Live Concert Review: Rakel At South By Southwest 2026

In an unusual cold spell, a singer songwriter enchanted the SXSW audience during the Icelandic Showcase. The songs felt comfortable and brought a nice warmth to the evening. As you glanced throughout you could see all the present faces who delighted in the songs. SXSW at times can be chaotic so these are the types of performances that bring balance to the chaos. Rakel brought a confident sound that is not masked with effects. Only the slight balance of keys to the gradual addition of reverb to the backing vocals added to the conveyed mysticism of the performance.

My favourite song was the enchanting 11:11. The lyrics felt intentional along with the use of sensory words and vivid descriptions that added to the visual escape of the music. The song brought a sense of nostalgia and layered the evening with an ethereal quality that the audience longed for during SXSW. A lovely display of some of the amazing talent coming from Iceland.

Rakel performed at In Cahoots Studio, Austin, Texas, March 16, 2026.