SXSW Sydney – A celebration of innovation and curious minds
SXSW has long been a magnet for innovators, creatives, and thought leaders from around the world; blending technology, music, film, and culture into one unique experience. Since its inception in Austin, Texas in 1987, SXSW has evolved into a global platform that showcases cutting-edge ideas, making it a must-attend event for those shaping the future.
In 2024, SXSW Sydney marked the second time the event was hosted in Australia, making the city a hub for innovation and creativity in the APAC region. Attracting talent from over 40 countries, Sydney’s edition of SXSW highlighted the diversity of ideas and perspectives across technology, music, film, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Throughout the week, attendees immersed themselves in keynote speeches, interactive sessions, and performances that explored key themes like advancements in AI, sustainability and climate action, and entrepreneurship and leadership.
Conference
SXSW Sydney 2024 placed a major focus on the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, and how it is rapidly shaping the future. One of the standout sessions was the interactive discussion Shaping the Future of AI, featuring VP of AI at Meta, Manohar Paluri, and Ryan Patel. The session explored how the Asia-Pacific region is at the forefront of AI development, covered how we need to balance AI for productivity while also benefitting humanity, and covered technology from Meta’s Smart Glasses to fully generated AI videos.
Another essential session, AI as Your Next Coworker, featured Armand Ruiz (AI Lead, IBM) and Nicholas Renotte (Chief AI Engineer and YouTuber). The duo led a live coding challenge, showing attendees how to build AI agents in real-time. Discussing the move from AI shifting from machine learning to assistant and agent capabilities, the session was informative and showed how anyone has the ability to build AI agents with the right tools.
CEO of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley ran an incredible session on Transforming the Australian Open to Match the Future of Events – showing people how sports could be enjoyed more interactively over the world. From drones delivering food and drinks, to AI providing more personalised experiences both at the game and watching from around the globe, the talk has us excited for the future of live sport.
The thought-provoking session Will Generative AI Empower Education? raised the question on if AI will make or break the education industry – and the future of using AI as teaching assistants, to help with student feedback, for example. One thing was clear from the discussion, and that was that the next generation of learners, thinkers and creatives will need to learn to work creatively in the world of generative AI.
CEO of the MIT Technology Review, Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau gave an update on the latest tech innovations currently being developed, and what we should expect in the future. Her jaw-dropping presentation was a snapshot of the next 125 years of technology; covering off everything from biometrics, to life-expectancy tech, to mitigating the effects of climate change.
The spirit of entrepreneurship and leadership was another core theme of SXSW Sydney, with various sessions highlighting the innovative ways businesses are thriving in today’s technological and economic landscape.
One of the most inspiring keynotes came from Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva, who discussed Canva’s Story: From Idea to Startup to World Leader. She shared the company’s journey, from pitching to over 100 investors, to becoming one of the world’s leading DIY design platforms. Perkins highlighted the value of feedback from every pitch meeting (even the unsuccessful ones) and highlighted the importance of persistence and pivoting in building a successful startup.
Building Trust: Strengthening Employer-Employee Relationships for a Thriving Workplace focused on how businesses can create cultures of trust, especially among Gen Z workers who seek purpose and transparency in the workforce. The panelists discussed how trust, communication, and flexible working conditions are critical to creating environments where employees feel valued and engaged into the future.
Featured session 4 Secrets of Non-Obvious Thinking by Rohit Bhargava, founder of Non-Obvious Company, was another conference highlight. Bhargava challenged the audience to think beyond the obvious; emphasizing that true innovation comes from understanding people and their behaviors. His talk focused on uncovering hidden insights or ‘secrets’ through observation, curating new ideas, and defining a twist to win the future.
SXSW Sydney also dove deeply into themes that impact the everyday life; with sessions focused on health, work culture, and the evolving nature of trust.
In the health space, Can We Double Pet Lifespans by 2050? featured Dr Matthew Muir (co-founder of Lyka), who offered practical tips for pet owners on how to extend their pets’ lives through better nutrition, healthcare, and even gene-editing technologies. This session highlighted the intersection between human and animal health advancements, with actionable takeaways that resonated with attendees.
Bestselling author Johann Hari’s session Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attentionexplored the modern-day crisis of attention (or lack thereof). He explained how various lifestyle factors, from sleep deprivation to digital distractions, have eroded our ability to focus and how reclaiming attention can transform our personal and professional lives. Hari’s exploration of the ‘flow state’ provided practical tips for achieving deep, meaningful work in a world full of distractions.
Music and Screen
SXSW is known for its deep roots in music and film, and Sydney’s edition continued that tradition with an eclectic mix of both international and local talent. Opening the Screen Festival was a special screening of A24’s latest, Y2K, which celebrated the era’s cultural nostalgia (and cringe moments).
Patricia Karvelas interviewed cult icon Lucy Lawless on her directorial debut, documentary Never Look Away – about the life of fearless CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth. Discussing her filmmaking process, Lawless relished in her liberation from acting, yet humbly admitted to being honoured to be a part of something that gave people courage (from her Xena years).
Superagent Lucy Dickins sat down with Frontier Touring’s Susan Heymann for an entertaining conversation about her life in the music industry. From her first signing Hot Chip, to being the agent of huge acts such as Adele and Mumford & Sons, Lucy shared her career highs and lows, and why she never takes the easy option.
The music lineup was one of the standout aspects of SXSW Sydney 2024. While there was almost too many great acts to choose from, we broke down our top performances:
International Favourites
- Voice of Baceprot (Indonesia): The all-female heavy-metal trio electrified the Rolling Stone House opening night with their high-energy performance and socially conscious lyrics.
- Aysanabee (Canada): This soulful Oji-Cree singer-songwriter captivated audiences with his raw, emotional performances, blending folk and modern sounds.
- The OBGMs (Canada): Their punk-rock energy was infectious, delivering a set that had the crowd buzzing, and lead vocalist jumping around on the bar.
- I’mdifficult (Taiwan): A multi-genre band known for blending R&B, electronic, and alternative music into something truly unique.
- 87dance (South Korea): Their futuristic sound, merging electronic beats with high-octane vocals, made for one of the most memorable performances of the week.
- Phoebe Rings (New Zealand): Their dreamy, indie-pop tunes were both nostalgic and refreshing, leaving a lasting impression on the audience who got to enjoy the launch of their new EP.
- Mali (India): This rising star brought a her refreshing honesty to the stage, balancing vulnerability and power in her set.
- Mindfreakkk (Thailand): Their avant-garde electronic beats created an otherworldly atmosphere, blending surrealism with sound with plenty of room for dancing.
Local Standouts (ones to watch)
- Nick Ward: Nick’s introspective lyrics and moving performances were a festival highlight, enjoying songs from his debut album House With The Blue Door.
- The Moving Stills: This indie-pop band from the Central Coast delivered catchy tunes and heartfelt performances that kept the audience partying into the night.
- Total Tommy: Known for their garage rock sound, Total Tommy brought a punchy and energetic set at the Laneway Presents event.
- Joan and the Giants: This indie-pop band fresh off some tours with global superstars won over audiences with their emotionally charged songs and engaging stage presence.
- FELONY.: A band with gritty rock energy, FELONY. was a standout with their raw and authentic sound.
- Ixaras: An experimental band that blurred genre boundaries, their sound combined indie and electronic elements to create something truly unique.
For the second year running, SXSW Sydney 2024 successfully brought the global energy of its Austin counterpart to the Asia-Pacific; blending creativity, technology, and culture into a packed week that allowed participants to imagine the future and get curious. Whether in AI innovation, sustainability, music, or the human experience, SXSW Sydney offered a glimpse into the trends and ideas that will shape the years ahead. Whether it was a new breakthrough artist or incredible new developments in science and tech, we look forward to hearing and seeing more at next year’s conference.
With the tagline of the 2024 conference being ‘The Future Belongs to the Curious’, we can’t wait to see what comes next.