Cafuné - “Running”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 10

Pairs Well With…Beabadoobee, Mitski, Beach Bunny

Cafuné released their debut full-length Running in 2021, a collection of tracks that blend indie pop and alt rock influences with comfort in mind. Their sound is often dreamy, but not so much that it loses itself in ambient pop. Rather, Cafuné is paced with quicker drums and riffs that add tension in what would otherwise be a relaxed zone. That middle ground between rock and electro-pop is a path that many would proceed with caution. Cafuné takes the opposite approach and finds such a nice blend that feels natural and in and of itself. The Brooklyn duo have been releasing singles since 2014, but last year proved a lucrative boost on the back of Tik Tok videos and the overall quality of Running’s tracks, signing with a major label and opening for CHRVCHES on last summer’s tour. New tracks will expectedly make up much of their SXSW set, but for now, a run-through of Running shares a band that knows their sound and will continue to perfect it. (Kevin McStravick)