IAN SWEET - “f*ckthat”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Charli XCX, SASAMI, Mitski

While this is her fifth SXSW, it wasn’t until last year’s Show Me How You Disappear that IAN SWEET’s eclectic brand of indie pop/rock really resonated for me. Dream pop layers define much of the record, but it’s the post-punk eclecticism that makes the LA-based artist’s standout. Chord changes are a little weirder and rhythms a little slower and sludgier; IAN SWEET eschews predictable comfortability for unique, angular independence. Digging back into IAN SWEET’s back catalog shows a transition from dissonant rock to this much more pop-oriented sound, one still weird enough to account for the artist’s instinct for the unexpected. She’s already followed up Show Me How You Disappear with more music and  recent single “f*ckthat” takes a similar tipped-out space, but adds some indie-pop dance beats to accent the song’s relatable anthem. (Kevin McStravick)