Jewish rapper and creator of Oy Vey Kosha Dillz greets the audience at the Oy Vey music showcase at SXSW March 17, 2022. Photo credit: Wendy Goodman

By Wendy Goodman

Celebrating its tenth year at SXSW, the Oy Vey! music showcase returned with a diverse lineup of refreshing sounds from across the world. The show brought hundreds to Empire Control Room in downtown Austin on March 17. Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz, né Rami Even-Esh, created Oy Vey! in 2012 to connect audiences with music that inspires his life.

“It is a smorgasbord of acts in my life. We took acts from indie rock, experimental, Jewish, hip-hop, underground rap, and Israeli bands if possible. Acts from Mexico to Pakistan have played. We need to be what is in my mind. Klezmer to gangsta rap – that is our sweet spot. It burned the Jewishness to fun. That’s what I like. Oy vey!”

Americana project Lyons and Co led by singer-songwriter Bridget Lyons drew in the crowd with her roots style folk sound at the Oy Vey music showcase at SXSW March 17, 2022. Photo credit: Wendy Goodman

This year’s musical acts represented a wide variety of genres from rock and Americana to blues and rap. Broken Robots, a four-member pop-rock band from Chicago, opened the show with a pulsating set of high-energy songs. They were followed by Americana project Lyons and Co led by singer, songwriter Bridget Lyons. She drew in the crowd with her roots style folk sound. Austin-based duo Me Nd Adam concluded the first hour of the show with their blend of country, alternative and trap music. Other artists included Novi, Wanderers, Jabee, Speak, Spottie Wifi, Shamir, Flynt Flossy & Turquoise Jeep, BBYMUTHA and Kosha Dillz.

“Shamir and BBYMUTHA are so huge it’s amazing that they are on this showcase – pop to gangsta rap there. Flynt Flossy and Turquoise Jeep are Internet superstars. Speak is a great Mexican Jewish rapper. Lyons and Co is amazing Americana. Me Nd Adam is great trashcan cowboy music. Novi is great pop. I think this is the show that is all over the place and exactly what people like to see,” Kosha Dillz said.

As Kosha Dillz looks ahead, he reflects on the growth and success of Oy Vey! at SXSW and in the Austin music scene.

“I think coming back to live music [is] for the soul. I came to do [SXSW] 2020 and had to struggle to get back on my feet from the pandemic cancelling. I adapted to street performing in New York City, which made me go viral with people like Fat Joe or the Migos. Now I’m back bigger as an artist, playing festivals. Going back to SXSW, we are now of the bigger DIY showcases if not the biggest.”

Broken Robots, a four-member pop-rock band from Chicago, opened the show with a pulsating set of high-energy songs at Oy Vey music Showcase at SXSW March 17, 2022. Photo credit: Wendy Goodman