Reeperbahn, Europe's largest club/music industry festival, came all the way from Hamburg, Germany to join KCRW at South By Southwest this year. Team KCRW Music is thrilled to present Reeperbahn’s showcase of emerging international talent with help from the global initiative Keychange — specifically focused on gender equity in the music industry. In today’s newsletter, we’ll bring you a song from each artist performing live at the KCRW X Reeperbahn showcase. If you’re reading this in Austin, check it out live on Thursday, March 13th at Shangri-La. And learn more about Reeperbahn at SXSW here.
Billianne – “Enough”
Bask in the warmth of layered vocals and intimate lyrics from this Canadian singer-songwriter. Her soft-hearted singing will have you swaying and swooning.
Cloudy June – “Girls Like You”
Get your flirt on with this shoulder-shakin’ single from Germany’s Cloudy June. “Girls Like You” sets harmonized vocals to electro-pop production and tops it all off with a 360-degree video.
FILLY – “Sweat”
This pumper from Austria’s FILLY is an instant club classic. Sweat along to the bouncing BPM, boppy synths, and a big-builder production formula that just doesn’t miss.
Sofie Royer – “Babydoll”
Austrian-American artist Sofie Royer will keep you guessing with this multi-lingual, super dynamic single. A love song, a shredder, a dancefloor groover — this synth-laden track’s yours to play with.
Beth McCarthy – “Hot and Stupid”
UK artist (and 2024 Reeperbahn Anchor Award-nominee) Beth McCarthy brings back the humor-forward storytelling style of the 2000s with this pop-rock style single. Infectious lyrics, big-big guitars, and a boxing-ring video make this one a KO.