SXSW Sydney will be platforming over 150 artists at their music festival - here are the top ten you can’t miss.
This October 13 to 19, SXSW Sydney is taking over the soundwaves of Sydney. The music conference and festival will feature 150+ artists, with more still yet to be added.
Music lovers have full reign of a sensational program of massive international names and emerging entertainers. To make it a little easier, these are the top ten musicians that you don’t want to miss. With plenty of artists to discover over the course of the festival, you’ve at least got a launchpad to jump off and into the constellation of sound with these ten creative geniuses.
SXSW Sydney
- 13 October to 19 October
- Multiple venues across Sydney
- Over 400 conference sessions, 150 professional development opportunities, 300 music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games and 400 brand-led events
- More info here
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Ninajirachi
The Sydney-based producer and performer has become one of Australia’s most celebrated electronic artists, with her debut album receiving widespread critical acclaim and five-star reviews across multiple publications. Ninajirachi’s unique blend of experimental electronic sounds and dreamy pop sensibilities has established her as a standout voice in the local music scene.
Drifting Clouds
Dubbing themselves “the most chill band from Arnhem Land”, Aussie up-and-comers Drifting Clouds are the band on every music fan’s lips. Despite only having one single to their names – the 80’s synthpop-inspired track Bawupawuy – these chillers have already been making a whole lot of noise in the country’s music scene.
xiao xiao
Consisting of some of the Eora scene’s favourite music icons, xiao xiao is the underground supergroup made up of members of Korean-Australian hip-hop collective 1300, Parramatta grime trailblazers Slim Set and left-field club DJ Baschoe. Described as staunch music, this bunch of legends are reaching for the guitars instead of the decks this time around.
Tenxi, Jemsii & Naykilla (IDN)
Every now and again, a band comes along and announces themselves as trailblazers from the very start of their reign. Indonesian trio Tenxi, Jemsii & Naykilla are one of those bands, having topped the Indonesian and Malaysian charts with their single Garam & Madu (Sakit Dadaku). Pioneering the hip-dut genre, this is a collection of artists you can’t miss out on.
64ksana (KOR)
Eora will be getting a glimpse of an emerging force coming out of Seoul with Korea’s very own 64ksana coming to SXSW Sydney. The alternative electronic trio combine influences from Korean shamanic music with club-perfect electronic production. Expect analogue synthesis, traditional Korean percussion and show-stopping vocals.
Jamaica Moana
Not far from home, Western Sydney Maori-Samoan rapper, songwriter, performance artist and ballroom superstar Jamaica Moana will be making an unforgettable mark on the music festival. Performances include a whirlwind of club, hip-hop and electronic sounds colliding to create a spectacular foray of music experimentation.
The Thing (USA)
No strangers to indie rock, America will be transplanting one of their most promising emerging bands out of the scene and into the arms of SXSW Sydney. New York’s The Thing will be fast favourites for any music fan partial to a lick of good old indie noise. This is your chance to catch the rising rockers while they’re on their way to becoming the next big thing.
blue diner.
Another slice of local goodness, blue diner. is the must-see Meanjin-based emo shoegaze trio. Music lovers and music-makers alike adore this emerging band. Before you know it, they’ll be causing ripples across the soundwaves of the scene with their addictive songs.
Jasmine.4.t (UK)
From across the pond and to the shores of Sydney, Jasmine.4.t has already acquired fans from throughout the industry. Included in those fans are the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and her supergroup bandmates from boygenius. And there’s no doubt as to why – the indie rock singer-songwriter has the habit of turning first-time listeners into long-time followers.
JUPiTA
To perfectly round out the curated selection of unmissable acts, JUPiTA is the cherry on top of your SXSW Sydney must-see list. The Naarm artist and producer’s cinematic sound blends a mix of reggaeton, dance, drum and bass, R&B and soul to create the kind of sonic lightning that can’t be bottled.
For more information on SXSW Sydney, head here.
This article was made in partnership with SXSW Sydney.
