Bringing a technical touch to grunge-tinged garage rock, Brooklyn via Boston trio Slothrust offers a lot that a listener can latch onto. Lead singer, Leah Wellbaum, delivers her lyrics with angst, passion, and subtle sarcasm that permeates each song distinctly. Humor and dark themes coalesce seamlessly as the band's personality is put on full display in front of spot-on musicianship. While the band has been a slow burn in terms of popularity, their 2013 album 'Of Course You Do' reached many hearts, displaying the talent, charm, and uniqueness of this group. After three years, they are due for a new record. -  Lee Ackerley

Chris Hess and Adam Winn of the psych-pop duo Swimm, have brought their unique beach breeziness and pensive lyrics from Florida to LA. The recently released, Beverly Hells, is a sun-drenched relaxing ride through a genre-bending soundscape. Lo-fi, surf-infused, indie has never been more emotive. Fluidity and weightlessness pervade their sound but their live performances are also as visceral as it can get, and their SXSW 2016 shows confirmed that.

One of most strikingly intense artists to come out of the Brooklyn scene in 2015, Okay Kaya has been releasing a series of mellow singles accompanied by simple but profoundly touching videos. The latest, entitled 'I'm Stupid (but I Love You)," is streaming below. Okay Kaya is playing the SXSW House of Vans show at Austin's Mohawk on Friday March 18. 

The Zoom Lens family descends on the inside stage of Cheer Up Charlies to mark the beginning of their weeklong stay at SXSW. The eight-artist showcase will include performances from Oh My Muu, Meishi Smile, a live debut of la pumpkin, (Savannah, GA) new songs from Plaster Cast's recently released EP "Permanence," and more. Find more info on the Facebook event page and the official SXSW page. Until then, stream the specially curated Zoom Lens mix to whet your appetite. - Ryan Mo

Eschewing mediocrity for a full-on queer punk motif, PWR BTTM is a punk duo sodomizing the status quo. Energetic and positive, the message of their music is uplifting, which pairs well with the group's DIY showmanship that grips its live showcases. Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce plan on shocking at SXSW 2106; while their dynamic may be a bit off the beaten path, they don’t seem to care about what other people think, and there is nothing more punk rock than that. After the Austin festival, the band will embark on a tour in support of Ra Ra Riot. Check out their break out single "1994." - Lee Ackerley