SXSW London 2025 Day One: Mabel, Ethan Hodges, Keo and more
From pews to parlours, the SXSW London music crawl unfolded less like a chaotic sprint and more like a spiritual drift through Shoreditch’s most atmospheric venues.
At Shoreditch Church, beneath stained glass and vaulted arches, Saffron began her set, the heavy beats of her recent release, Strings, reverberating throughout the space in the warm afternoon sun. “This song holds a special place in my heart,” she confessed, before launching into the equally intense Ego.
Rather than take the stage, Eve Christina emerged from the balcony like an indie Juliet, guitar in hand. “This was inspired by my life and Normal People,” she said, introducing You Stay, I’ll Go – a pensive ballad that reflects on heteronormative expectations in romance. She followed with Amber, an unreleased companion piece thoughtfully written from the opposite perspective.
Also eschewing the traditional stage, Ethan Hodges brought warmth and charm with a stripped-back set, starting at the piano before shifting to guitar just beside the seats. “This is about someone you love going through a hard time, feeling like a bit of a burden,” he said, before launching into the unreleased Make You Whole – a song that gently gut-punches, soft in delivery but weighty in meaning. Recalling his early days singing covers on YouTube during the pandemic, he confessed: “I love doing covers, but I love my own stuff a bit more.”
Moira Mack began with a cover, then moved into her own brand of secular gospel – tracks that ranged from soft to dramatic, particularly Fuck the Movies, a powerful number accompanied with backing vocals and lit by red, white and blue strobes alongside the natural sunlight filtering through stained glass.
Amber returned – this time as muse – during Keo’s set at Hoxton Hall, as they played their recent release, I Lied, Amber, which carried a melancholic grunge vibe that carried over to much of the set.
Finally, Mabel transformed Shoreditch Town Hall’s main stage into her own lounge, complete with a piano, a sofa and rows of vintage TVs playing on the LED screen. She opened on the piano with Finders Keepers before announcing her upcoming album, Mabel. “It’s sort of a real re-introduction to who I am,” she shared. “I made it at home, which is really special, and I want to invite everyone into my living room.”
Reflecting on her ten years in the industry, Mabel delivered a polished performance of her latest single, January 19. A nostalgic Don’t Call Me Up gave way to Vitamins, closing our SXSW music crawl with a moment of introspection.
Christina Yang
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events, visit SXSW London’s website here.
Pronoun: Checking…
Watch the video for the single All Over You here:
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