photos: the Gorilla vs. Bear x Hype Machine SXSW showcase (feat. Charli XCX + more)

Our official Gorilla vs. Bear 2016 SXSW showcase at Mazda + Hype Machine's Hype Hotel offered a glimpse into the future of pop music on a beautiful Thursday night in east Austin, from Negative Gemini's frenetic, club-ready experimental electronic pop that began the evening (I heard at least a few people compare her vibe to an early Grimes set circa 2011) to headliner Charli XCX's first-ever, next-level collaborative set with SOPHIE, which Charli proclaimed "maybe my most favourite set I have EVER played". Some of our favorite artists turned out for this one — including Sophie's PC Music homies QT and Danny L Harle, Caroline from Chairlift, Stormzy, Kelela, Dev Hynes, and DJ Dodger Stadium, among others — and the duo didn't disappoint, delivering an inspired performance featuring all 4 songs from their new collaborative Vroom Vroom EP, a few of their own respective hits (shout out to "Boom Clap" and "Lemonade") + a couple of dope new jams. It was even more innovative, abrasive, infectious, and unforgettable than we could have imagined.

So much love to Negative Gemini, George Clanton, Dilly Dally, Stealing Sheep, the Teklife + Era crews, Charli + SOPHIE, and DJs Joel Ford, Kristin Kontrol, and Hinds for making it such a fun and special night, and huge thanks to Mazda and the Hype Machine squad for making it possible for us to do this every year. Photos by Jesse DeFlorio for Hype Machine's Hype Hotel, with a few of our own shots from the evening mixed in:

NEGATIVE GEMINI:

GEORGE CLANTON:

DILLY DALLY:

JOEL FORD:

KRISTIN KONTROL:

HINDS:

STEALING SHEEP:

TEKLIFE + THE ERA:

CHARLI XCX + SOPHIE:

Brought to you by Mazda, presenting sponsor of Hype Hotel at SXSW. #MazdaSXSW #HypeON