SXSW London 2025 Day Five: ILĀ, Baby Said, Jessica Winter and more

Day five of the SXSW London music festival offered a wide-ranging mix of sounds and settings – from experimental voice loops in a cosy café to sharp synths and bright lights at XOYO – closing out the week with variety and style.

At Ninety One Living Room, ILĀ opened the evening with Murmur, an AI-resequenced collaboration created entirely from the layered voices of ILĀ and Imogen Heap. “This is completely constructed of our voices,” she explained, dressed in a white cape and lit softly from above. The track felt both intimate and futuristic – a quiet, airy beginning that set a thoughtful tone.

Over at Juju’s Bar and Stage, alt-rock duo Baby Said brought a shift in pace. “There’ve been some fantastic artists today – and we hope we live up to it,” said the lead singer, before launching into Mean Girlz, a playful, riff-heavy track inspired by the cult movie that drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

At Hoxton’s Colours Live Room, the evening found a moment of calm with Eden J Howells’s pared-back acoustic set under soft violet lighting, their voice and fingerpicked guitar creating an introspective atmosphere through sincere ballads like Nice Enough.

“I’m not going to ask you to sing along, but I am going to ask you to cry along,” said Tygermylk an hour later, before performing What God Could Keep Us Apart, a heartfelt track reflecting on her first relationship. The tone then lifted with Natali, a humorous, self-deprecating song about a poorly timed accident involving a falling rock. Even in its lighter moments, the writing remained sharp and the delivery engaging.

I AM ROZE took the stage next, bringing a bold and confrontational edge. “I know we just met, so this song is not about you – but I wrote a song called I Hate You,” they quipped, before launching into a run of emotionally charged tracks. Think For Yourself and Dollar shifted toward protest, tackling political themes with clarity and force, anchored by powerful vocals.

The night wrapped up at XOYO, where Jessica Winter took over the Gay Times stage. Against flashing lights and a pulsing beat, she began with All I Ever Really Wanted – a synth-heavy, retro-inflected track that felt perfectly at home in the club. With confident delivery and a strong connection to the crowd, her set brought the day – and the week – to a spirited finish.

Christina Yang
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events, visit SXSW London 2025’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Aftersun here: