BADASSMUTHA is a Githabul, Migunberri-Yugumbeh, Gamilaroi woman, who weaves stories through lyrical wit-poetry, catchy melody, inspired by reggae, pop, soul, funk and a powerhouse presence.
Across the week, expect a dynamic festival program that captures the future of sound from indie rock and experimental pop to immersive multimedia experiences combining music and technology.
With alumni including Nick Ward, Fcukers, Miss Kaninna, Otoboke Beaver and so many more, SXSW Sydney is where new music finds its audience.
With performances lighting up 25 stages across Chippendale and its surrounds, the annual festival promises an eclectic mix of sounds and styles. Whether you’re a fan eager to discover the next big thing or an industry insider on the hunt for fresh talent, don’t miss this incredible week of music.
Stay tuned with more artists, parties, workshops, and the full Music Conference lineup still to be revealed.
BADASSMUTHA is a Githabul, Migunberri-Yugumbeh, Gamilaroi woman, who weaves stories through lyrical wit-poetry, catchy melody, inspired by reggae, pop, soul, funk and a powerhouse presence.
Tracksuited, denim and leather clad and hidden behind wrap-around sunglasses, the Cork five-piece, Cardinals, look like they’ve just stepped out of Warhol's factory in Midtown Manhattan rather than the picturesque village of Kinsale, and yet to live in a Cardinals song is to be surrounded by a grainy, monochromatic landscape that holds both a gritty rock and roll nostalgia and the rolling hills of Ireland’s traditional musical past. Their Pogues-leaning, shanty-esque verses swoon into room-filling chorus’, and often cloak dark and brooding tales of love in gentle first-person conversational narratives. Their critically acclaimed debut EP Cardinals is an eclectic gothic amalgam of shoegaze, pop, Irish trad folk, and rock which incorporates 60s Wall of Sound and poetry inflected punk.
Freak Slug is the project of UK-based artist Xenya Genovese, whose sound fuses ‘90s shoegaze, grunge, and alt-pop. Since her viral breakout with “Radio” (15M+ streams) from her 2020 debut EP Videos, Freak Slug has carved out a space for raw, weird, and emotionally honest music. Her debut album I Blow Out Big Candlesis a fearless deep dive into identity, nostalgia, and sonic experimentation—earning praise from NPR, Clash, The Fader, DIY, and Line of Best Fit.Recent single “Sexy Lemon” landed on the BBC Radio 1 playlist, championed by Jack Saunders and BBC 6Music, while U.S. airplay includes Sirius XMU, KEXP, and KCRW. Freak Slug has brought her high-energy live show to SXSW, The Great Escape, Green Man, and more, sharing stages with Yard Act, Dope Lemon, and Local Natives.Currently on her Big Candles tour, Freak Slug is selling out dates across 40 cities in the US, UK, and EU—including LA, Chicago, London, and Amsterdam—before hitting summer festivals, including a stage headline slot at Latitude.
JJ4K is an emerging force in the Australian hip-hop scene, blending sharp lyricism with hard-hitting beats. Rooted in his Pacific Islander heritage and shaped by a life of resilience, his music is raw, authentic, and unapologetic. He co-founded Relentless Records Pty Ltd, an independent label dedicated to fostering artistic freedom and developing the next wave of talent.nnJJ4K has featured on respected platforms such as BigSound 2024, AU$, Take Flight, New Jupiter Sessions, No1 Network, Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, Fresh Crew Radio, and 4ZZZ Radio. He has also performed as an opening act for international artists and collaborated with key figures in the Australian hip-hop community. nnWith a relentless work ethic and a vision to push boundaries, JJ4K is making waves and proving that independent artistry can thrive on its own terms.
Jamaica Moana is a cultural powerhouse. A rapper, songwriter, creative director, and ballroom icon, she’s shifting the landscape of music, fashion, and performance with unapologetic energy and razor-sharp vision. Proudly Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan, and repping Western Sydney (Dharwal land), Jamaica fuses rap, R&B, and soul with ancestral fire and fierce queer identity. Her sound hits hard, her presence hits harder. In the ballroom scene, Jamaica isn’t just part of the movement—she leads it. As co-founder of The West Ball, and a resident commentator, she commands the floor and carves out space for queer, trans, and BIPOC creatives to express, heal, and own their power. She’s building stages where community shines and the next generation rises. Jamaica Moana is more than an artist. She’s a movement. Untouchable, unstoppable, unforgettable.
Pivots are a three-piece band from London and Paris, fusing New Wave hooks, electronic beats, and a high-energy live show already creating a buzz worldwide. Launching at SXSW Austin 2025, they’ve already captured the imagination of fans—as well as the legendary John Kennedy on Radio X—with a sound influenced by Wet Leg, Fontaines DC, and The Cure. Pivots are a true product of the post-internet, digital age, having created a remarkable immersive live music experience centered around their upcoming EP- a hyperactive mix of live music, gaming technology and mind-altering visuals touring worldwide. Visit Pivotsband.com for show dates.
A solo musical project by Talae Rodden, a songwriter from a small town outside Melbourne. Though he frequently visited Thailand to see family, Rodden often felt like a stranger in his own hometown, a feeling that deeply influenced his music. With a consistent release schedule and a dreamy sound, RICEWINE has turned his lo-fi, DIY approach into globally adored tracks and sold-out shows across the region.
Sacred Hearts are a Meanjin/Brisbane-based duo pushing the boundaries of post-punk, industrial, and shoegaze through the femme perspective. Their sound blends distorted guitars, throbbing bass and siren like vocals, creating a dark, sultry atmosphere.A rising must-watch act in the Australian music scene, Sacred Hearts deliver a bold, fresh take on alternative rock that demands attention. Their blasphemous, fast-paced live performances are nothing short of narcotic—combining visceral energy with campy theatrics. Whether you're a fan of the underground or simply craving something thrillingly different, this is a band not to be missed.
Callum Joshua Mower (born 1995), known professionally as Serebii, is a New Zealand indie, singer-songwriter and music producer based in Auckland, New Zealand. He has released music through independent record label Innovative Leisure. He has collaborated with Arjuna Oakes, Moon Child, Allen Stone and Louis Baker. For his second full-length LP and most realised release as Serebii yet, he will be releasing his sophomore album 'Dime' in March 2025.
Slowwves is a shoegaze/alternative rock band from Bangkok, Thailand. Known for their dreamy textures, ambient layers, and emotionally resonant songwriting. The band formed by chance when guitarist 'Peem' came across a demo by 'Jill' (Vocal) through mutual friends. Moved by her voice and songwriting, the two began creating music together. Shortly after, 'Jump'(Drums)—Peem’s classmate at university—joined, completing the trio.Rooted in the aesthetics of Shoegaze and Dream Pop, Slowwves crafts lush, reverb-soaked soundscapes that explore themes of nostalgia, emotional detachment, and coming-of-age moments. Their music invites listeners to drift—submerged in haze, yet grounded in sincerity.
Math rock is the most apparent genre of Suichu Spica, but Suichu Spica is exploring a new music style where the female guitar-vocalist uses a highly sophisticated tapping technique on guitar while singing a catchy melody. Suichu Spica’s is aiming to fuse the instrumental music with Japanese style rhythms into rock and pop music, incorporating the elements of Emo, Post-rock, Shoegazing and other genres into Math rock, building a bridge that connects the genres and cultures through their music.
Swapmeet are an Adelaide/Kaurna Country based four piece who are set to release their debut album in the latter of 2025. With indie rock foundations, characterised by sonic experimentation, and a punk spirit, Swapmeet are known in the Adelaide circuit for their playful, chaotic onstage presence. Having accumulated organic success with their debut EP with over 230,000 streams with no paid marketing or editorial playlist adds - Swapmeet are building a strong and consistent fanbase across Australia and international territories. After a successful showcasing debut at BIGSOUND 2024, the band returned home for the South Australian Music Awards where Swapmeet were awarded "Best Release" for their debut EP "Oxalis" and "Best Song" for fan favourite "Ceiling Fan".
Tusekah is a singer/songwriter based in Auckland who releases music with the sounds of RnB/NeoSoul. She released her first single 'Childhood Friends' in 2021. Since then, Tusekah has released three more singles 'I ain’t waiting around', 'I’ve Changed' and ‘Baby’s Breath’ with more releases planned for 2025. As a live performer, Tusekah has performed all over Aotearoa delivering what have been described as spine-tingling performances. Tusekah has opened for local musicians such as Jess B and Deva Mahal and opened for international artists PJ Morton and Olivia Dean. Tusekah’s music has received support from local radio stations such as Mai FM, ZM and The Edge but has also been played on BBC Radio 1, CADA and Triple J.
The light still breaks through each morning. That’s the driving sentiment on You Are The Morning, the debut album from trans woman and singer-songwriter jasmine.4.t. Its title is dedicated to queer friendship, which she says saved her life. For her, queer people represent “a fresh start, new days which are beautiful and cosmic.” The album bursts with moments of love through its fingerpicked guitar, punk bombast, and raw vocal takes. You Are The Morning was formed amid personal upheaval in 2021. “I came out as trans to my nearest and dearest,” she says, “Some did not accept me, but some did.” Jasmine got divorced, and a difficult home life meant she was writing while experiencing homelessness and precarious housing, sleeping on friend’s couches and relying on community support. Despite the pain of some of its background, the record is an uplifting look at t4t love. Jasmine describes her first trans romance as the first time she experienced joy in a deep sense, because of her experience of living as a woman. “I was acting in a way I identified with, in the world,” she says. “That was the main source of inspiration, plus feelings of love and romance, and that being so heightened by the hormones.” Jasmine came to the guitar when her late uncle left his instrument to her. “He was a very close member of our family, and used to pick us up from school every day,” she says. “I'm autistic. I hyper-focused on guitar. It became my special interest for a long time.” Soon, she was playing her heroes’ songs from guitar books - but writing and playing have always gone hand-in-hand. “It typically starts with me crying into my phone as a voice memo,” she says. “I transcribe whatever I've come up with and write everything down as a stream of consciousness.” First single ‘Skin on Skin’ explores the new joy of physical touch. Usually a quick writer, it’s a rare song that grew over time. “I was still married at the time, though we’d taken a six-month break to have no contact and to see other people,” she says. “In that period, I was struggling with PTSD and didn’t think it was a good idea to be starting another relationship.” During this time, a close connection with a friend began to form. “Sticking to the physical boundaries we wanted to have with each other became increasingly difficult. We were spending lots of time together, then falling in love. This song became a celebration of healing and physical catharsis found through unrepressed queer love.” The song captures the instant rush of those feelings, as well as the complex ways that past experiences can be reshaped by the present, now that Jasmine’s ideas of love and connection have changed. The first UK signee on Saddest Factory Records, the album was produced by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Jasmine and her band travelled to L.A. to record at Sound City Studios. It was made across 12 days in a highly collaborative and emotional process, and because Jasmine sees her songs as fluid and ever-changing, the recordings carry that free and spontaneous spirit. jasmine.4.t is supported by an all-trans band, who’ve helped each other through the stress of touring while trans. Phoenix Rousiamanis contributes piano and strings, with Eden O’Brien on drums and Emily Abbott on bass. With Jasmine’s voice and songwriting at the centre, the record incorporates a wider cast of voices. ‘Best Friend’s House’ features a chorus including her bandmates, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus (“the girls and the boys”), Saddest Factory Records label-mate Claud, Becca Mancari and E.R. Fightmaster. The song carries the communal spirit of the record’s creation. On the title track, Jasmine’s fingerpicked guitar is paired with strings that bring the breezy lightness of being in safe company. Lyrically, she describes belonging and connection with a brilliant bareness: ‘you still want me around, you make me feel okay’. ‘New Shoes’, the oldest song here, was originally made for Jasmine’s ex-spouse. “It's a very optimistic song, but it also highlights some of the problems apparent early in our relationship,” she says. She remembers lying on the floor in the studio with her bandmate Eden, as Phoenix recorded the piano part. “In this context, it shows how much of a fallacy soulmate-hood is, but then how real chosen family is.” On the closing track, ‘Woman’, she is backed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, a cross-generational group of trans singers who, like Jasmine, use their voice as a source of communal power. The song blossoms from solo performance to wider group catharsis. All the while, Jasmine sings unwaveringly about the power of knowing yourself at a core level: “I am, in my soul, a woman”. For jasmine.4.t, activism and performance are closely linked. “Just giving a trans woman a microphone shouldn't be taken lightly. I will use that opportunity to talk about the issues we face,” she says. Using her platform, she continues to raise funds and awareness for Trans Mutual Aid Manchester, an organization that she has volunteered for which “has been very active in my friendship group and community, and has helped a lot of us out,” she says. “It feels really good to give back to them. The writing of You Are The Morning pulled from dark moments to tell its story. Surrounded by friends, the recording process was full of light. Through her performances, activism and artistry, jasmine.4.t is ushering in a new dawn.
MORE AFFORDABLE, FLEXIBLE WAYS TO ATTEND SXSW SYDNEY
For the ultimate 7-day SXSW SYDNEY EXPERIENCE
7-day Conference, Expo + Festival Experience
MULTI-DAY MUSIC SHOWCASE
First release passes available now, buy early to save! Choose between Platinum, Pro (Music) or a Music Wristband.
Dive into boundless range of Gaming tailored for game enthusiasts and more.
Get tuned in with the wave of talent within the Asia Pacific.
Explore the future of the screen industry with visionary creators and leaders who are breaking new ground.
Where the brightest minds and the most innovative companies converge to showcase groundbreaking technologies and ideas.