The Daily Texan 2021-03-10 SXSW

DT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021

THE DAILY TEXAN’S GUIDE TO |

rocky higine

/ the daily texan staff

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march 10, 2021

SXSW SXSW 2021 2021

SXSW

meet the reporters |

MANAGEMENT Trinady Joslin Ariana Arredondo Emily Hernandez

DESIGNERS Christina Peebles Megan Fletcher Eunice Bao Juleanna Culilap

ARTISTS Rocky Higine Barb Daly

Aisling Ayers

Lauren Castro

Grace Barnes

Jennifer Errico

Aisling will be setting up a mock-SXSW in her apartment just to feel something. She will be covering the conference by day and blowing up her reporters’ phones with urgent emojis by night (and also day).

Lauren will be adding em dashes to every SXSW story that goes through her. She will be covering the conference and film, hoping to get a virtual glimpse of Matthew McConaughey.

Grace will attempt to remain calm as she interviews actor Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas from Harry Potter for those who don’t know). She will be covering the film festival for as much as her time and sanity allows.

Jenny will be spending five days receiving noise complaints from her neighbors as she attempts, and fails, to sing along to the performances. She will be covering the music festival and conference, hoping to become friends with Mark Cuban so he can introduce her to Luka Doncic.

Morgan-Taylor Thomas

Fiza Kuzhiyil

Noah Levine

Thomas Casler

MT will be fangirling over every rock performance possible as she knows she will never be able to live out her rockstar fantasy with 5-inch acrylic nails. She will be covering music and conference, hoping to talk to Willie Nelson about literally anything.

Fiza will be sorting every artist she hears into her extremely specific Spotify playlists. She will be covering the music festival to find new indie music to fuel her god complex and is reporting on the conference to seem smart.

Noah will be watching all of the horror movies at the festival because it is the only way he can feel something. He will be covering most of the SXSW Midnighters Film Festival selection and interviewing related talent.

Thomas is considered a double threat because he works for two of the greatest companies in Texas: H-E-B and The Daily Texan. He will be covering the film festival at SXSW while also pointing out where the vegan bread is at your local H-E-B.

@aisling_ayers

@laurrncastro

@gracebarnes210

@jenny_errico

COPY

Phoebe Hayes Irissa Omandam Megan Shankle Emma Allen Carrie Meng Valeria Sixtos Alex Mercadel EDITOR’S NOTE: On March 6, 2020, the city of Austin canceled South by Southwest because of COVID-19 concerns.

The fallout from the cancellation would signal what was to come for the U.S. and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, over a year later, thousands will tune in to watch music performances, listen to keynote speakers and watch films all from home. Use these 12 pages to prepare for a fun and safe virtual SXSW.

@mtthomas_

@fiza11k

@ZProductionz

@thethomascasler

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A creative comeback Creatives talk redeeming 2020 SXSW cancellation and more.

By Morgan-Taylor Thomas @mtthomas_

There are 52 weeks in a year, but for rapper Mama Duke, only one really matters: South by Southwest.

Bouncing from stage to stage, watching live performances and popping into greenrooms, Mama Duke said nothing compares to the rockstar feeling creatives experience at SXSW. But after months of preparation for the 2020 festival, COVID-19 shut the world down.

“I was drained when South by Southwest was canceled because it was my first time having four official showcases,” the Austin artist said. “I had been an official artist previously, but four official showcases? I was on my shit that year.”

For many musicians like Mama Duke, the 2020 cancellation of SXSW not only limited networking opportunities but marked the beginning of a year without live performances, tours or in-person connections with fans.

This year, 69 of SXSW’s 2021 musicians were invited to return after last year’s cancellation. Some said they are cautiously optimistic about the new virtual setting.

New York afrofusion R&B artist Demi Grace said one of her main concerns about a virtual venue is the lack of a crowd. As someone who enjoys meeting new people, especially in person, Grace said she craves interaction and connection with her fans.

“The way I go about pursuing my career is I just show up in cities,” Grace said. “I want to meet you in person, and I didn’t realize how much that fed me, to be in person with people and soak up that live energy. I didn’t even realize how much that meant to me until it was taken away from me.”

Grace is a first-time SXSW official

artist, and she said this will be her first virtual performance.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen (with COVID-19),” Grace said. “But if we do continue with virtual performances, I’m really hoping that this will give me a little bit more comfort in working on virtual performances.”

The Queendom, made up of AUDIADASOUND and Rocket Rhonnie, said they’ve been fortunate enough to continue performing virtually over the last year, but the relationship with the audience is completely different.

“The reason why we gain a lot of our fan base is because of our performance,” Rhonnie said. “You know, call and response and just having a good time. So I think transitioning has been the hardest part.”

However, the Atlanta-based duo, which creates an avant-garde, experimental hip-hop sound, is looking forward to this year’s festival. AUDIADASOUND said even though they were crushed about last year’s cancellation, they knew there would be another opportunity knocking on their door. “(SXSW) actually requested us for the stage that we’re on (this year),” AUDIADASOUND said. “The fact that our 2019 performance still (made an impact) meant a lot to us. As far as (SXSW) being canceled, it was just postponed. That’s how I see it now.”

As for Mama Duke, she hopes SXSW 2021 helps her gain the respect she said she has earned. As a woman, especially a Black queer woman, she said she is often overlooked.

“I’m the only female on the bill,” Duke said. “As somebody queer, they put you in a box. As somebody (of) mixed race, you’re not Black enough, you’re not Mexican enough. I hope people see me as the only female on stage and think, ‘Huh, can’t be mad at that.’ That’s what I hope to get.”

copyright deseri rice, and reproduced with permission The Queendom, made up of AUDIADASOUND and Rocket Rhonnie, were crushed by last year’s cancellation, but were optimistic.

copyright morty zapata, and reproduced with permission Mama Duke is returning to SXSW after last year’s cancellation, which began a year of no live performances.

copyright kola shobo, and reproduced with permission

New York afrofusion R&B artist and SXSW first-timer Demi Grace enjoys meeting new people and craves interaction and connection with her fans, leaving her uncertain about this year’s virtual setting.

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Here’s what you need to know about SXSW Online:

By Aisling Ayers & Lauren Castro @aisling_ayers & @laurrncastro

After the festival’s first cancellation in 34 years in March 2020, SXSW is returning March 16-20, 2021, to the digital stage due to Austin’s COVID-19 restrictions of large gatherings.

by the numbers

ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL Attracted more than

410,000 attendees from around the world in 2019

This year, SXSW will be conducted virtually for the first time. Live content will be broadcast across five channels on the SXSW mobile app and the Connected TV app every day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST. There is one pass for the entire online event, which is currently available at a discounted rate of $325. Students can apply to purchase a pass at a special rate of $69 “while supplies last.”

film FESTIVAL The SXSW website states that most films will be available for on-demand viewing until the end of the conference.

Many films do not have capacity limits, but the festival is opening up 5,000 spots for those that do.

Attendees must RSVP on the SXSW Online Platform or mobile app starting Tuesday to secure their spot.

icons by juleanna culilap

Over

600

total hours of content

music FESTIVAL Over

200

premiering films from around the world

/ the daily texan staff

Instead of performances scattered around Austin, featured musicians will stream their performances from locations around the world, including a cable car in Norway and Australian backyards.

Streaming of the music festival will be available via web, mobile and the SXSW Online Connected TV app. Get familiar with the artists before the festival by listening to the “Official SXSW Online 2021 Playlist,” “On the SX Stereo: New Releases” on Spotify, Apple Music and Qobuz and watch the “SXSW Online 2021 Official Showcasing Artist Music Videos” playlist on YouTube.

More than

250

music performances

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comedy FESTIVAL

networking

The comedy festival will consist of panels, podcasts, improv, sketches and parties with an ever-growing list of notable alumni, such as Bill Hader, Kathy Griffin and Wanda Sykes.

The digital experience is full of networking and professional development opportunities for attendees. The Professional Development Hub serves as a high-profile community bulletin board, featuring job opportunities from six companies, including White Claw and Dell Technologies.

Another new addition to SXSW, The Creative Industries Exhibition, highlights some of the best innovators in business through industry leaders, small businesses and startups.

Creatives are encouraged to collaborate and share ideas with others from around the world.

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Comedians

ONLINE XR New to the SXSW event lineup is the SXSW Online XR. With recreations of iconic locations such as Congress Avenue and The Paramount Theatre, attendees can explore Austin venues in the virtual realm at three live sessions, seven artist and attendee meetups, six cinema special events and more that can be accessed through VRChat.

Within the virtual world, attendees will experience an indepth look at the lives of three men imprisoned in Xinjiang, China, a performance in a Shakespearean Midsummer forest and life-changing missions of eight astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

7 films

will be launched every

More than

320

2 hours,

conference sessions

from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST

connecting with creators Not only can attendees watch the performances, they’re encouraged to interact with artists, filmmakers and speakers in Q&A sessions, mentoring sessions and roundtable discussions. Many of these events require an RSVP. Attendees many begin RSVPing on Tuesday.

5

keynote speakers

+

20

featured speakers

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WHAT TO EXPECT:

conference themes

By Jennifer Errico @errico_jenny

2020 posed a myriad of questions to people around the world, and the experts speaking at South

by Southwest 2021 are proposing answers.

SXSW Online 2021, which will take place March 16-21, consists of more than 230 conference sessions divided into seven main themes.

Chief programming officer Hugh Forrest said using themes to provide structure for the conference is a new approach and will amplify the speakers’ platform to showcase creative solutions and discuss problems within their industries.

“The seven themes … provided us a lot of flexibility,” Forrest said. “(We have) sessions covering some of our most immediate pandemic-related challenges and then, on the other end of the spectrum, big-picture futuristic content.”

Forrest said he and his team have been working on the 2021 themes since February 2020.

After some intense brainstorming, they finalized the seven themes in mid-June.

The Daily Texan has expanded on the meaning behind each theme to help attendees better understand the intentions of the conference.

Here are the seven themes of SXSW and the conversations attendees can look forward to. art by rocky higine

A NEW URGENCY 2020 was a year of awakening — shedding light on racial injustice, poverty, nationalism and the climate crisis, all through the lens of a global pandemic. A New Urgency poses the question: “What advancements are necessary to create lasting progress within society?” From sessions like “Can Democracy Survive #FakeNews?” to “COVID-19: Playing the Long Game,” attendees will hear leaders in business, technology and government discuss how to solve the problems of tomorrow.

Cultural Resilience in the Arts Among turmoil and chaos, inspiration is born.

Learn how the music, film and visual art industries will evolve as they embrace creative projects inspired by the events of 2020 and years to come.

CEO of Odad Truth Records, Glenn “Daddy-o” Bolton, will address how music expresses cultural movements that mark history in his segment “The Medium and the Message: Revolution in Music.”

/ the daily texan staff

CHALLENGING TECH’S PATH FORWARD By focusing on its current failings, the technology industry is innovating new paths to expand the consumer base of their products. Sessions such as “Reinventing the Wheel(chair): Inequity and Disability” show new advancements.

The Rebirth of Business The Rebirth of Business examines capitalism’s ability to create an equitable system across race, gender and class in both small companies and major corporations. Kendra Scott, CEO and founder of Kendra Scott, and Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, will discuss the importance of entrepreneurship on the local level in their segment “Beyond the Tank: Investing in Your Community.”

Connection in Disconnection Transforming the Entertainment Landscape Reformation within the entertainment industry has always paralleled changes in society. The music, film, television, sports and gaming industries are adjusting to new consumer habits, technological advancements and an increased desire to highlight social issues. Explore how holograms may be transforming the music industry with Microsoft’s Jason Waskey or how growing industries face adversity with ESPN’s Stephania Bell.

An Uncharted Future Attendees will explore how quantum physics, radical life extension and consumer space travel are part of our immediate future. Dmitri Julius, chief people officer at ICON, will discuss 3D printing homes to reduce homelessness, and Rob Mueller from NASA will present how a human habitat could be designed and executed on Mars.

During a year of distance and isolation, people have turned to online outlets to foster a sense of community.

With sessions such as “The Looming Mental Health Crisis Tsunami” or “Introspection + Empathy: Building a Kinder Future,” experts will explore how to return to a pre-pandemic society that embraces the value of humanity over individual concerns.

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IF YOU’RE GOING,

here’s what to check out

By The Daily Texan Life & Arts Staff @texanarts

CONFERENCE KEYNOTES AND SESSIONS There are five high-profile keynote speakers at the conference this year. The lineup includes Texas music icon Willie Nelson, author Priya Parker, author and screenwriter Charles Yu, UT alumna Stacey Abrams, and Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Each keynote presentation will be an hour long.

In the “Beyond the Gender Binary” session, musician Demi Lovato and writer Alok Vaid-Menon join to speak about the state of transgender rights in America, the power of gender diversity and creative self-expression against gender norms. Tune into this 11 a.m. CST session Friday, March 19.

Learn about how publishers use TikTok to engage young audiences in “How GenZ Duets the News on TikTok” at 10:30 a.m. CST Friday, March 19. Speakers include The Washington Post video producer Dave Jorgenson (yes, the Washington Post TikTok guy), NowThis politics producer Ian McKenna and content creator Jackie James.

FILM FESTIVAL The featured session, “Alexi Pappas and Bill Hader on Being a Bravey” will be a conversation between Olympian and author of “Bravey,” Alexi Pappas, and actor and filmmaker Bill Hader about mental health in their professional and personal lives. The 3:00 p.m. CST session will be Wednesday, March 17.

Looking for some frights and chills? Each film in the Midnighters film collection is curated for the latenight, thrill-seeking crowd and will surely get your adrenaline pumping. Some highlights include “Jakob’s Wife” (March 17) which stars horror icon Barbara Crampton (“Re-Animator”) and “Gaia” (March 16) which is set in a foreboding South African forest.

The lineup of the narrative feature competition includes eight world premieres and the work of some of 2021’s finest independent filmmakers. Don’t miss award-winning filmmaker Kelley Kali’s “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking),” which follows a recently widowed mother thrust into homelessness with her 8-year-old daughter.

The Daily Texan’s team of South by Southwest Online reporters have created a list of must-sees for students if you’re overwhelmed by the hundreds of films, shows and sessions at SXSW on March 16-20.

MUSIC FESTIVAL From her go-with-the-flow attitude to her melodic combinations of hip-hop, R&B and soul, Mama Duke is sure to give one of the best performances of SXSW. In an interview with The Texan, she said that as a Black queer woman, she pulls from personal experiences to give her audience a lyrical show like no other. She will be performing Tuesday, March 16 at 5 p.m. CST. The trash-glam-punk sibling duo, known as Lord Friday the 13th, will have every virtual head banging at SXSW. Though new to the realm of music, they’re dedicated to their authentic primitive sound and are a force to be reckoned with. Lord Friday the 13th will perform Friday, March 19 at 5 p.m. CST. The Heard Presents x We Gon’ Make It Showcase on Saturday, March 20 at 5 p.m. CST will feature four Austin artists: Sir Woman (rock), Golden Dawn Arkestra (rock), Nané (hip-hop/rap), and Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears (R&B/soul). This showcase features local artists performing the fluid melodies of soul to the crisp riffs of rock.

SXSW ONLINE XR EXHIBITION With live sessions and special cinema projects available through VRChat, SXSW Online XR is the newest virtual aspect of the event. The exhibit will allow attendees to explore a virtual Austin, whether it be walking the streets of South Congress or visiting The Contemporary’s rooftop.

NETWORKING The SXSW website offers a list of featured job opportunities for companies such as Dell Technologies, Bristol Myers Squibb, Brightcove and more.

Students should attend the Creative Industries Exhibition to interact with companies and maximize networking opportunities. art by barbra daly and rocky higine the daily texan staff

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from forty acres to sxsw Multiple UT alumni are keynote and featured speakers at SXSW conference.

By Fiza Kuzhiyil @fiza11k

From the Forty Acres to the virtual stage, several UT alumni will be speaking at the 2021 South by Southwest online conference from March 16-20. One alumna, Stacey Abrams,

THU

18

will give a keynote presentation, or an hour-long presentation given by headlining speakers to set the tone or the “key note” for SXSW. The Daily Texan compiled a list of the four notable alumni to watch at this year’s presentations.

10 a.m. CST

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey, UT Minister of Culture and Academy Award-winning actor, is a featured speaker this year. McConaughey, part-owner of the American professional soccer team Austin FC, will be in conversation with Don Garber, Major League Soccer commissioner. In the past two decades, Major League Soccer

TUE

16

has changed North American soccer by engaging millennial and Generation Z fans. McConaughey and Garber will discuss how the League is increasing fan engagement and how Major League Soccer clubs are making their way into mainstream culture in North America.

11 a.m. CST

Emmanuel Acho

Emmanuel Acho, former Texas linebacker and Fox Sports host, will talk about digital inequities creating barriers to opportunity. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted societal inequities, and this session will discuss how to increase digital accessibility.

Acho will join in conversation with Talia Milgrom-Elcott, founder and executive Director of 100Kin10; Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski, senior director at Comcast; and Jessica Anderson, director of Strategic Giving at Dell Technologies.

rocky higine

TUE

16

1 p.m. CST

Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams, a Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs alumna, is a keynote speaker this year. Abrams is a voting rights advocate and the author of The New York Times bestselling novel “Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America.”

WED

17

/ the daily texan staff

She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 11 years. In 2018, she became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, making her the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States.

1 p.m. CST

andy langer

Andy Langer, UT alumnus and Texas Monthly writer-at-large, will be in conversation with Willie Nelson in a keynote session.

Langer is also the afternoon host

of Austin City Limits Radio. He will discuss Nelson’s musical career and his recent artistic endeavors in writing, business and activism.

FEB. 3 - MARCH 22

minka atkinson

/ the daily texan staff