credit: Jamie Macmillan

O.

As the circular simplicity of their name suggests, O. are a true self-contained unit. They formed in London during lockdown, when Joe and Tash – both veterans of a string of London ensembles – found themselves in a bubble together. When they started jamming, it was with no preconceptions: don’t overthink it, just play and see what happens. Before long, though, they were augmenting live instruments with effects – Joe routing his saxophone through a pedal board, Tash treating her drums with reverb and delay. As their sound grew and grew, it gradually became clear there wouldn’t be space for anyone else.

O. played their first show at Brixton Windmill, and the venue’s booker Tim Perry invited them back to support Black Midi. Immediately after their set, Black Midi’s Morgan Simpson invited them out on tour around the UK and Europe – a true trial by fire. “I think our fifth gig was at Alexandra Palace – it was terrifying,” remembers Tash. “But the main thing we learned was that we can be as weird as we want to be. Black Midi’s whole approach is that it’s OK to be playful. We both really liked that, because there's a playfulness to our music, too.”

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring O.

Mar 13, 2024
1:15pm — 1:45pm
Presented by
SXSW DAY PARTY: Dillon T. Pickle's Big Texas Cockus
Mar 13, 2024
3:20pm — 3:50pm
Presented by
SXSW DAY PARTY: LICKS
Mar 14, 2024
12:00am — 12:40am
Presented by
[PIAS]
Mar 14, 2024
10:40pm — 11:15pm
Presented by
88.5 FM KCSN The SoCal Sound
Mar 15, 2024
11:00pm — 11:40pm
Presented by
Selector Radio with Sian Eleri
About
From:
London, United Kingdom, England
Subgenre:
Jazz
Professional Connections
O. is seeking the following:
  • Gear Endorsement
  • Other Artists to Tour With