Some of Aotearoa’s finest up-and-coming and established artists are heading to SXSW in Austin this week.
ASHY, CHAII, Earth Tongue, Georgia Gets By, Swallow the Rat, SWIDT, and Vera Ellen are set to showcase their talents at the week-long music conference from March 8th to 16th.
“SXSW is one of the most important international music events of the year and I am always proud to watch our artists excel on the world stage. The level of talent and artistry of our showcasing acts have displayed historically has always been significant and this year is no exception,” says International Manager Alan Holt.
Many artists are in demand, with invites for multiple sideshows, both official and unofficial. Check out their socials for more information.
The New Zealand Commission will be hosting a New Zealand at SXSW 2024 Official Party on March 13th from 12:00pm – 5:00pm at the 13th Floor (711 Red River, Austin TX).
To mark their SXSW Sydney appearances, Rolling Stone AU/NZ compiled a guide to the Kiwi artists heading to the event, which you can check out below.
For more info on SXSW, visit the official website here.
CHAII
Persian-Kiwi rapper, producer, engineer, and director, CHAII, is leading the charge in shaping the future of rap, hip hop, R&B, and electronica in New Zealand. Her latest track, “Fun”, is a hypnotic burst of skittering electronica, hinting at the bright future ahead of her with the release of her upcoming album. Currently on her first US tour, including a stop at SXSW, CHAII declares, “It’s the ‘I’m just getting started’ song.” We can’t wait for what’s next.
Swallow the Rat
Swallow The Rat, the post-punk band from Tāmaki Makaurau, have roots both in their hometown and as far as Austin, Texas, so playing at SXSW feels like a natural fit for them. The trio – Brian Purington, Hayden Fritchley, and Stephen Horsley – have been busy rocking stages in Australia and are now headed to the US for a massive seventeen-date tour, including their SXSW appearance. They’re riding high on their second album, South Locust, which perfectly captures their unique sound, mixing NZ post-punk with shoegaze, post-hardcore, and Texas psychedelia.
Earth Tongue
Festival attendees, brace yourselves for the powerful performance of Tāmaki Makaurau’s Earth Tongue. The duo, guitarist Gussie Larkin (Mermaidens) and drummer Ezra Simons (Soft Bait), is set for a monumental 2024. They’re releasing their second album, Great Haunting, on June 14th via LA’s In the Red Records (whose roster includes Thee Oh Sees, Fuzz, and The Linda Lindas). After supporting US rock titans Queens of the Stone Age at Spark Arena, they’ll tour New Zealand, followed by a massive 40-date European tour.
ASHY
Christchurch might be home to a future global pop star in ASHY. Rolling Stone AU/NZ named her “one of eight Kiwi artists tipped to take over” in 2023. With her glossy debut EP, Status, she’s been making waves, earning praise as “one of the strongest pop records released by an Aotearoa artist in years.” ASHY’s songs exude self-confidence and swagger, reflecting an artist who knows this is her moment.
Tami Neilson
Tami Neilson, a Canadian-born New Zealander, honed her skills performing with her family band, The Neilsons, across North America. With eight studio albums, she’s snagged multiple NZ Awards for Best Female Artist, Best Country Album, and Best Country Song, along with prestigious nominations. Tami’s no stranger to Texas, clinching the 2023 APRA Best Country Music Song Award for her duet with Willie Nelson. This week, she will be performing at Nelson’s Texas ranch as part of the Luck Reunion festival, and she will also be featured at the SXSW showcase.
SWIDT
Onehunga-born collective SWIDT has paved the way for hip-hop in Aotearoa. This electrifying live group, comprising all five members – SPYCC, SmokeyGotBeatz, INF, Boomer Tha God, and JAMAL – has an iconic catalogue in the country, including STONEYHUNGA and The Most Electrifying EP.
Will Swinton
With early comparisons to Sydney rapper The Kid LAROI and Canadian artist EKKSTACY, Will Swinton has already shown plenty of individual promise in just a handful of songs. Jumping between genres and never sticking to one style, Swinton delivers emotionally-charged anthems with his unique raspy voice. It all started for him in his Auckland bedroom. At only 21 years old, the budding star has been traveling between New Zealand and Los Angeles.
