Who Will Be The Breakout Acts at SXSW 2014?

In the tradition of pop music's chart-topping, money-making stars, there is no room for MØ. She makes accessible pop music, but the best things about MØ, the things that make her so compelling to the fans that love her, are the little things that aren't palatable to the masses. It's the way she grunts on a song, it's the way she stares at the camera in the "Waste of Time" video.

MØ isn't the next Katy Perry, but there's a new lane in pop music, and artists like Grimes have shown that there's plenty of success to be had in that lane. MØ's got the "it" factor that could make her the next indie pop star, and if she can convince the SXSW audiences of that, she'll be well on her way. The timing couldn't be better—her debut album No Mythologies To Follow comes out March 11.

MØ: SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR

With videos like "Water Me" and "Papi Pacify," FKA Twigs made a powerful impression with strong aesthetics and a mysterious quality that has left everyone interested in seeing more. With some help on production from Arca, the music is there, but we have yet to see if the performance is. If her Instagram videos are any indication, she's got the potential to put on an excellent show. If she does, SXSW will be talking.

Young Thug’s already on the path to stardom. He's already won over Kanye, Birdman, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Future, and the hip-hop world, even though some are still reluctant to accept a guy named Young Thug who wears leopard dresses and raps like a drugged out alien.

But will Thug be able to bring the energy he brings to every song he raps/sings on to the stage? That's what we'll find out at SXSW. If his live show is a disaster, it's probably not going to stop his momentum, but if it's great, his superstar status will be undeniable.

THE BEST YOUNG THUG SONGS THAT AREN'T "STONER" OR "DANNY GLOVER"

Independent label 4AD have put out some classic records in their time, and SOHN is looking to join those ranks with his debut album Tremors. 

The London born but Vienna-based artist has been growing and maturing with each release since his first instrumental tracks and subsequent remixes of artists like Lana Del Rey and Banks. Since then, he’s produced for Kwabs, Banks, and Erik Hassle, but it his own solo work that is most impressive. His songs are intimate and utterly relatable, while the production is an intricate mix of synths, percussion, and manipulated vocal samples.

The music may not immediately seem as if it would translate well to the live show, but it really, truly does. SOHN is joined by two other musicians on stage, and they use a huge array of analogue gear to recreate the music almost exactly. Plus, it doesn't hurt that SOHN also has a brilliant voice, pure and clear. With his album, out April 8, already hotly anticipated, SXSW could be the springboard to even greater success.

Sam Smith became a known name among electronic music fans through collaborations like "Latch" with Disclosure, but the London singer is more than just a nice voice to be featured over a big beat. He's got the kind of vocal and songwriting talent that will shine through on Adele-style piano ballads, and if he can bring that, plus the electronic energy to SXSW, he's going to impress. Some artist are niche, and their ceilings are set by their own set of skills. Sam Smith is not one of those artists.

DJ Rashad had a bit of a moment in 2013, with his album Double Cup reaching beyond the normal fans of footwork, featuring on numerous end of year lists by publications who wouldn't usually cover the sound, and being enjoyed by listeners across the world. Footwork is a fast-paced, rhythmically complex dance music sub-genre that originated in Chicago—Rashad and frequent collaborator and fellow member of the Teklife crew DJ Spinn (who released the strong, but less widely covered TEKLIFE Vol. 2: What You Need album), are the sound's stars.

Although many SXSW attendees may be familiar with the names Rashad and Spinn, it's necessary to experience the two DJing to really understand their sound and just how viscerally powerful it is, not to mention enjoying their wild edits of all sorts of well-known songs. Whether or not you go to SXSW as a fan of footwork, those who manage to catch these two playing will definitely go home converted.

We still don't know who is behind British duo (or maybe collective) Jungle (their press photos feature pictures of people who aren't them and they're evasive in interviews), but this right here is the wildcard act to look out for. They're signed with XL Recordings and their music is great, but let's be honest, the reason they've got a big chance to breakout at SXSW is because of one thing: this video. We've got no idea what they have in store for their live show at SXSW, but if they bring that dance crew on stage, it's fucking over. Catch them at the Spotify house on Tuesday, March 11.

Back in 2010, an unknown rapper by the name of G-Eazy went in over Tennis' "Marathon" for a song called "Waspy." Fast-forward to 2014, and G-Eazy has built a movement. He's toured his ass off (with Lil Wayne, 2Chainz, and T.I., too), kept a steady stream of music coming, developed a strong brand, and fostered a powerful relationship with his devoted fans. His success isn't an accident, he's one of the hardest working in the game, and he took what could have been a niche lane—white rapper with a throwback look, indie/vintage-leaning samples, and a distinct voice—and put himself in the position to compete with rap's biggest names.

With or without major mainstream success, G-Eazy's set. It's like he says in his song "Almost Famous": "If you don't fuck with me I'm okay with that." He's got a fanbase who's going to ride with him no matter what (just check his Youtube numbers or his social media followers), and SXSW is a big chance to see if he can convince the rest of the world. The Spotify House isn't a bad place to do it.

London Grammar is right on the brink, and they have been for a couple of years now. Labeled an act to watch and enjoying success overseas and among in-the-know music fans in the U.S., they've already established themselves, but SXSW is an opportunity to take that next big step. Plus, they're not the kind of group that benefits from the speed of hype on the internet.

No YouTube video or SoundCloud stream could get across that high-flying voice and dramatic soundscapes that make London Grammar so special. They're the kind of act meant for the stage, and while so many other newcomers are out to prove themselves, London Grammar is going to be showing off what they already know they're good at.

You know why rock music is so boring right now? We don't have rock stars and characters. Sure, music should be "all about the music," but it's not, and it never has been. Part of the fun of getting into music is getting to know the story behind it and the people who make it. It's exactly why rap is so fun right now, and it's why Fool's Gold rapper 100s is so entertaining.

He's got a head of silky smooth hair to match his West Coast mack brand of rap, and he's the type of guy of understands not just how to make dope music, but how to build a brand that people want to invest in. It's going to be a lot of fun to see him on stage performing tracks from his excellent Ice Cold Perm mixtape and from the new IVRY. Is he going to be the next Drake? Probably not, but we've seen what Fool's Gold has done with that other awesome rapper/character with great hair.