UK based Bangkok-born artist Pyra 

The British Council is pleased to announce the return of the iconic British Music Embassy (BME) to SXSW Sydney in 2024 in partnership with UK trade bodies and organisations: The BPI, The Department of Business and Trade, and British Underground. After 17 years at SXSW Austin and its inaugural year at SXSW Sydney in 2023, BME will take over the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney from Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 October with red hot music acts by artists with links to the UK and conversations with some of the industry’s leading minds across the UK and Australia at the intersection of music, arts and technology.

"We're thrilled to bring the British Music Embassy back to SXSW Sydney for its second year. This showcase exemplifies the British Council's commitment to fostering cultural exchange and nurturing emerging artists on a global stage,” said Helen Salmon, Director British Council Australia. “From cutting-edge music acts to thought-provoking discussions on the intersection of music and technology, BME offers a vibrant platform for artists and thinkers from the UK, Australia, and beyond to connect, inspire, and shape the future of the creative industries.”

BME will feature a new wave of fresh voices from a diverse line-up of talent at its Music Showcase including rising Gen Z indie pop artist DellaXOZ, creator, composter and TikTok dramatic violin sensation Joel Sunny, East London MC and rapper Jeshi, trailblazing South African musician and artistic visionary Moonchild Sanelly, London-based, Somali soul artist FaceSoul, Tokyo-based, UK native and esteemed producer/DJ Submerse, Overpass, an original melodic rock outfit from Sydney, Mancunian indie pop band Lottery Winners, Bangalore, Indian-born, London-based singer, songwriter and producer Renao, Pyra, the Bangkok-born artist taking over the world with her unique brand of politically charged, ‘dystopian pop’, English-born, Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter, ENNY and Australian apocalyptic jazz artists Special Feelings.

BME and SXSW Sydney will also host two talks centred on the convergence of music and technology.

Edge of the Future: Music x AI - Thursday 17 Oct, 3:30pm, Lansdowne Hotel
Artists, musicians and composers are increasingly working with Artificial Intelligence as a creative tool for music. We explore in this panel what the impact is of AI on music making and if it can be an asset as well as a threat to artists' livelihoods. With notions around authenticity being integral to music, how is AI’s role in music making understood by artists, programmers and curators of music across the UK and Australia.

Moderator: Becci Scotcher – PRS Foundation (UK)

Speakers: Pyra – Musician (UK), Jemma Cole – Soft Centre (AU), Salllvage (Rowan Savage) – Musician (AU)

New Voices in Arts and Technology – Thursday 17 Oct, 1:30pm, Lansdowne Hotel

How do opportunities at the intersection of arts and technology open up the space for new and independent voices? This conversation will explore how arts and technology and immersive storytelling is creating global impact across arts and culture. Investing in independent arts and technology innovation and research can strengthen proven community-building strategies as well as create exciting collaborative and innovative work. With insights into cutting-edge immersive technologies and recent case-studies this is a clarion call for fostering vibrant creative environments and actionable strategies to cultivate collective creativity with the widest possible communities.

Moderator: Nick Kwek, Technology Journalist (UK)

Speakers: Marc Boothe, B3 Media (UK), Sarah Ticho, Hatsumi (UK), Kartini Ludwig, Kopi Su Studio (AU)

 Kwek, Boothe and Ticho have been supported in their attendance at BME and SXSW Sydney through the Future Arts and Culture programme as part of British Underground.

For more information and to book tickets click here.