SXSW 2012 Preview: Ava Luna

I had the chance to see, Brooklyn-based, Ava Luna perform on the Mohawk's inside stage about a week ago and they instantly because a band I wanted to highlight for SXSW 2012. Like most contemporary bands, their sound doesn't fit neatly into any one genre but you can hear influences of R&B, soul, indie-pop and some avant/experimental tendencies as well. They perform as a 6-piece, with 3 people doing vocal parts, often with crisp, clear harmonies reminiscent of The Dirty Projectors. One of the things I was most struck by at the Mohawk was how the band doesn't hide their vocals, there were no crazy effects on the mics and they weren't buried in the mix. Most of the songs are sexy, with driving beats, great bass-lines and sensuous vocal parts. The lyrics can be quirky but I think it really works for their sound and shows off the band's personality. They have a series of singles and EPs out right now but still no full length LP.


Ava Luna - Clips video via YouTube

As I mentioned yesterday, the problem with starting these preview posts so early is it makes it difficult to tell you when and where to check out the bands I'm highlighting. So, I'm leaving it up to you to check the official SXSW site as well as, Show List Austin, and/or Do512. In the meantime, you can check out Ava Luna on Spotify, or if you're not down with Spotify I've embedded several of their songs, including their latest single Wrening Day, from Bandcamp.