Photos: A SXSW Photo Journal – Part 1

Norwegian photographer and blogger Tonje Thilesen has been a Best Fit friend for some time now. You might know her writings from Berlin-based music blog No Fear of Pop and she’s an equally impressive photographer too who shot the likes of Givers and Gardens & Villas for us back in November of last year.

Over the next few days we’ll be showcasing a photographic memoir of Tonje’s time at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas – she offers a truly atmospheric portrait of the arguably more interesting underbelly of the world’s most acclaimed musical showcase.

Tonje writes:

Obviously, there are few ways to describe the massiveness of Austin’s SXSW festival before you’ve actually been there yourself, trapped in a vacuum of competing showcases and free beer; whilst the music nerd inside you doesn’t know whether to cry for missing out on 95% of it or ride on a pony over a rainbow in heaven.

Mostly I was in that last-mentioned state of mind after seeing amazing concerts and spotting hip-hop stars or buzzbands on the crowded street of Red River, but most of all, finally being able to meet the “in real life” music bloggers and musicians I’ve gotten to know through my work in No Fear Of Pop.

And even though I almost missed all of my favourite bands, I’ve been lucky enough to discover quite a few new ones. But I guess that’s the whole SXSW experience, no?