SCHED* SXSW 2011

You all have made a decent attempt, and only a decent attempt, at acquiring your full potential in your collective existence, but any truly evolved species could tell you that. you all have an unexplainable hate towards everything that looks like you, a horrible obsession with material items crafted on your planet, and are severely unaware of even why you're existing.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14130

STRUCTURES is a five piece progressive/hardcore band hailing from Toronto, Ontario. Having formed in early 2009, the band released a five song EP titled 'ALL OF THE ABOVE'. STRUCTURES is a group of five talented musicians who strive to create ground breaking, earth shattering technical, melodic hardcore-metal. Starting to turn a lot of heads in the Canadian scene and quickly spreading to the US; STRUCTURES will surely be one of the next breakout metal bands of the year.The music STRUCTURES delivers demonstrates their diversity as a band as they shatter the listener's psyche with pure aggression, but don't be fooled, as they may also appear to slow time through their surprisingly strong melodies. STRUCTURES maintains a strong work ethic combined with a positive outlook on the music industry, including a strong focus on maintaining a highly energetic live performance, leaving a memorable impression and personal touch on every audience member. The bar is set high, STRUCTURES will conquer all!
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13800

It's been an extremely productive 2010 for the San Antonio, TX based quintet UPON A BURNING BODY and it look as if their unrelenting touring schedule carries over into 2011, as they are now set to participate in the The Smartpunk Tour alongside The Word Alive, Abandon All Ships, The Color Morale and For All Those Sleeping. Be sure to head over now to www.facebook.com/uponaburningbody to view the tour itinerary and this is definitely an event not to be missed. UPON A BURNING BODY recently shot a new video for the track, “Intermission,” at White Rabbit in their hometown with acclaimed director Scott Hansen (A Day To Remember, Alesana, The Ghost Inside) that perfectly represents their unrelenting live intensity. The group rounded out 2010 on the “December Decimation” touring package alongside Winds of Plague, After The Burial and War of Ages. With a clear vision for their identity and an immeasurable level of determination, UPON A BURNING BODY are now relentlessly touring throughout North America spreading their message of dedication, self-belief and relentless competitive greatness. Carrying an infectious theme to their debut record, the band is drawing in listeners all over the world through the use of creative lyrics portraying the characters of Al Pacino played in timeless films such as The Devil’s Advocate, Donnie Brasco, The Godfather and more. Prepare yourself for a brutal, unrelenting array of unabashed aggression and sheer ferocity that will beat you to oblivion. This is what UPON A BURNING BODY delivers on their Sumerian Records vicious offering, The World Is Ours, which is easily one of the most promising and refreshing new albums to hit the scene in a number of years.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13364

Richard Andrew, better known by his stage name Outasight, is an American rapper and singer from Yonkers, New York. Though he is considered a Hip-Hop artist, he draws influence from other genres such as classic rock and soul, and describes his music as "Energetic hip hop mixed with melodic soul" [1] In October 2009, Outasight signed with Warner Bros. Records under Asylum Records. His first full length studio album is set to be released by Warner Brothers Records.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS15080

Ximena Sariñana When Mexican vocalist Ximena Sariñana released her debut solo album, Mediocre, in 2008, Rolling Stone gave it four stars and praised it as “one of the strongest debuts from a female singer-songwriter since Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me.” Recording the Spanish-language album was a natural step for Sariñana, who had risen to fame in her homeland as a child actress and had fronted a successful indie band for four years. “In Mexico, people believed in me as an artist,” says the fully bilingual 25-year-old. So when she began thinking about recording an album in English she was confronted with a tough decision: “Either stay in my country, where everyone knows who I am, or start from scratch and convince people that I’m worth it.” She chose the latter. The result is a collection of songs that showcase her deep, striking voice, smart, thoughtful lyrics and offbeat personality. “I think of albums as Polaroid pictures of who I was at that given moment,” says Sariñana. “All the songs are a bit dark. They capture a sort of general doom that I try to compensate with humor,” she says. The lead single, “Different,” opens with a playful whistle but is really an apology to listeners “about maybe not expressing myself clearly because of my different nationality,” while “Bringing Us Down” was inspired by the poem “Candles” by Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy and deals with growing older and looking back at the fading past. The album not only reflects Sariñana’s wise-beyond-her years demeanor, but also the kind of sonic growth and experimentation expected from a risk-taker. “Everything was about forcing myself out of my comfort zone,” says the singer, having leapt beyond her usual stripped down, mellow arrangements and into more daring musical territory. “I wanted quicker, bigger sounding songs and more bass and electronic instruments,” says Sariñana, who plays the piano throughout. “I needed to be able to move to it on stage.” To help accomplish this, she enlisted producers Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Devo, The Bird and the Bee), Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Natalia Lafourcade. Recorded in Los Angeles, the songs are indeed snapshots; vignettes of events and emotions ornamented by lush arrangements and lightened by occasional whimsy. “Common Ground” is exalted with bells and space drums and “Wrong Miracle” includes circuit-bent children’s toys and footsteps on gravel. “Echo Park,” one of the last songs recorded, was built around a Casio drum machine and the need for a little comic relief. “I wanted to write something that was going to make me laugh. I didn’t want to go too deep or serious like I usually do,” says Sariñana. “I decided to make fun of how girls, especially in my world, always fall for guys in a band.” “Tu Y Yo” (You and Me) is the only song on the album sung entirely in Spanish. “My mother language and the country where I live in is such an important part of who I am,” says Sariñana, who was born in Guadalajara and raised partly in LA before moving to Mexico City. Raised in a highly creative family—her mother is a screenwriter and her father is a film director and producer—instilled a love of the arts in her early on. “I was four years old when I started acting,” says Sariñana, a natural-born entertainer who became a household name in Mexico by appearing in 11 films (among them box office hit Amar Te Duele and film festival winner Dos Abrazos) as well as three prime time telenovelas. An early discovery of jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald ignited her love of music, and at age 15 she began studying at Mexico’s Academia de Musica Fermatta. At 17, she honed her vocal skills during a five-week program at Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music and then began fronting a jazz-funk fusion band called Feliz No Cumpleaños (Happy Un-Birthday) which “made a bit of noise in the underground,” as she puts it. She also brought together her loves of film and music on occasion, co-writing and singing three songs on the Amar Te Duele soundtrack (which stayed on the Top 10 Soundtracks list in Mexico for 10 years) and acting as music supervisor for several films. By the time Mediocre was released, Ximena’s status as a artist was already cemented; the record debuted at number one in Mexico and went platinum soon after. Mediocre reached #10 on the Billboard Latin Pop Chart, #38 on the Billboard Latin Album Chart and Ximena was the only Latin artist in iTunes Best 10 Albums of 2008. She won the Best New Artist Award in the Premios MTV Latinoamerica 2008 (Latin MTV Awards) and received three Latin Grammy Nominations for Best New Artist, Best Alternative Song and Producer of the Year. Mediocre also received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. Despite her successes, Sariñana has no expectations when it comes to her English-language debut. “It’s my first record to a lot of people. I just hope listeners can hear the honesty in the album,” she says. “I titled it after myself because my name keeps it close to me and who I am as an artist and a person.” It’s a name many will come to recognize soon enough.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13634

Hailing from West Palm Beach, Florida, the quintet known as Surfer Blood had a breakout year in 2010 with the release of their debut album 'Astro Coast' in January 2010. Months prior to the actual release, Surfer Blood took the CMJ music festival by storm playing an incredible 12 shows. Spending the winter months leading up to their album release, Surfer Blood criss-crossed the nation on tour supporting Japandroids and Art Brut. Never breaking straight into the new year, getting a major boost from all around rave press reviews, including a 'Best New Music' tag from Pitchfork Media, the band continued their incessant touring. This year has taken these Floridians across Europe several times, as far as Japan for Summer Sonic and Australia for Splendour in the Grass festivals; they ended out the year with a support tour for Interpol. Because of their dedication, 12 months later Astro Coast is topping several year end lists. NPR deemed them "America's best new pop band", they made Rolling Stone's "Rookies of the Year" list, Filter Magazine listed their album as #7 of the year, plus making the list of numerous others: MySpace, NME, Urban Outfitters, Rough Trade Shop. Based on the longevity that the album stayed in PopMatter's rotation, they regard it as "unfuckwithable" and PrefixMag said, "Surfer Blood is the best '90s band working today." For 2011, Surfer Blood will return with an EP of new tunes to be released in late spring. More touring will inevitably ensue.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13581

From the deserts and shootouts of Tijuana, to the mainstreets of Mexico City, CAPO combines the honesty of Mexican folk and country with the power of indie rock. Four rocker cowboys - Tito - vocals/leader (Tijuana), Vicente - guitar (Michoacán), Adrián - drums (Veracruz port), and Juan - bass (Mexico City) blend psychedelic folk, classic rock, lo-fi aesthetics into textured soundscapes that speak to and from the soul. Un Corazon Se Quema -2010- ( A burning Heart) was recorded in Mexico City, under the engineering of George Aja, and later mastered at Grey Market Mastering (Montreal, Canada) by Harris Newman (Arcade Fire). CAPO´s first single “Imposible” will be released November 15th by Ombligo Records (Perú).
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS11201

The Hong Kong Blood Opera was formed in 2006 in Hermosillo, Sonora. The band is known for its overwhelmingly energetic and physically dynamic live performances. They simply describe themselves as punkrock paying homage to certain genres like digitalhardcore, hip-hop, noise, electro, etc. Two albums have been released so far: The Critical Paparazzi EP (Noiselab - 2007) and their latest record and first full-lenght: Not For The Faint Of Heart LP (2010), released in Mexico by Discos Intolerancia, which contains 11 tracks. The LP is an accurate description of what the band is these days, combining the intensity and insanity of the live show with a very decent production.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS10763

VicenteGayo is a band originating from Satelité, Estado de México, which was formed in mid 2007. Vicente Gayo’s sound is defined by the basic elements of rock (lead guitar, bass, and percussion) in conjunction with “circuit bending” (electronic games and synths from the 80’s) created by themselves. This fusion of instruments creates an original sound that is very much their own.

 Their first material was recorded in December of 2007 at Asrael Studios ( Austin TVs studio), mixed and produced by Erick Espartacus, mastered by Harris Newman (Arcade Fire, Crystal Castles, etc) in Montreal Canada.

 The first two singles, “Fin De Transmission” and “G-A-Y-O” have received airplay on major radio stations such as Reactor, Radio-Ibero, and Interferencia, among others. The video for “Fin De Transmission” and “GAYO” has been on regular rotation on MTV Latinoamerica, and many others music channels.

 In 2009, VicenteGayo has performed in Mexico’s major cities (Monterrey, Guadalajara, Cd. Juarez, etc) in addition to a Los Angeles performance. Now, in 2010, VicenteGayo has been invited to play at SXSW and more recently they perform at Latin America’s most important “Rock en Español” music festival, Vive Latino. Recently they were nominated for 5 indie-o music awards from Mexico city, including, best live act, band of the year,and many others.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12659

Created in 2001, this band from Guadalajara (México) has developed a unique voice. Based on the idea of the contrast between emotions in a brief period of time, their songs are a clear consequence of years of zapping and fragmented information from the media. The result is funny, disturbing and moving. With influences such as Mike Patton, The Locust, Regina Spektor, Danny Elfman, and with a wide variety of genres running through their music, (punk, noise core, lullaby, country, rock n roll, cabaret, etc.) they manage to be sinister and amusing at the same time. Since 2005 they´ve been continuously working, and they´ve recorded their first album(Paper Dolls, Intolerancia 2007) witch has had an amazing reception from the press in México, and has been considered one of the best starting points for a band in the history of rock music in this country. They´ve opened concerts for Sonic Youth, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo, Explosions in the Sky, Stereo Total, beside important bands from the Mexican scene. They´ve also released their first video on the song “My Sweetest Headache Waltz” and are working nowadays on the material for their next album, to be released by early 2011. Their act is energetic and theatrical, using disguises to create bizarre scenes, as a canvas being deconstructed during the show.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12612

English Version Estados Alterados was formed in 1986 by a group of young students: Elvis (Fernando Sierra, vocals), Tato (Gabriel Lopera, keyboards & programming), and Ricky (Ricardo Restrepo, drums), who stepped in for Mana (Carlos Uribe) after he passed away in a car accident. Since its start, Estados Alterados has explored electronic rock, then known and admired by few in Latin America, going on to become a pioneering band in the Spanish-speaking world. Their 1990 self-titled debut album experimented with acoustic and electronic sounds inspired by the synthesizers and sequencers of the time. They count Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Devo, and Gary Newman, among others, as their influences. Their latest effort, œRomances Cientificos (Scientific Romances), was released in 2010 after an absence of more than ten years from the studio. The cutting edge sound of this twelve-track album produced by UK native Phil Vinall (Placebo, Radiohead, Zo©, Elastica) confirms Estados Alterados' return with its uncompromising innovation intact. In March of this same year, the band launched its Latin American tour with Coldplay in Bogot¡, followed by festival appearances in Mexico City (Vive Latino), Medell­n (Altavoz), and Bogot¡ (Rock al Parque 2010). Joining the band on stage since November 2009: Alejandro Jaramillo, Carlos Calvo and Oliver Camargo. *** Estados Alterados became a pioneer of the modern Colombian Rock scene, paving the road for others to follow. Juanes, then singer/guitarist for Ekhymosis, toured with the band as a guest member. Estados Alterados also collaborated with H©ctor Buitrago and Andrea Echeverri who then went on to form Aterciopelados. The band's first hit singles, œMuevete (œMove) and œEl Velo (œThe Veil), from their debut album-Estados Alterados- (1991) produced by Colombian Rock legend Victor Garcia, are now considered classics of the overall Latin American electronic music scene. A major milestone was reached in 1991 when MTV began airing the video for œEl Velo, directed by Simon Brand (Shakira, La Ley, Juanes), as this was the first music video from a Colombian band to be on MTV's play rotation. This was followed up by the videos for œSelfish (1993), œNada (œNothing 1993), œSeres de la Noche (œNight Beings 1993), and œLa Fiebre de Marzo (œSpring Fever 1995) also receiving ongoing airplay by MTV, BOX, TeleHit, and other music video channels throughout North & South America. Another milestone was reached in 1993 when Estados Alterados became the first Colombian rock band to embark on a tour of the United States, launching headfirst into this market at a time when Colombian Rock was virtually unknown. The band begins to experiment with sounds from other genres for their second and third albums, œCuarto Acto(œAct Four 1993) and œRojo Sobre Rojo (œRed on Red 1995). Camilo Zuleta joins the band as its lead guitarist, while Federico Lopez, their studio guitarist and live sound engineer, gets more involved with the production of these efforts. Federico and English DJ/Producer Richard Blair (Peter Gabriel, Sidestepper) handled the final production duties on œCuarto Acto. The later half of the 90s brought about major changes to the band. In 1996, Estados Alterados decides to leave its label, Discos Fuentes, prompting the release of its greatest hits album œLo Esencial-Extracto 89-96. Then in 1998, the band starts work on a new album with Argentinean Musician/Producer and Latin Grammy Awarded, Tweety Gonzalez (Soda Stereo, Gustavo Cerati, Fito Paez). Unfortunately, this 4th studio album, recorded in Guatemala, was never publicly released due to the new label's collapse. That same year saw Tweety Gonzalez perform with the band at Bogota's Rock al Parque, which would be the band's final live show of the 90's. At the end of the decade, Warner Music Latina invites Estados Alterados to perform a track on the Spanish Rock tribute album to The Cure, œPor que No Puedo Ser Tº (œWhy Can't I be You 1999). The band's rendition of œA Forest proves to be yet another example of the band's original sound and style. The band became a sort of myth in these intervening years of creative silence. In fact, when the legendary Gustavo Cerati was recently asked about Rock music in Colombia, he responded, œI always think of Estados Alterados. ~ Viviane Mahieux/Glenn Arango Spanish Version Estados Alterados es el producto de una amistad que naci³ en 1986 entre j³venes estudiantes en Medell­n, Colombia: Elvis (Fernando Sierra ' voz), Tato (Gabriel Lopera ' teclados y programaci³n), y Ricky (Ricardo Restrepo ' baterista), quien ingresa al grupo reemplazando a Mana (Carlos Uribe, fallecido en un accidente automovil­stico). Desde su inicio, Estados Alterados explora el rock electr³nico, entonces conocido y admirado por pocos en Latinoam©rica, convirti©ndose en un grupo pionero en el mundo de habla hispana. Su primer disco hom³nimo sale a finales de 1990. Este ¡lbum independiente experimenta con una combinaci³n de sonidos electr³nicos y acºsticos inspirados por los sintetizadores y secuenciadores del momento. Kraftwert, Depeche Mode, Devo, Gary Newman entre otros conforman sus influencias. Su m¡s reciente ¡lbum, Romances Cient­ficos, se lanza en el 2010 despu©s de m¡s de diez a±os sin trabajo de estudio. Producido por el productor brit¡nico Phil Vinall (Placebo, Radiohead, Zoe, Elastica), este ¡lbum de 12 canciones y un sonido vanguardista confirma que Estados Alterados vuelve a los escenarios con su compromiso de innovaci³n intacto. En marzo del mismo a±o, Estados Alterados empieza su gira en Latinoam©rica con un concierto junto a Coldplay en Bogot¡, seguido por el festival Vive Latino en M©xico D.F, Altavoz en Medell­n y Rock al Parque 2010 en Bogot¡. Con la banda en escena desde noviembre 2009 están: Alejandro Jaramillo, Carlos Calvo and Oliver Camargo. *** Los primeros hits de Estados Alterados, œMu©vete y œEl Velo, incluidos en su primer ¡lbum Estados Alterados (1991), el cual fue producido por V­ctor Garc­a leyenda del rock colombiano, son ahora cl¡sicos del rock electr³nico latinoamericano. Con œEl Velo, video dirigido por Sim³n Brand (Shakira, La Ley, Juanes) en 1991, la cadena MTV decide por primera vez abrirle el espacio a una banda colombiana de rock. Esta fue la plataforma para que otros videos del grupo, como œSelfish (1993), œNada (1993), œSeres de la Noche (1993) y œLa Fiebre de Marzo (1995), fueran programados en MTV, BOX, TeleHit y otros canales musicales, desde Estados Unidos hasta Argentina. En 1993 Estados Alterados inicia la primera gira de un grupo de rock colombiano en los Estados Unidos, enfrent¡ndose al mercado anglosaj³n cuando el rock en espa±ol aun ten­a poco espacio en los medios. Desde sus inicios, Estados Alterados crey³ en el movimiento rock en su idioma y as­ es como Juanes entonces cantante y guitarrista de Ekhymosis acompa±a a la banda por casi tres a±os como guitarrista invitado. El grupo tambi©n colabora con H©ctor y Andrea, quienes posteriormente ser­an Aterciopelados, y con otras importantes bandas latinoamericanas. Federico L³pez, quien desde el primer ¡lbum hab­a estado con la banda como guitarrista de sesi³n e ingeniero de sonido en vivo, entra a hacer parte de la producci³n de Cuarto Acto (1993) y Rojo sobre Rojo (1995) producciones en donde se experiment³ con mºsicos de otros g©neros. La mezcla de Cuarto Acto fue compartida por el mismo Federico L³pez y el ingl©s Richard Blair. Este ºltimo trabaj³ con Peter Gabriel, y fue uno de los fundadores del grupo Sidestepper. En estas dos producciones tambi©n se cont³ con la ayuda de Camilo Zuleta como guitarrista de la banda. Para el a±o 1996 Estados Alterados decide terminar su contrato con Discos Fuentes y la disquera decide sellar este episodio lanzando al mercado una recopilaci³n con el nombre de Estados Alterados-Lo Esencial Extracto 89-96. En 1998, durante la crisis interna en su pa­s, Estados Alterados se arriesga nuevamente y junto al ganador del Grammy, Tweety Gonz¡lez (teclista de Soda Stereo, productor de Gustavo Cerati y Fito P¡ez entre otros), emprenden la empresa de producir un nuevo disco. Desafortunadamente, este nunca sali³ al mercado deb
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS15093

Some music cannot be found on a map or within iTunes categories. Some music is so original it seems snatched from the great, invisible substrata that runs below all human activity, a sound aching to be born without a flag or fixed allegiance – free, questing, overflowing with immediate, tangible life. This is the music of Toubab Krewe, the vibrant Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse that creates a sonic Pangaea that lustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strains and more. While nearly impossible to put into any box, it takes only a few moments to realize in a very palpable way that one is face-to-face with a true original who recognizes no borders in a march towards a muscular, original, globally switched-on sound. Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own. The fruits of this hard work can be heard on their scintillating new long-player, TK2, being released September 7, 2010 on Nat Geo Music. What Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Teal Brown (drums, congas), Drew Heller (guitar, piano, fiddle), David Pransky (bass, guitar), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, percussion) have wrought on TK2 reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpired since their studio debut. "It's five years later since our last studio album, and we've been doing almost nothing but playing together," says Drew Heller. "We've had a lot of time to further our musical relationships. I feel like this album was recorded at a really perfect time. The last track on the new album is an improvisation that was the very first sounds captured, and other things came out of that initial rush." This process of recording in the spirit and sifting for gold afterwards mirrors the Beastie Boys approach during the creative peak that produced Check Your Head and The In Sound From Way Out! Toubab Krewe exhibits a similar take-no-prisoners singularity in their work. This is a band that actively draws inspiration from whatever source floats into their purview, something they've exhibited in their half decade of heavy gigging, including regular appearances at major U.S. festivals like Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Rothbury and Wakarusa, and abroad at such legendary gatherings as Festival In The Desert in Mali. Their globe-hopping propensity has made them an emerging headliner at their hometown's famous Orange Peel and a familiar face as similar venues throughout the country. Whether on their own or collaborating with luminaries like the Last Poets' Umar Bin Hassan or Uncle Earl's Rayna Gellert, Toubab Krewe has already earned the attention and respect of a broad musical community. Toubab carries echoes of African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and Salif Keita, no doubt picked up during the group's many visits to the Mother Continent to study and live in Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali. What differentiates Toubab Krewe from other Statesiders inspired by African music is how they innovate on what they've learned, not simply recreating tradition but carving out a new trail that honors the African originators they admire by making something alive and contemporary that moves the line forward, something that's easy to pick up on with TK2. "We had a month and a half in the studio, and we were able to relax and play, almost a smudging process getting the energy in the right place," says Heller. "The time we had to record this album was conducive to not worrying about anything and just having fun, playing and getting into the creative process." From the ragtime piano tinged opener "Mariama" to the percussion fueled, slide guitar glide of "Gine Fare" to the subtle, inviting African echoes of "Konkoba" to the hypnotic, psychedelic slow burn of "Holy Grail," TK2 reveals Toubab Krewe to be rare innovators in a modern age often too ready to settle for more of what's been. Toubab Krewe is happily an exception to this rule, and those willing to take the journey with them are in for one hell of a cool, exciting ride.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13952

The Electric: Dj Vadim, renowned beat taster known for traveling the globe in search of the best musical influences unites a collective of superb individualistic artists to make a truly international super-group – The Electric gathers the talents of Chicago's freshest upcoming MC Pugs Atomz, UK sultry soulstress Sabira Jade, and of course Daddy Vad himself. Their sound gravitates around the core value of heartfelt music stemming from artistic honesty, one that starts conversations and tells emotional stories of break-ups, hook-ups, beauty and celebration. Over the last year and a half The Electric have had a hectic tour schedule supporting Fat Freddies drop on their UK and European tours. While also performing at 150 plus shows and festivals in all the major cities in Europe and the UK. While on the road they managed to record 30 songs towards their debut LP "Life is Moving" due to hit stores February 2010. Currently the have just released videos for "Beautiful" and "Running" from their December 2010 12inch "Beautiful" on Vadim's and Yarah Bravo's OGS Records imprint.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS11182

KHAIRA ARBY Khaïra Arby bridges the multicultural Mali in the desert blues of her music. The woman’s voice of Mali’s north, Khaira expresses pride in the people and their struggle to survive in her desert homeland. Her soulful music takes the listener across the Sahara to Timbuktu, crossroads of epochs, religions and cultures. With her rocking band, she sings about love, family, women and the toll of war. Khaira’s hot band rips the stage with a smooth blend of traditional instruments and electric guitars. Complex rhythms intertwined with Khaira's clear shout bring the audience to their feet dancing. Born in the Saharan desert village of Abaradjou, Khaira’s parents were from different ethnic backgrounds. You can hear these cultures mix in her music as she sings in several languages, sometimes within the same song. The instrumentation and rhythms are just as varied with electric guitar, bass, calabash, ngoni, traditional violin, and trap drum kit, creating a complex sounds and structure. While her music is rooted in tradition, Khaïra surrounds herself with young musicians influenced by the contemporary world and western music. This is the contemporary desert rock and roll of Mali. After her first marriage ended in divorce, Khaïra was singing with the Orchestre Regional de Tombouctou. It wasn’t long before she was invited to sing with the famous Orchestre Badema in Bamako. She earned her stripes beside such Malian superstars as her cousin, Ali Farka Touré, and the widely influential Fissa Maïga. Since 1990 Khaïra has focused most of her energies on her music. While rooted in tradition, Khaïra surrounds herself with young musicians influenced by the contemporary world and western rock and roll. The listener is taken on a complex audio journey across the desert to the essence of Timbuktu Mali, past and present. Khaïra continues to live in Timbuktu with her family. She performs at private events, concert halls, festivals and clubs throughout Mali. She has appeared with her band at the Festival on the Niger River in Segou and at the mythic Festival in the Desert in Essakane. In 2006 she was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mali.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14200

Following their critically acclaimed debut Hidden Melodies Revealed, the Sway Machinery accepted a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to travel to Timbuktu and perform in Mali’s world-renowned Festival of the Desert. In Mali they found inspiration in the form of Khaira Arby, a legendary Malian singer, and out of their epic journey the new album House of Friendly Ghosts was born. Collaborating with Arby and Super 11, the Sway Machinery have exceeded all expectations and returned home with a new brand of cross-cultural music epic in its scope and depth. The Sway Machinery's sound stems from Lockwood's rich musical relationships with his grandfather Cantor Jacob Konigsberg and his mentor Carolina Slim, the renowned blues player who fondly guided Lockwood's musical development. Lockwood's deeply personal bond to these two musical traditions was brought to life in the band’s debut album, Hidden Melodies Revealed. Mixed with the sounds of afro-beat horns, hard-hitting drums and the blues, the album re-contextualized the Cantorial tradition into the broader spectrum of world music to critical acclaim. "Lockwood's arrangements of Jewish cantorial songs whip up a frenzy wherein all the world's music can do that which music does best: celebrate. Such joyful synthesis is what music is all about,” wrote The Village Voice. House of Friendly Ghosts may be less overt in its connection to traditional Jewish music, but the road to its conception followed a similar pilgrimage into the mythic past. In January 2010, the Sway Machinery became the first-ever Jewish band to perform at the legendary Festival of the Desert in Mali, a traditional Muslim country. During an impromptu performance with Khaira Arby, legendary songstress from Timbuktu, Lockwood had “a moment of musical clarity.” When introducing one song as being by his grandfather, Cantor Jacob Konigsberg, the audience erupted into applause. “They did not need to have any notion of what a cantor is to feel the value of a young man carrying on family tradition,” recalls Lockwood, “Seeing turbaned men pumping their fists in the air along with my grandfather’s ‘Aveinu Malkeinu Z’khor’ [was] certainly one of the most memorable and inspiring images from our journey.” The band’s experience in the festival tents brought them to Bamako, the capital of Mali, where they recorded House of Friendly Ghosts. While the new album has the same basic building blocks as Hidden Melodies Revealed (drums, guitar, bass sax and horns), “the sonic picture is radically different. Traditional African instruments have been introduced into the mix, along with guest lead guitar players and Khaira's distinctive vocals,” voicing the multiple tribal languages of her region. Combined with Lockwood’s lyrics, which remain rich in Jewish associations and memory reservoirs, House of Friendly Ghosts bridges its own path through religion, culture and tradition to once again connect seemingly disparate musical worlds in a way that never before seemed possible.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14201

Blue King Brown, Australia's premier Urban roots crew, are Comin' to conquer! With the drop of their new record WORLDWIZE Part 1 North & South, (receiving a string of 4 & 5 star reviews across the Nation) they have established themselves as one of Australia's most engaging, unique & quality acts. Hard hitting lyrics and groove, yet delivered in the most accessible way. Come as you are, put your fist in the Air, bounce to da beat, rock out up the front row or chill up the back. Their power packed live show is second to none & now world renowned, they've played across the planet, through EUROPE, UK, CANADA, USA, & JAPAN rocking crowds from Tokyo to Texas and everywhere in between. The new album saw them working alongside the Legendary Sly & Robbie, special Guests such as Queen Ifrica & Jah Mason, engineers such as James 'Bonzai' Caruso (Gwen Stefani, Nas, Damien Marley, Madonna) Colin 'Bulby' York from Kingston, Jamaica (Rihanna, Jimmy Cliff, Britney Spears, Madonna, Michael Franti, UB40) & Chris Macro (Scribe, Katchafire). They now bring their hot new International sound to the stage. Lead by the multi talented, relentless energy of Natalie Pa'apa'a this group is the real deal;
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS14148

GRUPO FANTASMA CELEBRATES FIRST GRAMMY WIN FOR 'EL EXISTENTIAL' THE NAT GEO MUSIC RELEASE EARNS BEST LATIN ROCK, ALTERNATIVE OR URBAN ALBUM Acclaimed Austin-based Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma receives their first Grammy Award. Garnering œBest Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album for their latest album, El Existential, the band's guitarist, Adrian Quesada says, œConsidering the DIY and homegrown effort we've built over the last decade, including the immense undertaking and process of producing this album all by ourselves, it feels unbelievable to finally go home as winners. And with so many genres combined into this one category with such fierce competition, it's even more of an honor and statement of our hard work over the last ten years. Released on Nat Geo Music, 'El Existential' is being praised by critics including the Huffington Post who declared it œa sound done so right that you have to hand the crown to this group, while Billboard states that by œtightly weaving Anglo, Afro and Latin musical genres, El Existential takes on an identity of its own. Though this is Grupo Fantasma's first Grammy, this was their second nomination, which they celebrated with a short tour of the Southwest. Grupo Fantasma are widely known for their energetic live shows, which NPR declares œseamless¦whenever and wherever they're on stage. The 10-piece orchestra has received praise from The Wall Street Journal, La Opinion, and by USA Today, calling the band œLatin-funk masters. Brought together by Austin's bustling music scene, Grupo Fantasma formed in 2000 and is comprised of musicians with Latin American and Texan backgrounds. Praised as one of the most important independent acts in the Latin genre, the band draws from influences including cumbia, salsa, old-school funk, reggae and more.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS12806