South by Southwest (SXSW) offers a multitude of opportunities for people to show off their innovations, make connections, and grow their companies. But the part of SXSW that draws most people into the event is music. With dozens of the most notorious local venues hosting musicians for SXSW back-to-back all week, a lot of them lasting late into the night. Many of these musicians aim to grow their following and build connections through attending SXSW. 

This year, SXSW saw over 1500 music showcases throughout the week-long festival. Initially, I went to SXSW not expecting to see anything amazing, a mindset attributed to the fact that many of the musicians pay to play at the festival. However, my first showcase immediately proved just how wrong I was. I got to see three separate musicians on the Radio Day Stage at Rivian Park: Hien, Chinese American Bear, and Oreglo. All of them were amazing, mixing different styles to create something new, unexpected, but infinitely enjoyable. 

The sheer quantity of music packed into this event was amazing. There are hundreds of showcases that take place in dozens of venues across the city, with sets being only 40 minutes, cramming as many performances per day as possible, and sometimes DJs would even play short, 15-minute sets in between the performances.

 Knowing the insurmountable schedule was one thing, but physically seeing its hecticness around me during SXSW gave me a new appreciation for the musicians. From Hien mixing her sound live on stage without a live band to Oreglo mixing jazz and rock music to make this amazing sound, and Chinese American Bear bringing two cultures together to make an experience that was like no other, I was in awe at the talent and creativity displayed by the artists. Despite this, I think what left a greater impression on me was the ability of the artists to put themselves out there, even when sometimes the audience didn’t enjoy their music. 

My favorite out of all these musicians was Oreglo, an alternative jazz band from London, England. Their stage presence was hilarious, highlighted by them telling short stories in between songs that were easy to relate to. However, what struck me the most was the band’s instrument lineup. They had a drummer, guitarist, pianist, and trombone-turned-sousaphone player—a title shift resulting from him unfortunately losing his trombone on the plane. Using the sousaphone for the bassline instead of another string bass instrument allowed them to curate a unique sound. Although the pianist took most of the spotlight due to his role as the vocalist, the drummer was also a major part of the stage presence, telling stories and ensuring the audience was engaged with their performance.

Additionally, I enjoyed Hien’s performance. As an alternative pop artist from Brooklyn, New York, she takes inspiration from her childhood in Budapest, growing up in a Vietnamese family. She sings her songs in Hungarian, Vietnamese, and English. Even more interestingly, she is a solo performer. It doesn’t sound like that when she is on stage, but there is no one backing her up. Instead of having a band, she puts her songs together electronically live while keeping an amazing stage presence. It is not awkward to see her put together these songs; instead, watching her work her magic adds to her performance. 

The third performance that we watched was Chinese American Bear. When they stepped up on stage, I was expecting a cozy indie performance, so when they started their set with a scream and the chaos of their instruments, I was surprised, to say the least. The rest of the performance did not disappoint. Most of the music was based on the lead singer’s upbringing in a Chinese-American family. One song was accompanied by a dance they taught to the audience, and although I felt silly, it highlighted the creativity that laced the artist’s sound. 

The event’s status as a music showcase of new, emerging artists, rather than a concert dedicated to a single artist, set my expectations low, but instead of leaving wishing I had spent my time elsewhere, I was pleasantly surprised. I found the creativity and ingenuity displayed throughout the acts awe-inspiring and beautiful. While these artists might not end up on my playlist, the performances I witnessed increased an appreciation I have for musicians and performances in a way that will continue to push me to go out and explore Austin’s ever-evolving and lively music scene.