sxsw

Our friends at PORTALS caught up with Brooklyn's Lorely Rodriguez -- aka Empress Of, whose full-on, swooning electro-pop set was easily one of the best things we saw at SXSW -- down in Austin last month, where they captured this charmingly intimate, stripped-down solo piano version of her new single "Tristeza," shot in black & white at Estuary by the PORTALS crew...

This happens today starting at noon at the Hype Hotel in the Whitley on 3rd + San Jacinto in beautiful downtown Austin. Starring Disclosure, Charli XCX, Antwon, Fear of Men, Empress Of, Ryan Hemsworth, John Talabot, Jerome LOL + more. Unfortunately, Shlohmo was forced to cancel at the last minute due to illness, but we found a replacement: Dallas' own the Polyphonic Spree:

Beautiful new video from Brighton's Fear of Men, who continue to make our hearts swell with every move, for their bittersweet single "Seer," which remains one of the most achingly pretty things we've heard this year. Fitting, dream-like visuals -- starring Jessica Weiss as spectral beekeeper -- directed by Falvey and Weiss with Williams / Tardo...

We are psyched to premiere the sparkling, starry-eyed first track to be unveiled from Empress Of's lovely new Systems EP, which will be released in April via the great Terrible Records here in the States + Double Denim in the rest of the world...

We're teaming up with our friends Yours Truly again this year to kick off SXSW '13 on Wednesday, March 13, at the Hype Hotel. Free / no badge required, just RSVP HERE. Starring: DISCLOSURE (london) SHLOHMO (los angeles) CHARLI XCX (london) ANTWON (san jose) FEAR OF MEN (brighton) EMPRESS OF (brooklyn) DJ sets from: RYAN HEMSWORTH (halifax) JOHN TALABOT (barcelona) JEROME LOL (los angeles)

Here's the Romoface-directed new video for Antwon's Cities Aviv-produced new single "Still Guarded," taken from his forthcoming mixtape In Dark Denim, out on Valentine's Day via Greedhead. In other news, listen to 'twon's verse on the new Kitty track "," and catch him down in Austin in March at SXSW '13...

The Bay Area rapper jumps on a beat from the cloudiest of cloud-rap producers, Friendzone. These dudes are on a roll between this and "Fashion Killa," they should probably just produce everything:

Prior to gracing our state for SXSW in March, Brighton's Fear of Men will release the "reverse chronological singles collection" Early Fragments, compiling the very nearly perfect run of singles + b-sides that the band has released on various labels over the last year and a half or so...