SXSW 2022: Self Esteem

 This is the moniker of Rebecca Lucy Taylor out of London.  The NY Times says she "is touching a nerve with brutally honest songs about not having it all figured out."  It also says her new album:

“Prioritise Pleasure” is bringing her much broader attention: magazine covers, TV performances and an onslaught of fans testifying on social media about how transformative they find her music. A number of particularly loyal ones have even been getting Self Esteem tattoos.

It's a good article.  It quotes another article:

Jude Rogers, a music journalist who has written about “Prioritize Pleasure,” said Self Esteem’s music feels right for the moment. “We needed a woman to appear who was going to say, ‘Enough,’” Rogers said. Self Esteem is “expressing all the messiness, all the frustration and all the anger of being a woman,” in ambitious pop music,” she added.

SXSW 2022: Strawberry Guy

Another artist on the BBC schedule. Mellow dream pop from Liverpool.  Apparently this song blew up on Tik Tok.  Here's an interview where he talks about preparing his debut album after that breakout success.  It says his album:

blends the chiming piano melodies of balladeers like John Lennon with the languid rhythms and dreamy basslines of psych-pop heroes The War On Drugs and Tame Impala.

Pretty mellow.  Most of his other songs follow the same style. "Sun Outside My Window" is about as peppy as it gets.  Definitely hear The War on Drugs comparison.

SXSW 2022: ME REX

The British Music Embassy has announced their lineup.  They are moving to Cedar Street Courtyard this year which is a much better venue for them.  No day schedules yet.  I've already mentioned The Lathams, FUR, and Penelope Isles.

ME REX is the moniker of Myles McCabe although he now has a full band behind him.  Reminds me of Hold Steady.  Operation Every Band has a good synopsis of their style: 

There’s a nice balance of fun and seriousness in Me Rex’s music, one overflowing with ambition. ..Me Rex are worth keeping an eye on, a band that shoots high and is willing to chart their own path from note one.

 

SXSW 2022: The Lathams

This is a band from Wigan between Liverpool and Manchester.  The Guardian calls them "One to Watch" and compares their "jangly indie" to The Smiths. They definitely have the Johnny Marr guitar down but the singer is more upbeat and cheerful than Morrissey. 

Apparently these guys are blowing up in England. Their album opened at Number 1 on the charts and their shows are selling out fast.  They are signed to Island Records.  

Catchy riffs.  Supposedly they are great live.

SXSW 2022: Penelope Isles

Indie pop from a brother and sister originally from Isle of Man.  Stereogum named them one of the Best New Bands of 2019.  Their second album was just released on Bella Union (Father John Misty, Beach House).  Bella Union used to have great day shows at the French Legation Museum.  

Here's their performance on KEXP.  

This is a nice pop song.

SXSW 2022: Blondes

Another potential breakout.  This is a band formed in Nottingham that now resides in London.  They have signed with C3 Records and have been working on an EP that should be released soon.  I bet they'll be at ACL.

This song went viral on TikTok.  The video has 407K views.  Indie pop/rock.  They're compared to Death Cab for Cutie.  I like it.

SXSW 2022: FUR

This could be one of the breakouts.  It's a band out of Brighton.  In this article the lead singer/songwriter cites Arctic Monkeys, CSN&Y, and the Kinks as influences.  Definitely hear the Kinks in "Anyone Else But Me".

This song reminds me of the Strokes.

SXSW 2022: Alex the Astronaut

Here we (hopefully) go! I've got some catching up to do. No parties have been announced as of yet so until then I'll preview some bands that have songs I like.  

This is the moniker of Sydney musician Alexandra Lynn. She's described as folk-pop.  This is a nice coming-of-age song.