5 SXSW Artists to Rock Your Playlist

From Mexican Regional music to rap from the Dominican Republic, South by Southwest 2024 brought a celebration of more than 60 Latin acts from across the world. We’ve recently seen a slew of Spanish-language artists become global hitmakers and transcend language and borders. It’s important to Austin Vida to amplify cultura at the festival and ensure that nuestras historias are also told during a time when all eyes our on Austin.

At this year’s fest, we saw stars like Peso Pluma and Christian Nodal triumph at special events at SXSW and we hope this continues as the power of our gente was definitely felt at these concerts. Peso Pluma fans lined up for hours waiting for blocks around Austin downtown buildings, showing how there’s a hungry audience wanting to see themselves represented on stages. It’s always our hope that by shining a brighter light on cultura that it encourages more festivals and festival goers to support diverse artists and inclusive lineups. Our musical storytelling bonds us and helps us understand each other.

We’re sharing some of the bands who made a splash at the festival and whose music we believe you’ll enjoy adding to your playlist. Of course, this isn’t a complete list, but a sampling of the talent in our musical comunidad.

SEE MORE: LATINAPALOOZA ROCKS AT SXSW

Conexión Divina (Los Angeles)

There was definitely something special about seeing a regional Mexican group put their male musicians in the back. That’s because in this rising Gen Z all-female band, the spotlight belongs to the Mexican American young women who are blazing a trail in a popular, but male dominated genre.

Singing, playing their instruments and writing their own songs are all part of their mantra that women can make the beloved music special too.

Their debut SXSW performance featured the trio – who met on social media – as part of the Canela Music showcase, where they performed both unreleased songs as well as covers like Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval.” Conexión Divina also boasts a local connection – 12-string guitarist Daniela Santiago calls Austin her hometown and currently studies at USC in Los Angeles.

Conexión Divina earned a Best New Artist nomination at the Latin Grammys last year and it’s only the beginning for these shining stars who we hope make a return Austin visit.

J Noa (Dominican Republic)

All eyes on this masterful lyrical MC — and she’s still a teenager. Dominican rapper J Noa, 17, spits fire and captivates the crowd like a pro. Her multiple SXSW performances included a big night at ACL Live at the Moody Theater when she joined the Rolling Stone’s Future of Music lineup along with Peso Pluma. The Latin Grammy nominee holds her own with rapid rhythm, poetic verses and skillful style. She’s got all the makings of a global superstar and we can’t wait to see where her musical path leads her to next.

The Tiarras (Austin)

Austinites love their local music. And yes, we’re partial to them too. But after listening to a week’s worth of music from artists spanning the world, The Tiarras’ show at Latinapalooza was the kind that brought the goosebumps, widened eyes and made audience members look at each other in disbelief after the sister trio poured everything into their set, like, “Did that just happen?”

Guitar shredding, dynamic stage presence, anthems that had crowds rocking and dancing – and that was after The Tiarras had performed multiple shows and declared they were “running on fumes” by the time they got to their last show at the Latinapolooza showcase. Locals have seen this band’s trajectory from students to pros and there’s so much more to come for these poderosas who are on the cusp of BIG things to come.

Bia Ferreira (Brazil)

When singer-songwriter steps on stage with just a guitar, one might expect a simple set. But Bia doesn’t work that way. She manages to tell you about xenophobia, genocide and feminism all while captivating you with her Brazilian folk rap, confidence, and magnetism.

By the end of the set, she had crowds doing a choreographed dance, singing in Portuguese that she taught us, and chanting her songs as she left the stage. Bia’s music has the power to lift moods and change energies and crowds were ready to follow her anywhere.

SEE MORE: COMUNIDAD SHINES IN THESE 5 FILMS

Una Canción Bonita (Mexico)

This Mexican alternative pop band es la luz brillante we all need. Una Canción Bonita serves as the alter ego of singer-songwriter Karely Rincón. Along with her talented backing band, Rincón oozes charisma and lift your spirits through the music.

Her mashup of Manu Chao’s “Me Gustas Tu” made the small venue erupt in a sing-a-long party. Keep an eye out for their debut album “El Viaje,” releasing on April 5.