his stage name Yung Lean, is a Swedish rapper and record producer. Yung Lean has been controversial for his ‘slack’ rapping style. XXL magazine included him in their 2014 list of “15 European Rappers You Should Know”.
Autre Ne Veut
French for “I think of none other,” New York’s enigmatic Arthur Ashin, also known as Autre Ne Veut, makes music that falls somewhere between ’80s R&B hooks and melodies and the blurry sounds of Ariel Pink.
Doja Cat
Little is known about 18-year-old psychedelic prodigy, Doja Cat. Doja is a singer/rapper by way of Los Angeles. Mixing bright vocals with unfiltered bars seems to be her signature-in-the-making.
Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis is a Colombian singer-songwriter and visionary director, raised in Virginia. With influences ranging from doo-wop to reggae and early ’00s R&B, Uchis’s freshman release is an eclectic piece of condensed lazy afternoon, complete with pot smoke wafting in the summer breeze.
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.
