It was hard to cut through the deafening noise of SXSW in Austin, Texas, but the Satellite Ranch allowed me to find momentary peace through the discovery of dynamic artists Sedona and ÅNGEL 004.
Stream: “Touch & Go” – Sedona
As a born and raised New Yorker, it takes a lot to rattle me, but I can admit that going to SXSW for the first time was a truly overwhelming experience.
The number of shows concurrently happening with solid lineups at cool venues left me with an intense case of decision paralysis. Every second of the day could be filled with good music and unforgettable experiences, which obviously isn’t a real issue, but potentially missing out on one great show in favor of another felt like an impossible predicament that I found no solution for. What further exacerbated my anxiety was the pervasive networking culture that commodified every interaction into a potential business transaction. Since I made the trek all the way down to Texas, I soon fell victim to this trap of feeling like I needed to make the most of my trip, resulting in me bouncing from show to show and popping into events with an ironclad itinerary and the steadfast determination to “link and build.”
Pretty quickly, though, I found that not only was I making pretty surface level connections with people I didn’t care to stay in touch with, but I was also too caught up with my surroundings to even really enjoy the music I was experiencing. The sprawling creativity and controlled chaos of SXSW was impressive and inspiring in some ways, but ultimately felt pretty hollow and disingenuous. This disappointment spurred a small existential crisis as I questioned the purpose of art in the world, meeting artist after artist functioning as a little business fixated on endless self promotion. That was until I walked onto the Satellite Ranch fairgrounds.
The multidisciplinary arts festival organized by the Lower East Side based gallery, Satellite Gallery, spanned immersive art installations, experimental instrumentalists, clowns, budding pop stars, and a plethora of engaging sounds, visuals, and people creating what I could only describe as an eclectic art oasis, providing a refreshing alternative to the heavily branded SXSW programming concentrated downtown.
Set up on ten acres, the ranch had just enough space to allow for easy movement between the three main lodges that housed various art installations, as well as the two musical stages which staggered performers of different genres.
The two sets that really stood out to me were from Sedona and ÅNGEL 004.
Sedona performed a mesmerizing mix of songs that really accentuated the ethereal feeling of the entire festival. As night fell with the backdrop of a never-ending Texas sky and a spattering of stars, Sedona moved through a set featuring moments that felt equally airy enough to bounce around to, but with enough emotional depth to really ground you in the music. There’s a certain weight in her lyrics that when juxtaposed with her smooth and sultry vocals produces a dissonance in her songs, that feels transportive to a universe uniquely specific to her genre bending musicality.
Capitalizing on the infectious spirit of a retro era in popular music that feels most similar to the ’80s, Sedona not only leans into nostalgia, but also offers something new with a mysterious aura that permeates in the melodies she flawlessly weaves in and out of.
As a performer, an intense warmth and genuine love for her craft was ever-present throughout her set; it felt as if she set an intention for her entire audience to go along with her on a journey into the most vulnerable parts of heartbreak, self-reflection, and triumph.
In contrast, ÅNGEL 004 leaned further into the experimental bounds of pop, with influences of electronic music and hip-hop underscoring much of her performance.
Flanked by backup dancers performing concise choreo, ÅNGEL 004 took command of the small stage with tremendous power and verve. ÅNGEL 004 provided a balanced mix of high-energy tracks with easily repeatable hooks as well as cutting verses displaying an ability to go bar for bar with seasoned rappers.
Ultimately, her set felt like a lot of fun; it was the kind of music that makes you be present in an experience, oscillating between dancing, smiling, and watching in awe. She ended her set with an unreleased emotional ballad, “Heartstrings,” that impressively showed off her vocal range, and prompted a great moment of pause amongst the crowd. ÅNGEL 004’s performance felt like the perfect representation of the entire festival, wide-ranging and unique with a lot of heart.
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© Eden Chinn
© Eden Chinn
