Every year in Austin, Tx,, music, film and interactive festival South by Southwest (SXSW) brings out the dark horses of the indie music business and excites A&R reps all over the country. The music-portion of the festival took place March 13 through 18 on over 90 different stages, according to sxsw.com. In the past, SXSW has discovered artists like Amy Winehouse, M.I.A. and Bon Iver. After dutifully scouring the interwebs (a shout out and thank you to the Pretty Much Amazing music blog for all the free ear candy) I’ve complied a list of fresh new artists and bands out of the hundreds that performed this year.
Note: I used singles from each band to choose who stood out from the crowd; thus, I haven’t heard their comprehensive CD and am basing my choices off of the one or two songs that peaked my interest. But honestly, isn’t that enough to tell the Nickelbacks from the Zeppelins?
Alabama Shakes
Soulful singer Brittany Howard is backed by twangy guitars that build into gospel-esque choruses on “I Found You.” Her voice is truthfully all kinds of sassy. The band formed in 2009 and released their first EP in September 2011. Their first LP is set to be released April 9 and if this single is just a taste of Boys & Girls, I’d say it’s
worth giving a listen.
Ava Luna
This eclectic sextet uses their three synth players to their full advantage. On “Wrenning Day” the dark and haunting pulses are supported by weaving voices that keep the ear from getting bored. The second song, “Clips” is slightly boppier, but maintains a mysterious vibe and unique synth sounds that keep the band from falling into any predictable musical loops. Their first LP Ice Level was released Feb. 28 and has been described as “nervous soul” by Kunal, a mysterious man quoted on their website. I’d say the phrase is fitting.
Blood Diamonds
This Vancouver-based band lists themselves as Fusion/Tropical/Zouk on Myspace. I imagine Cut Copy and Local Natives getting together and making sweet techno love to give you what you’ll hear on their song “Heart.” Mimicking the organ it’s named after, it’s an upbeat tune with smooth breaks where you can catch your breath. Their album, Dreams, has tracks free for download on SoundCloud to beef up your iTunes.
Brite Futures
“Black Wedding” starts ringing with chapel bells and quickly becomes bubblegum-tastic pop that you can embrace. Interestingly enough, the band was formerly known as Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head (a la her appearance in V for Vendetta), but I find that their name now better reflects their sound. Their first LP Glistening Pleasures was re-released as Glistening Pleasures 2.0 (a poke at J. Beibs). This funny Seattle band closes out “Black Wedding” with advice every girl should take: “Grow your hair long and be a diva.”
Charli XCX
A huskier Ellie Goulding, Charlotte Aitcheison (or Charli XCX) is a UK-based singer who has an air of mystery about her. Her 2011 single “Nuclear Seasons” does not yet have an album to call home, but holds it’s own with twinkling and scratchy synth, as well as Charli’s smoky sound. Her album is set to be released by the label This Is Music in May 2012.
Crocodiles
“Hearts of Love” has a big sound with even bigger lyrics. It’s showy with it’s guitar lines and outbursts of sound after Beach Boys approved echoes and surfy synths. The song is from the band’s 2010 album Sleep Forever but a June 2012 album is set for release called Endless Flowers.
Django Django
This British psychedelic quartet are both trippy and fun with classic rock undertones. “Default” has a catchy loop for a chorus and robotic lyrics that twitch along with the excess synth. They’re strange, unusual and completely awesome. Django Django, their self-titled album, was released in January and has already made waves on the UK charts.
Eleanor Friedberger
Saxophone-approved outro, check. Strange band name that is actually the lead singer’s name, check. Catchy chorus, check. After parting from her brother and her’s band Fiery Furnaces, Last Summer is Eleanor’s first solo album, released in July of 2011. “My Mistakes” is cute and its to the point lyrics have the power to get stuck in your head.
Grimes
The sweet step-sister of Sleigh Bells, Grimes has a tinkling sound with less edge, but a lot of fun layering. The song “Infinite Love Without Fulfillment” is a perfect allegory for the actual tune. Clocking in at a minute and a half, you wish the alternating vocal rounds and synths would go on just a bit longer. Taking a look at Canadian Claire Boucher’s (Grimes is her alias) third album Visions, this song is actually the opener on what looks to be a promising tracklist.
The Men
You’d swear if it wasn’t for the low-fi guitars that this band walked straight out of the 80s hair-metal era. Surging guitar solos and insane drum lines pepper “Turn it Around,” a song off their 2011 LP Open Your Heart will keep your head banging and air guitar hot. Their 2010 LP Leave Home features “Batille,” a grungier sounding song compared to “Turn it Around,” but no less good old rock and roll.
Oberhofer
These indie rockers have only a smattering of songs to their name according to their Myspace page, but that doesn’t keep them from making some seriously good singles. “Away Frm U” and “Homebro” are contradictingly quiet and loud. They remind you of another band, sound, person, place and thing, but you can’t put your finger on it. It’s the familiarity and simultaneous novelty in their sound that is tantalizing.
Penguin Prison
“Don’t F— With My Money” is disco-danceable. Another 80s brother from another mother, Penguin Prison is the Rick Astley of the indies. I heard a little of the Limousines in their sound, but mostly they produce a reliable melody that is dance floor ready. Their self-titled album was released October 2011 and is on my list of music to get groovy with.
Princeton
They’ve supported big-names like Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, and it would seem that Princeton has borrowed a little sound from both. Soft vocals accompany an arching keyboard and lofty string instruments on “Remembrance of Things to Come.” Their album of the same name was released in February and can be given a listen at their website http://www.princetonLA.com.
Purity Ring
“Ungirthed” begins with nods to Passion Pit and a whole lot of poppy effects before coming into its own. The band hasn’t released an initial album yet, but the spine-chilling single is promising.
River City Extension
Throughout their song “Something Salty, Something Sweet” there’s a strange mix of Beirut-like trumpets and a chorus that swings like an Irish drinking song. A break in the midst of the song lets members jam and listeners dance while chanting along with them. Their sophomore album Don’t Let the Sun Go Down is set to be released in June 2012.
Screaming Females
There’s not much left to the imagination with a band name like that. This punk group is led by Marissa Paternoster’s vocals and persisting vibrato. “I Don’t Mind” is dirty with thoughtful intricacies and seething lyrics. They are set to record something for 2012, but their site doesn’t give a hint at any specific dates.
Zola Jesus
American singer-songwriter Nika Danilova, or Zola Jesus, is a slightly more subdued version of Florence and the Machine, but with just as much vocal and musical punch. “In Your Nature” is wistful and airy. Zola’s last release was 2011’s Conatus and she has been noted as an Artist to Watch.
1, 2, 3
“Work” builds into a cacophonous beginning that slowly starts to ebb and flow between the longing vocals and rhythmic chorus. The song is indie rock at it’s brightest, as it unexpectedly bounces from guitars to a string section and back again.
After hours attached to my headphones, I think it’s safe to say that these are some of the best that SXSW had to offer this year. So go out forth my music buffs, and indie away this spring.
Amanda Sieradzki can be reached at minaret.arts@gmail.com.