Breaking a Band in 2026: The Girl Tones Blueprint

Event ID: PP1150624

Mon, Mar 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Venue: Capitol Ballroom E (Downright Austin)

View on Official SXSW

Summary

What does it actually take to break a new act in 2026, without a legacy playbook? This session brings together Girl Tones (sister duo Kenzie & Laila), Daniel Oakley, co-founder of the indie label Parallel Vision (with Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and Darren Potuck), and Nicole Rich, Director of Streaming at Big Loud Rock, Parallel Vision’s label partner, for a candid, tactical walkthrough of a modern artist-development model.

Contributors

Raw Event JSON

Large nested arrays are compacted for page readability. Full payload remains in dataset files.

Open JSON payload
{
  "id": "PP1150624",
  "track": "Music",
  "focus_area": null,
  "category": "Panel",
  "event_id": "PP1150624",
  "event_type": "panel",
  "format": "Panel",
  "genre": null,
  "subgenre": null,
  "name": "Breaking a Band in 2026: The Girl Tones Blueprint",
  "presented_by": null,
  "publish_at": "2026-02-09T17:36:00.000-06:00",
  "reservable": true,
  "reservable_id": "PP1150624",
  "reserved": false,
  "date": "2026-03-16",
  "end_time": "2026-03-16T15:30:00.000-05:00",
  "start_time": "2026-03-16T14:30:00.000-05:00",
  "message": null,
  "image": null,
  "credentials": [
    {
      "name": "Music Badge",
      "type": "music"
    },
    {
      "name": "Platinum Badge",
      "type": "platinum"
    }
  ],
  "contributors": [
    {
      "id": 90224,
      "company": "Big Loud Rock",
      "credential_types": [
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2252788,
      "name": "Nicole Rich",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Director Of Streaming",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Nicole Rich",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/5p5D9JCTN0H4LbVSf_rAw4OVMaY=/0x0:603x603/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/1b91880b-8d12-497a-9abe-b797c3781394/pcid-1638613"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Nicole Rich was born in Chicago and is currently based in Los Angeles. She began her career in music at just 13 years old, creating a Justin Bieber fan Twitter account that grew to over 26,000 followers and became her entry point into the industry. Through early networking and hands-on experience, Nicole built a multifaceted background spanning live events (ScoreMore Shows), publicity (Columbia Records), artist management (Red Light Management), distribution and label services (AWAL), and college marketing and radio promotion (in2une Music).\rOver the past two and a half years, Nicole has served as Director of Promotion and Publicity, and most recently as Director of Streaming, at Big Loud Rock – the alternative and rock imprint of Big Loud Records. In this role, she has overseen promotion strategy across radio, press, and now streaming platforms, working closely with artists including HARDY, Jagwar Twin, Dexter and The Moonrocks, Dogpark, Edgehill, Liam St. John, Girl Tones, mercury, and more.\rA graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Public Relations, Nicole brings a fan-first perspective and a deep understanding of modern music marketing to every project. With experience across nearly every corner of the music ecosystem, her career reflects a lifelong passion for artists and building sustainable careers.\r",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 90223,
      "company": "Parallel Vision",
      "credential_types": [
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2252787,
      "name": "Daniel Oakley",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Co-Founder",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Daniel Oakley",
        "credit": "",
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/OLTNVjL5WfLt1jw3QgTZ2EkTA6M=/99x0:814x715/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/889dca7f-7198-4428-96fd-f4f756782335/pcid-1638611"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Daniel Oakley is the Co-Founder of Parallel Vision, an indie label (in partnership with Big Loud Rock) developing next-gen artists through a content-led, artist-first model. A two-decade music and marketing veteran, he helped launch Beats Music/Apple Music (content partnerships; global culture marketing) and built creator programs and experiential moments at Spotify (including the Best New Artist showcase surrounding Grammys). Previously at Sony, Warner and UTA, Daniel also leads BTFL, a partnerships and coaching practice that connects talent/brand deals and produces immersive experiences. Nashville-raised & LA-based, he operates at the intersection of music, tech, and culture to scale artist development and music IP.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 90222,
      "company": "Girl Tones",
      "credential_types": [
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2252786,
      "name": "Laila Crowe",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Background Vocals & Drums",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Laila Crowe",
        "credit": "",
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/ePEOo01u6Bf3ev8w0A9lmVES3Jw=/100x59:1738x1697/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/9c5069b5-3aea-47ee-b18d-bf4e36130bbb/pcid-1638607"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Girl Tones, of planet Earth, are a high-energy rock duo brought to life by two sisters named Kenzie and\rLaila. Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to\rdrums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next. Their debut releases were\rproduced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released via his label Parallel Vision in partnership\rwith Big Loud Rock.\rTheir first offerings have earned the praise of Rolling Stone, VICE, Consequence, PAPER, NME, DORK and\rmany others with Flaunt saying, “Their sound is fluid, and yet with each release, they evolve as a\rharmonious group, developing their unique sound as one.”\rIn their short but mighty existence, the duo has become synonymous with riotous live shows. Girl Tones\rhas toured with Cage The Elephant across the globe, as well as The Velveteers, hey, nothing. and\rSilversun Pickups across North America. Making their unignorable festival debut at Lollapalooza this\rsummer, Rolling Stone said, “While the White Stripes — their most obvious comparison — were about\rcontrolled energy, Girl Tones are proudly imperfect.”\rThe coming months will see more new music, including the release of the upcoming single “Cherry\rPicker.” The band can also be seen on tour dates alongside Silversun Pickups and Cage The Elephant, as\rwell as upcoming festival performances at Shaky Knees, Austin City Limits, 97x’s Next Big Thing and\rLegends and more.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 90220,
      "company": "Girl Tones",
      "credential_types": [
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2252784,
      "name": "Kenzie Shultz",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Lead Vocals & Guitar",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Kenzie Shultz",
        "credit": "",
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/vJ91TprAddYkSv1XHlRz6BlAzaQ=/205x205:1843x1843/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/b78ea9ef-7b89-4b28-8ce2-bac10b1b77c0/pcid-1638606"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Girl Tones, of planet Earth, are a high-energy rock duo brought to life by two sisters named Kenzie and\rLaila. Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to\rdrums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next. Their debut releases were\rproduced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released via his label Parallel Vision in partnership\rwith Big Loud Rock.\rTheir first offerings have earned the praise of Rolling Stone, VICE, Consequence, PAPER, NME, DORK and\rmany others with Flaunt saying, “Their sound is fluid, and yet with each release, they evolve as a\rharmonious group, developing their unique sound as one.”\rIn their short but mighty existence, the duo has become synonymous with riotous live shows. Girl Tones\rhas toured with Cage The Elephant across the globe, as well as The Velveteers, hey, nothing. and\rSilversun Pickups across North America. Making their unignorable festival debut at Lollapalooza this\rsummer, Rolling Stone said, “While the White Stripes — their most obvious comparison — were about\rcontrolled energy, Girl Tones are proudly imperfect.”\rThe coming months will see more new music, including the release of the upcoming single “Cherry\rPicker.” The band can also be seen on tour dates alongside Silversun Pickups and Cage The Elephant, as\rwell as upcoming festival performances at Shaky Knees, Austin City Limits, 97x’s Next Big Thing and\rLegends and more.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    }
  ],
  "venue": {
    "accessible": false,
    "age_policy": null,
    "floor": null,
    "id": "V2405",
    "indoor_outdoor": null,
    "name": "Capitol Ballroom E",
    "parent_id": "V2427",
    "parent_venue_name": "Downright Austin",
    "venue_entry_info": null,
    "formats": null,
    "location": {
      "address": "710 E. 10th St.",
      "lat_lon": [
        30.2698058,
        -97.7343172
      ],
      "city": "Austin",
      "postal_code": "78701",
      "state": "TX",
      "name": "Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard"
    },
    "root": {
      "accessible": null,
      "age_policy": null,
      "floor": null,
      "id": "V2427",
      "indoor_outdoor": null,
      "name": "Downright Austin",
      "parent_id": null,
      "parent_venue_name": null,
      "venue_entry_info": null,
      "formats": null
    },
    "events": "[omitted 5 venue events]"
  },
  "description": "What does it actually take to break a new act in 2026, without a legacy playbook?\n\nThis session brings together Girl Tones (sister duo Kenzie & Laila), Daniel Oakley, co-founder of the indie label Parallel Vision (with Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and Darren Potuck), and Nicole Rich, Director of Streaming at Big Loud Rock, Parallel Vision’s label partner, for a candid, tactical walkthrough of a modern artist-development model.",
  "experience_level": "Beginner",
  "accessibility": [],
  "accessible_venue": false,
  "add_bcl_url": false,
  "add_slido": false,
  "age_policy": null,
  "american_sign_language": false,
  "apple_url": null,
  "audio_description": false,
  "caption_url": null,
  "closed_captioned": false,
  "cpe_credit": false,
  "has_subtitles": false,
  "hash_tags": [],
  "high_sensory_experience": false,
  "live": false,
  "long_description": "What does it actually take to break a new act in 2026, without a legacy playbook?\n\nThis session brings together Girl Tones (sister duo Kenzie & Laila), Daniel Oakley, co-founder of the indie label Parallel Vision (with Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and Darren Potuck), and Nicole Rich, Director of Streaming at Big Loud Rock, Parallel Vision’s label partner, for a candid, tactical walkthrough of a modern artist-development model.",
  "meeting_url": null,
  "meeting_url_live": false,
  "mentorly_url": null,
  "mobile_audio_url": null,
  "open_captioned": false,
  "playlist_tag": null,
  "rebroadcast": false,
  "recommended_ids": [],
  "search_conversions": null,
  "short_program": false,
  "slido_url": null,
  "sort": "BREAKING A BAND IN 2026: THE GIRL TONES BLUEPRINT",
  "source": "Official",
  "squad_up_url": null,
  "stream_embed": null,
  "stream_id": null,
  "stream_url": null,
  "strobe_warning": false,
  "subdiscipline": null,
  "summit": null,
  "summit_display_name": null,
  "tags": [],
  "talent_attending": null,
  "title_only": false,
  "track_display_name": "Music",
  "trailer_id": null,
  "trailer_url": null,
  "video_on_demand": null,
  "vimeo_id": null,
  "vod": false,
  "xr_project_type": null,
  "youtube_id": null,
  "related_sales_client": null
}