SXSW

SXSW Guest Review: Lime Cordiale: Catchy but not catching fire

While at SXSW last month, there emerging writers from around the world were invited to head along to watch show featuring an Australian artist. Our final writer, Ryan Rhea, looks back on his experience watching Sydney’s Lime Cordiale for the first time. In a time when too many bands are mere reflections of a trend—pop-era…

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SXSW Guest Review: Why Thandi Phoenix is worthy of memorialising

While at SXSW last month, a few emerging non-Australian writers were invited to head along to watch show featuring an Australian artist. Our second writer, Jaison Oliver, looks back on his experience watching Sydney’s rising pop star Thandi Pheonix. “It’s all a blur of tacos.” Thandi Phoenix is somewhere in the middle of eight scheduled…

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SXSW Guest Review: Sydney’s Sons of the East: Dare I call this Australia-cana?

While at SXSW last month, a few emerging non-Australian writers were invited to head along to watch show featuring an Australian artist. Our first writer, Sam Jackson, looks back on his experience watching Sydney outfit Sons of the East. “The more people dance, the better we play.” I don’t think Sydney’s Sons of the East…

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Interview: Compton emcee Buddy talks “Black”, L.A. and putting a band together

When he released Idle Time back in 2014, Compton rapper Buddy immediately showed the world he was bound to be one of the next big names in hip hop. Keeping up with features from the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell and even pop star Miley Cyrus, the young emcee proved his penmanship was as sharp…

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Introducing UK duo BONES: The next big thing

While in Austin, Texas for SXSW, we sat down with UK duo BONES at Australia House. In their chat with Larry, Rosie and Carmen talk us through their latest single, “Limbs” and more as we get to know more about this buzz act who are based in LA, but hail from London. And we reckon they might just…

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Interview: Tinashe on new album Joyride and not letting herself get boxed in

Fans, critics, and commentators the world over have constantly filled articles and comment sections with confused question marks bemoaning Tinashe’s lack of stadium-sized success (her 2014 debut album Aquarius is so underrated it’s ridiculous). That’s not to say she hasn’t met with success though; with an enormous social media following and plenty of critical acclaim…

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Tour Diary: Hitting SXSW with Campbell Burns and Newcastle’s Vacations

Hi, hello. My name is Campbell Burns and I’m based in Newcastle, NSW. I lead Vacations, a music project I started about two years ago. I sent out an application to perform at SXSW towards the end of 2017, about two weeks before the closing date, completely on a whim. About a week later I…

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Interview: Lester Francois on using interactive VR to explore the work of Australia’s best-known street artist, Rone

Melbourne-based Director Lester Francois and a team of highly creative individuals are putting together an interactive VR docuseries that’ll highlight individuals artists in some very interesting ways. The planned series, titled Kinetic, begins with Rone, the first episode which recently premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas and showcased an incredibly immersive, interactive VR experience examining…

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SXSW Film Review: A Vigilante (USA, 2018) proves an inspiring, powerful debut for its Australian Director

Directed by Australia’s own Sarah Daggar-Nickson and starring Olivia Wilde, A Vigilante is a powerful drama that sees Wilde play the titular role – Sadie, a vigilante who helps domestic abuse survivors get out of their situation by literally bringing the abusers to their knees. Spurred on by her own experiences and a tragedy, the…

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SXSW Interview: Timur Bekmambetov and Shazad Latif on new techno-thriller Profile

During our time at SXSW Film Festival this year, we got to sit with director Timur Bekmambetov and actor Shazad Latif to chat about their new film, Profile. Adapted from Anna Erelle‘s In the Skin of a Jihadist, the film looks at the complex online relationship that develops between an “undercover” reporter and a jihadist, shot entirely through the reporters computer (and social…

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Interview: Kunichi Nomura on playing the dog hating villain in Wes Anderson’s new film Isle of Dogs

While at SXSW earlier this month, we caught up with Japanese actor Kunichi Nomura, who appears in the new Wes Anderson film Isle of Dogs. He also helped write the film. Watch the full chat here as we talk about working with Wes, playing the “villain” in the film, and he also tells us about partying…

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First Impressions: Netflix’s Rapture examines the power of hip hop with empathy and intimacy

Hip hop, now considered the dominant and most popular style of contemporary music in the world, is one of the most powerful and important forms of art to emerge in the past few decades, and that can be an incredibly hard notion for many to wrap their head around. The fascination with the art and…

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SXSW Interview: Nilüfer Yanya on her first trip to Texas, tackling a new year of music & more

UK artist Nilüfer Yanya sat with Larry at SXSW this year, her debut performances in Texas for the massive music festival. Here, they discuss introducing her music to larger crowds, how her local scene differs to ones elsewhere internationally, and more. Listen to the full interview, below! ———- This content has recently been ported from its…

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Interview: Jeremy Workman and Matt Green on the making and meaning of The World Before Your Feet

There are very few documentaries out there that can offer the very of-the-now perspective The World Before Your Feet can. The latest film from Jeremy Workman focuses on subject Matt Green and his endlessly interesting, definitely obsessive, and slightly odd “project”. Anyone who follows his blog would already know; Green has taken it upon himself…

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When Willie Nelson throws a party at his ranch, it’s not a festival. It’s a reunion.

The annual event Luck Reunion returned to Willy Nelson’s Ranch in Luck, Texas earlier this month, delivering an afternoon of incredible performances, food and drink in what was the event’s sixth year. But describing exactly what Luck Reunion is to someone who hasn’t been is hard. And just to be someone who’s been is hard…

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Blockers director and former 30 Rock scribe Kay Cannon on bringing her debut film to cinemas

We recently spoke to director and former 30 Rock scribe Kay Cannon at SXSW about her directorial debut for Blockers, the latest comedy starring John Cena, as she touches on what making a funny, heartfelt film that viewers can not only laugh at but take seriously at the same time. Watch the full chat here: Blockers hits…

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Interview: Rapture director Ben Selkow on 2 Chainz, artistry and hip hop

Gearing up for the new Netflix and Mass Appeal collaboration, Rapture – a docuseries analysing hip hop through the perspectives and lives of several artists across generations – we stopped by the red carpet preview at SXSW Film Festival to catch up with a few members of the cast and crew. The series, which premieres…

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SXSW Interview: Rizz of LA-based Aussie group Vowws talks new album Under the World, Horror scores, and Australian tour plans

The many different textures hidden under those dark synth lines and scuzzy vocals tied together for one of the highlight sets at The Aussie BBQ at SXSW this year. Sydney-to-L.A death pop band Vowws were responsible, showcasing their brand new album Under the World and kicking off a big North American tour which is currently…

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SXSW Interview: Rapture director Marcus A. Clarke on T.I., G-Eazy and A Boogie wit da Hoodie

Ahead of Netflix and Mass Appeal’s new docuseries examining hip hop through various rappers across generations, we took to the red carpet preview at the recent SXSW Film Festival to speak to some of the cast and crew. Marcus A. Clarke, who serves as director for three of the eight episodes was once such crew…

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Discussing the rise of Just Blaze in Netflix’s Rapture with director Gabriel Noble

In just a few days time, music fans will be given a unique insight into the lives and perspectives of individual rappers with new Netflix docuseries Rapture. Produced in collaboration with Mass Appeal, the eight-part hip hop series will look at the culture and art via artists across generations, one being super producer Just Blaze….

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Kenny Reunited: Clayton Jacobson talks about his new film Brothers’ Nest with writer Jaime Browne & producer Jason Byrne

Earlier this month at SXSW in Austin, Texas, I saw down with director and star of the new Australian film Brothers’ Nest, Clayton Jacobson. Accompanied by the film’s writer Jaime Browne & producer Jason Byrne, we spoke at length about the anticipated film – which brings the Jacobson brothers (the other half of course being Shane Jacobson)…

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SXSW Interview: Sybil Rosen & Josh Hamilson talk Blaze and working with Ethan Hawke

With the film screening at SXSW earlier this month, we hit the red carpet to meet Sybil Rosen, the muse of songwriter Blaze Foley, who co-wrote the screenplay for the new film Blaze, directed by Ethan Hawke. The film documents Foley’s life, and sees Rosen played beautifully by Alia Shawkat (pictured in character above with Ben Dickey,…

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Exclusive: Dermot Kennedy sits down with the AU ahead of his debut visit to Australia

While at SXSW earlier this month, I had the chance to sit down with Dublin musician Dermot Kennedy, just before he hit the stage at the Vevo House. We talk about his latest music, his time in Austin and about his highly anticipated debut visit to Australia (next week!). Listen to the full chat here:…

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SXSW Interview: CALMLY discuss their first trip to Austin, new music and that name change

WA’s CALMLY have been touring and introducing themselves to a wider international audiences over the last year – we last saw them at Singapore’s Music Matters conference and now, we were lucky to catch these talented ladies performing at SXSW. Larry caught up with the band on ground in Austin to see how their American jaunt…

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Robert Rodriguez talks about his new series Rebel Without a Crew as the first episode starts streaming

Last week at SXSW, the new Robert Rodriguez TV series Rebel Without a Crew (inspired by his book of the same name) launched at a special press event featuring Rodriguez and the five young directors who have taken part in the series. The series coincides with the 25th anniversary of Rodriguez’s groundbreaking film El Mariachi, which…

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SXSW Film Review: Ethan Hawke’s Blaze (USA, 2018) is a powerful and effective tribute to a musical great

In the first scenes of Ethan Hawke’s new film Blaze, a biopic about oft Austin based, relatively obscure American musician Blaze Foley, we find out that this story doesn’t have a happy ending. Foley’s life was one cut violently short. It’s a choice that Hawke said was made to keep the film from being emotionally manipulative,…

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SXSW Interview: Sacha Jenkins talks hip hop and art for new Netflix series Rapture

Netflix has hooked up with Sacha Jenkins and several other directors to curate a new eight-part docuseries on hip hop. Premiering around the world at the end of March, Rapture will bring unique perspectives on the personal lives of various well-known and rising stars within the culture, from Nas and T.I to Dave East and…

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SXSW Interview: Nick Offerman and Brett Haley on working together for Hearts Beat Loud

After working together on The Hero last year, Brett Haley has once again teamed up with Nick Offerman for new drama-musical Hearts Beat Loud. The film has already screened at Sundance and SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim, so we thought it best to sit down with both Brett and Nick to talk about how…

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Interview: Blockers‘ Evan Goldberg & James Weaver claim to be Australia’s “favourite movie makers”

While at SXSW, we caught up with Evan Goldberg & James Weaver to chat about their work as writers and producers of the anticipated and acclaimed new comedy Blockers, which hits cinemas on Thursday. During our chat, the pair talk about casting an Australian actress (Geraldine Viswanathan) in the film, and go on to say that…

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Japanese actor Kunichi Nomura was partying with The Avalanches before Isle of Dogs Premiere at SXSW

While at SXSW, we met Japanese actor (and film co-writer) Kunichi Nomura, to chat about his new film Isle of Dogs – the anticipated stop motion film from acclaimed director Wes Anderson. While on the red carpet, once he learnt we were Australian, he took the opportunity to let us in that he’d just flown in from…

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