Brink of Stardom
6 music acts poised to be the breakout stars of SXSW 2017: Lizzo's on the list
These days it's impossible to know exactly what any artist is going to pull from SXSW Music festival in Austin, but that's not stopping us from taking a guess at who might beat the odds and flip a bit of buzz into a wave of success. Take a look, make some notes, and maybe jump on a bandwagon or two.
Lizzo
Originally from Houston, the now Minneapolis-based Lizzo is entering SXSW poised for a legit breakout. The singer/rapper and her commanding stage presence will surely steamroll every crowd she comes across at the festival. Make sure you're in one of them.
S U R V I V E
SXSW will serve as a great opportunity for Austin-based S U R V I V E to parlay the attention garnered from their work on Netflix's Stranger Things soundtrack into something bigger. Expect to hear a lot from months-old album, RR7349, which is just as synth-infused and atmospheric as what they did on the show.
D.R.A.M.
D.R.A.M. (Does.Real.Ass.Music.) may have just been nominated for a Grammy, but he's still flying slightly under the radar. His unique sound and ever-loveable personality should hit at SXSW, and it will be really surprising if he doesn't jet out of Austin with a new legion of diehard fans.
White Reaper
White Reaper are getting ready to release a new album called World's Greatest American Band, so they're certainly in the right mindset heading into SXSW. It is, however, the band's infectious energy and super hooky songs that will be what SXSW-goers latch onto and talk about long after the fest is over.
Tei Shi
The stage is set for Tei Shi. Not only is she riding a solid wave of buzz, but her debut album, Crawl Space, is set to release at the end of March. Expect the alluring singer to make a splash at the festival and emerge with fans galore.
Jay Som
Jay Som is 22-year-old Melina Duterte. Her diverse indie pop act is out of Oakland, and her recently released debut, Everybody Works, is being called one of the year's best albums. Expect to hear her name bandied about frequently during and after the festival.
