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Purple Sneakers' Guide to BIGSOUND's Must-See Artists for 2018

4 September 2018 | 8:35 am | Staff Writer

BIGSOUND is once again upon us, with 2018's festival line up boasting over 100 emerging artists all ready to show what they're made of. From future popstars to genre-bending rappers; experimental dance music to the next generation in rock and indie bands, BIGSOUND will unleash the next crop of acts over the next three nights and it's up to punters to try and see as many as they can to catch a glimpse of the next big thing.

Of course, with a line up that big, knowing who to see can be a bit overwhelming, so we've put our heads together to lock down our must-see acts for this year's festival. Check it all out below!

KOTA BANKS

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Sydney singer songwriter KOTA BANKS is one of the newest signees to Nina Las Vegas’ forward thinking dance label NLV Records and has already dropped one of the best mixtapes of the year Prize. Her bright pop tracks blend a club sensibility and forward thinking production with smart lyricism and melodic earworms. The result is some seriously empowered pop and proof that BANKS is one of the genre’s brightest local stars, make sure you’re one of the few who knew about her before she blows up by checking out her showcases over the week.

JEFFE

Whimsical, grand and brimming with feeling, JEFFE’s electro-pop will fill you with all kinds of brooding emotion. With only a few singles under her belt the Sydneysider managed to catch the attention of No Mono and supported them on their national tour, as well as a gain the support of Triple J, landing a spot as their Unearthed Feature Artist. Her ear for left of centre arrangement, spacious exploration of emotion and live performance that may even include a saxophone, JEFFE’s Bigsound sets are not to be missed.

KIRARA

KIRARA may have multiple award winning albums and EPs under her belt, but her live performances are where she truly shines. Inspired by the sounds of house, EDM, footwork and chiptune from a Korean club perspective, the producer and visual artist creates an intricate feast for the eyes as well as the ears in each live performance. Stuttering samples, infinite loops and bright graphics all come to life with the help of drum machines and launch pads, with her enthusiasm and optimism being the cherry on top of KIRARA audiovisual showcases.

-Holly O'Neill

KWAME

In a year that has been overflowing with bright, fresh and intriguing new hip-hop acts, KWAME is already preparing to top the throne. Ever since ‘WOW’ dropped earlier this year, Kwame has been relentless in giving us diverse flows that truly demonstrate every facet of his talent. He has the energy of Andre 3000, the versatility of Azealia Banks and the conviction of A$AP Rocky, but Kwame wraps it all up in a package that is bursting with fun.

EILISH GILLIGAN

The future is here, and it sounds like EILISH GILLIGAN. Not only is her songwriting flowing with wonder and anchored in vulnerability, but also her angelic voice is one that runs through your very being. Her lyrics are undeniably honest yet vivid, as she takes even our smallest, deep-seeded emotions and projects them back at us beautifully.

CXLOE

CXLOE is one of those artists that completely captivate you on first listen. With a voice that she uses to waltz elegantly around brooding synths and ominous beats, CXLOE pulls you in and doesn’t let you go. But that’s okay – by the time you’re enveloped in her stunning wonderland of dark alt-pop, you won’t want to let go either.

-Jackson Langford

HANDSOME

Self-expression has always been a centre-piece of pop music, but never quite in the same vein as what Sydney artist HANDSOME is working in. Complete and utter acceptance and love is her message, not only for herself but for you as well, and her music is some of the most genuine and authentic pop to come out of Australia in recent memory. From 'Late Night Ball Game' to more recently, 'No Cowards', its all about unashamed self-acceptance and self-love for exactly as you are, with particular emphasis on the greater LGBTIQ+ community. HANDSOME is like a warm hug telling you everything's going to be alright, and if that doesn't sound like the most wholesome and feel-good showcase of the week, I don't know what is.

KAIIT

Coming into BIGSOUND, there's been one name that continues to bust through the noise with a quality over quantity approach and an undeniable knack to make your soul feel good, and that name is KAIIT. The Melbourne artist has to be one of this year's most hyped acts, and for very good reason. Her songs make you feel like you're home, and even if she's rapping about a break up, she still remains grounded, honest and soulful, giving you a chance to step into her world. Tipped to make 2018 her own, she's making serious waves by being herself and in a time where rappers are all vying for the spotlight, her approach makes her stand out in a refreshing and brilliant way. We can't wait!

KULT KYSS

If you're like me, after a day of meetings, coffees and schmoozing, you probably will feel like really letting go and diving deep into another world. You'll really want a fresh experience, all-encompassing and hypnotising, almost hedonistic and definitely intoxicating. You'll want a wall of sound to wash over you to completely let yourself go to "the other side", ritualistic in its chants and propulsive, thumping beats, experimental and enthralling all at once. Well, if this sounds like you, you'll be wanting to catch Kult Kyss, who are seriously on the verge of breaking through and doing something entirely their own.

-Emma Jones

Arno Faraji

Atlas Franklin Alexander

Bad Juju

Bare Bones

Beatrice

Bell City Square

Between You & Me

Candy

Carla Geneve

Charlie Collins

Charlie Lim

CLEWS

Demon Days

Didirri

DIET

Divide and Dissolve

East Brunswick All Girls Choir

Edward R.

Eliza And The Delusionals 

Emerson Snowe 

Emilee South

Erthlings

EWAH & The Vision of Paradise

FLUIR

Fortune Shumba

Future Jr.

Geryon

Grim Rhythm

HANDSOME

Hollow Coves

imbi the girl

Intriguant

IV League

Jade Imagine

Linying

Loose Tooth

Mosquito Coast

Nardean

Nice Biscuit 

No Mono

Nooky

Not A Boys Name

Pinkish Blu

Pirra

PLANET

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

RAAVE TAPES

Rachael Fahim

RO

Robbie Miller

Sahara Beck

San Mei

STATESIDE

thando 

The Beautiful Monument

The Beths

The Comfort 

The Little Lord Street Band 

The Moving Stills

Thornhill

Turquoise Prince

WALKEN

Wildheart

Windwaker

Joining…

A. Swayze & The Ghosts

Adrian Eagle

Alice Skye

ARSE

Arteries

Asha Jefferies

Bin Juice

Blank Realm

Bugs

Butterfingers

Cable Ties

Cast Down

CLYPSO

Cry Club

CXLOE

DEAN FOREVER

Dreller

Eat Your Heart Out

Eilish Gilligan

Eliott

Elizabeth

Ella Hooper

Emma Anglesey

Estère

Gabriella Cohen

Genesis Owusu

Georgia Mulligan

Good Doogs

GRAACE

Gravemind

Greta Stanley

Hachiku

Hazlett

Hobsons Bay Coast Guard

Imogen Clark

James Wright Trio

JEFFE

KAIIT

Kaitlin Keegan

Kian

Kota Banks

Kult Kyss

Kwame

MANE

Miss June

Moaning Lisa

MOOKHI

Oh Pep!

Olympia

Paces

Pink Matter

Pool Shop

Rachel Maria Cox

RAT!hammock

Riley Pearce

Ruby Gilbert

Samsaruh

Sleep Talk

Slowly Slowly

Stevie Jean

Sumner

Sunscreen

sweater curse

SŸDE

T$oko

Tape/Off

The Chats

The Merindas

TOTTY

Triple One

Two People

Tyne-James Organ

Voiid

Wax Chattels

yú yī

BIGSOUND

4-7 SEPTEMBER, 2018

FORTITUDE VALLEY, BRISBANE

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