SXSW 2025: Hope Tala

Waterloo Records came out with their in-stores. A few Luck Reunion artists are set to play. This artist plays at 5:15pm before Brittany Spencer (6pm) on Tuesday (pre-Ray Benson's birthday).  She has a Wikipedia page, which says:

Hope Tala was born in West London to a Jamaican-descended Black father and a mother of British and Irish heritage. She learned to play various musical instruments during her childhood...Tala studied English literature at the University of Bristol. graduating with first-class honours in 2019. Tala turned down the chance to pursue a master's degree at the University of Cambridge in favor of pursuing a career in music.

Most impressively:

 Tala's All My Girls Like To Fight was listed as one of Barack Obama's favourite songs of 2020.

"Lovestained"  is her most streamed song.

I can't find any other shows she's playing, even SXSW official showcases. I do see she's playing Empire Control room on Friday April 25th.

This is Barack's song.

SXSW 2025: Casey Lowery

 I just found the Second Play stages schedule. This is the happy hour shows at hotels. This artist plays the Hilton on Wednesday at 6pm. He also plays the Day Stage at Brush Square park but it's Thursday.  

According to the SXSW bio:

Growing up in Chesterfield, a market town in the English midlands as an only child with a penchant for the spotlight, Casey was exposed to and inspired by the greats of 00s English pop culture, including Robbie Williams and Arctic Monkeys. He initially played the clarinet while developing his musical skills and tastes, before he started writing songs at 14.

It looks like he has just releases singles so far.  

He doesn't have many videos up so I'll post a Spotify link. I liked this song:

This is the only video. It starts acoustic but picks up.

SXSW 2025: Sofie Royer

 This artist is playing KUTX (Thursday morning at 10am), Waterloo Records at 1pm, and SXSanJose,  According to Wikipedia:

Born to Iranian and Austrian parents in California, Royer began her studies in violin and viola at the Vienna Conservatoire. She withdrew from the institution to live between New York, London and Los Angeles...In addition to her work in music, Sofie also studies Philosophy, Psychology and English at the Universitaet Wien, as well as painting at the University of Applied Arts. As an active artist, she has exhibited her work at L Art Galerie in Salzburg and at Pina in Vienna.

 "Abeja" is her most streamed song. It's all instrumental. Chill.

"Young-Girl (Illusion)" is the title track of her new album.

This is nice.  I like how she uses her violin for an electric guitar solo.

SXSW 2025: Ellur

 This artist is playing the British Music Embassy on Wednesday at 5:30pm. Per the BME website:

Hailing from Halifax, Ellur is an infectiously authentic indie-pop artist who sings about the challenges and thrills of modern-day romance and break-ups with compelling originality. In the last year she’s released a number of widely praised singles, including ‘Anywhere’ and ‘Boys’ and picked up support from BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, The Line of Best Fit and Clash.

According to this article she's is selling out headlining shows in England.  They say:

 It’s a sound that draws from the storytelling prowess of Sharon Van Etten and the anthemic sweep of Wolf Alice, while remaining distinctively her own.

"God Help Me Now" is a mellow ballad.  Definite Sharon Van Etten sound.

This is good. 

SXSW 2025: Yndling

Brush Square Park is hosting the International Nights and they are open to the public this year.  This band is playing at 7pm on Wednesday.  They are also playing St. Elmo Brewing on Saturday at 4 or so.  Per the SXSW website:

Yndling is the dream pop project of Norwegian artist Silje Espevik, and started - like so many other projects - as soft demos whispered into a microphone at night in an effort not to disturb a sleeping house. Inspired by bands such as Mazzy Star, Beach House, Cocteau Twins and Men I Trust, to name a few, she’s created a distinct sound within the realm of dream pop, characterized by big arrangements surrounding a whispery voice. With the release of her debut EP in 2022, and her first studio album ‘Mood Booster’ in 2024 released on Spirit Goth, she’s cemented a sound blending shoegaze and dream pop.

"It's Almost Like You're Here" is definitely shoegaze and dream pop.  

This is an older song. I like the views of the Norwegian coast.