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South Asian artists take center stage at SXSW Music Fest
South Asian House Industry Panel returns to SXSW 2025 with Soundvilla and will host a day of industry discussions and live performances celebrating emerging South Asian talent.
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South Asian artists performing at the Soundvilla festival / Courtesy Photo
The second SXSW Music Festival is set to kick off, with a day of industry discussions and live performances celebrating South Asian talent. The event will take place on Mar. 10, at the Austin Convention Center and Flamingo Cantina, and will feature a high-profile industry panel followed by the Soundvilla Music Showcase, highlighting nine international artists.
Monika Varma Samtani, founder of Soundvilla and curator of the event, is excited to bring the showcase back to SXSW after a successful debut in 2024. “After the incredible response to our inaugural South Asian Music Showcase in 2024, I’m thrilled to introduce the newly branded Soundvilla to SXSW,” she said. “This year’s lineup brings another extraordinary group of international musicians, and I’m honored to open the festival with a panel featuring industry leaders who are dedicated to cementing South Asian artists' place in the global music scene.”
Before the music showcase, South Asian House will host an industry panel titled “The Rise of South Asian Talent & How the West Can Embrace It,” at the Austin Convention Center, Room 18AB. The discussion will explore how South Asian artists can break into the English-language music scene, the barriers they face, and the resources available to help them succeed.
Moderated by Samtani, the panel will feature prominent industry professionals, including Umer Durrani agent, Digital Media at WME, Jashima Wadehra, CEO, of Ode Consulting, Gayathri Krishnan, Music Artist, and Natasha Samtani, Music & Entertainment Attorney, Schwartz & Schreiber.
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Monika Varma Samtani, founder of Soundvilla / Courtesy PhotoThe Soundvilla showcase will bring together a diverse lineup of artists spanning multiple genres, from R&B and rock to electronic and fusion music. Featured performers include:
Gayathri Krishnan (Los Angeles) – Blending Carnatic music with modern R&B influences.
Ramya Pothuri (Los Angeles) – A singer-songwriter exploring themes of love, womanhood, and self-reflection.
Paravi (Los Angeles) – Showcasing new music. “I’m deeply honored to be a South Asian House official artist for SXSW 2025,” she shared. “Premiering the resilient beginnings of my upcoming project at a showcase created by a fellow tenacious brown woman will be disruptive in the best of ways—and really freaking cool.”
PRIYANKA (Los Angeles) & GNDHI (Bangalore, India) – A Boiler Room-style DJ set blending R&B, Neo-Soul, Bollywood, Amapiano, House, and World Music, accompanied by a performance from Austin-based fusion dance group bollyflow.
Baby Said (London) – A rock sister duo delivering electrifying guitar riffs and powerhouse vocals.
DJ Anupi (Austin) – Returning with her signature fusion sounds.
GNDHI (Bangalore, India) – Showcasing a unique fusion of Electronic Music and live instrumentation.
KAVI (Florida) – A mixed-media artist creating a live interactive painting, which will be auctioned to support SevaSphere, aiding first responders affected by the LA fires.
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Soudvilla logo / Courtesy Photo
The South Asian House, founded in 2023 by independent producers Monika Varma Samtani (Ms. Media) and Rohi Mirza Pandya (Box Office Guru Media), aims to provide a global platform for South Asian creatives at music and film festivals.
Soundvilla has become one of the most anticipated showcases at SXSW. Hosted in the historic Dirty Sixth district, the event provides a platform for emerging South Asian artists with global appeal.
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