Little Stranger - “Won’t Amount to Nothin’”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Twenty One Pilots, Easy Life, 311

Hip hop, rock, reggae, and pop all find their way into Little Stranger’s music, finding fun and rich grooves ever since their debut in 2015 with full-length Buddha the Beast. Since then, the Charleston, South Carolina-based duo have released two EPs that progress their sound with tight, funk-infused grooves, going between R&B and dub settings for a sunny yet smoky sound. Old school and indie hip hop flows also influence Little Stranger’s sound, not shying away from full rap verses in between their otherwise chilled rhythms. Little Stranger are apt to share moments of excitement in their tracks as well, whether through sing-a-long hooks, handclap accompaniment, or Afropop stylings like on “Agustina”. As a duo, Little Stranger always sound notably full and robust, adding harmonies and additional organic and electronic instruments to round out their sound like on soulful tracks “Sing It High” and “Won’t Amount to Nothin’”. It’s music that is set for summer BBQs under the sun, so hopefully they can fill post-quarantine soundtracks when this corner is turned, but until then Little Stranger have been streaming regularly answering questions and playing music to pass time in our living rooms together. (Kevin McStravick)