This year’s SXSW resulted in one of the largest music showcases of the year, featuring over 300 artists as part of their annual music festival. The line-up can be overwhelming with a variety of acts from across the world performing various genres and some in different languages. This list is to help KTRU listeners from around the globe to discover new, exciting talents!
Jasmine Jethwa (London, UK)
In my lifetime, I have only seen three artists more than once live: Kendrick Lamar, The Flaming Lips, and London-based artist Jasmine Jethwa. Having caught two performances by Jethwa at SXSW (British Music Embassy and the Global Music Stage), I can confidently say that she was my favorite performer of the festival.
Performing alongside guitarist Izzi Bard, the duo performed with powerful simplicity: an acoustic guitar and Jethwa’s voice. Her stunning use of falsetto and vibrato on songs like “I Believe in Love” and “Vulnerable” caused me goosebumps. When reflecting on her song “Vulnerable,” Jethwa said, “[there’s] not a lot of poetry, but a lot of honesty.”
Meeting both Jethwa and Bard after the show, I was delighted by their humility and kindness. Both musicians had such warmth to them, both on-stage and off. The sheer power of Jethwa’s voice and her gentle presence left an incredible impression on me since SXSW.
Mark my words, Jasmine Jethwa will be a star - it’s only a matter of time until TikTok hears her voice and she explodes in popularity. Jump on Jasmine Jethwa’s musical career while she’s still growing.
Neptune XXI (Philadelphia, PA)
One of the most enigmatic and engaging performances from the festival comes from Philadelphia-based hip-hop extraordinaire Neptune XXI. Promoting the upcoming release of her album, Medicine Music 2, Neptune opened for Vic Mensa at the Flamingo Cantina - a small and intimate venue.
Right from the first song, Neptune had a chokehold on the audience’s attention - one that was unlike any other at the festival. Her passionate flows and delivery remained creative throughout songs like “Big Fish.” Coupled with her superb cadence and stage presence, Neptune XXI immersed the audience by being incredibly emotive through her mix of flows/melodies and her dancing.
One of the most impactful moments of Neptune XXI’s performance was when she performed “I AM A REVOLUTIONARY.” Citing inspiration from Nina Simone and Fred Hampton, Neptune said that, “It’s the artist’s duty to reflect the times.” Sampling Simone’s famous cover of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit, the anthemic song is as empowering as it is haunting.
Neptune XXI is an artist that is the full package with an endless amount of charisma, energy, and passion behind each song - carefully crafting messages of empowerment and resistance within each verse.
Lucid Express (Hong Kong, China)
Hailing from Hong Kong, Shoegaze band Lucid Express was one of the most mind-bending acts from this year’s lineup. Performing on this year’s Global Stage bill, Lucid Express created dreamy and surreal soundscapes soaked in tremolo and reverb.
Lead singer Kim Ho Tsz-ki’s vocals are faint and subtle, yet added tremendous texture to the wall of sound coming from the guitars and bass. In their performance, Lucid Express used at least 15 guitar pedals, with the guitarists using the whammy bar like there was no tomorrow. This helped to create a larger than life sound that felt visceral throughout.
The band performed one song into the other, playing material from their new album Instant Comfort and deeper cuts from previous records like Floret and their self-titled record. This resulted in a mixture of entrancing dream-pop ballads and reverb-heavy Grunge anthems.
I can assure anyone that listens to Lucid Express that, after you listen to a few songs, your shoes will indeed be gazed.
Mariae Cassandra (Perth, Australia)
One of the youngest acts at this year’s festival was 18-year old Indie Rock artist Mariae Cassandra. Making her US debut, Cassandra’s sounds are a mix of Alvvays and Paramore.
Cassandra played songs from her EP titled Everything in my Backpocket. The EP showcases Cassandra’s ability to provide delicate and beautiful vocals that detail the plights of being a teenager.
I found that Cassandra’s songwriting was fun yet introspective. On “Theodore,” Cassandra explores identity and soul-searching on a song about an imaginary friend, contrasting the lighthearted “Million Billion Trillion,” a song dedicated to loving her best friend.
Overall, I found Cassandra to be incredibly positive and excitable, singing with an infectious energy. Cassandra’s performance shows promise for the young singer’s future as she remains dynamic in her search for the sound that will soon define her career.
The Tullamarines (Adelaide, Australia)
Bringing a punk energy to the dancefloor this year was Australia’s The Tullamarines.
Packing their set with fun, driving instrumentation, I found that the crowd couldn’t help but dance.
Songs like “Running on Empty” are earworms that are helped by the passionate vocals and high-energy emitting from the backing band. “Head Roll Back,” about the singer’s girlfriend, is another example of a catchy hook that is propelled by great, genuine energy.
Something that makes the band a rare case is that every member sang individually and I was blown away by how solid each member’s vocals were.
Audience members reciprocated the band’s energy throughout the set; the excitement was felt as this was the band’s US debut. The Tullamarines are fun, bright, and electric. This is 100% an act that you will not be able to listen to without tapping your foot.
I See Orange (Swindon, UK)
High-octane and ear-piercing is how I would describe UK-based group I See Orange.
Infusing their music with elements of 90s grunge, the sound from I See Orange is loud and ferocious. As trippy psychedelic visuals projected onto the band, the towering sound of bass and guitar consumed me from head to toe.
Songs like “La Bruja” reverberated throughout the venue with their fast and punchy delivery. I loved how loud and booming the guitar solos were on tracks like “Wine Boy.”
Despite the intensity of their sound, I See Orange made their show a lot of fun. A standout moment was when they brought out bubble blowers and played as bubbles floated throughout the dimly-lit bar.
MT Jones (Liverpool, UK)
With a blast from the past, singer MT Jones spins the sounds of the 60s and 70s for a new audience. Hailing from the UK, Jones played a set in a similar vein as Thee Sacred Souls and Jalen Ngonda, with a voice that is comparable to Van Morrison.
The funky and groovy nature of tracks like “I Don’t Understand” transports the audience back into another time. Jones also showcased a more melodic side to his performance with songs like “Nothing I Can’t Do,” with audience members slowly swaying their hips from left to right.
MT Jones is an artist that captures the sounds of the past and transforms them into new music for a new generation to experience.