‘We felt valued and respected,’ says Turbo Goth of their SXSW experience
Being invited to play what is possibly the biggest music festival of its kind in the world is probably akin to winning the musical lotto.
But for Paolo Peralta and Sarah Gaugler of Turbo Goth, who played this year at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, the experience was more than that.
“It was magical, nothing like we had ever experienced anywhere, ever,” they told Yahoo Celebrity Music.
Tens of thousands
The indie electronic rock duo is only the second Pinoy act to have been invited to play SXSW, which was held in March. In 2012, Taken By Cars became the first Pinoys to perform in the fest.
Sarah and Paolo were floored by how massive the festival was.
“There were tens of thousands of people in the area,” they recounted. “The streets where filled with music lovers, artists and musicians from all over the world.”
In the company of Gaga and Coldplay
Then they were appropriately starstruck for having their names in a roster that included the world’s biggest acts.
“There were 900 bands that were performing at the festival!” they raved.
“To name some of the more known artists, Lady Gaga was there, Sean Lennon, Damon Albarn, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Willie Nelson, The Kooks, Julian Casablancas… Snoop Dogg was there too… and many, many more.”
Giving them love
They were just as awed by the reception they got at Esther’s Follies, one of more than 10 venues appropriated by SXSW in downtown Austin.
“When we started to play, people came closer to the stage and started dancing in front of us! It was so cool and amazing! And some people that saw us from the outside the venue ran in and came up to the stage, too! Someone even when up on stage with us for a verse!”
They played most of the songs on their 2011 debut album “Destroy Us All,” along with a few covers.
Valued and respected
“It was mind-blowing,” they admitted, “because it meant that even if we were in a different country, performing for one of the biggest music festivals in the world—and they didn’t even know us!—we were able to connect to people through our music!”
The response to their music made Sarah and Paolo feel “valued and respected” as musicians.
So, why, we asked, are international music fests important for artists to play in?
‘We just want to play loud’
“We want to share this thing we believe in. We didn’t make these songs just for us to listen to in our living room with the blinds shut,” they said.
And that means playing every venue no matter where it is.
“We want to play everywhere and anywhere, be it small bar gigs and international festivals. It doesn’t matter. We just wanna play loud!”
Turbo Goth is now working on their second album. Listen to Turbo Goth on SoundCloud and Spotify. Follow them on Facebook and visit their website.
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