Kosha Dillz at SXSW: 11 tips from a 43 year old musician

From indie rapper and marketer extraordinaire Kosha Dillz at SXSW 2025: I am trying to find a reason to keep coming back to SXSW. I can’t believe the time has come to this all. I recall Strumbellas playing. I recall Action Bronson being offered to me for $1200 and me choosing someone else for that show for $300 that you don’t even know who it is.

I remember playing with Noga Erez and getting hit by a car after playing in an empty parking lot with Phantogram, in the venue space that is now Empire Auti Garage.

But also, this year I’m doing a 2-day SXSW experience with a Sunday (sober) hangover and maybe a comedy mothership appearance for 1 min in my Kill Tony dream.

Yep. I’m doing SXSW at 43, and I feel saner and physically in-shape than ever.

Kosha Dillz at SXSW 2025: 11 tips from a 43 year old musician

This is good to read if you’re over 40, but also if you’re under because you will eventually get to a place where you go about your career more serenely.

1. I had other people hang up posters. Believe it or not, I’m not sure if they do everything you think they’ll do. I just hope people come to a great show, and if not, they’ll come to a great show and find me. The universe provides. Losing my shit oger 600 dollars in printing is different. I don’t wanna do it. I had others do it and might do some on Friday. But it is more therapy for my OCD than it is effective. No more poster mania for me.
2. Its all good if we don’t see each other! – I know I’d try to meet a million people every other year, but if you meet me, you are lucky to, and that is my attitude in SXSW. I would like to meet the people of Icelandic airwaves and the Ukrainian team, but my focus is creating a great show for the time I have.
3. New connections in film – I am finally in my film era and just finished my documentary “Bring the family home,” a 60 min doc about me navigating my career while becoming internet famous post October 7th war. and how to be authentic to myself and my career. Film is a huge aspect of SXSW, and the money is way different than simply curating the OY VEY showcase and beyond. For me it is like my 2008 in passing out fliers. I can’t wait fo you to watch it.
4. Less show, more impact – I am doing SXSliderShabbat at Jewboy Burgers slider place at 6:30 – 8pm tonight. On Saturday, its OY VEY SXSW with Statik Selektah and Turquoise Jeep and Lyons and CO .. Sunday, ill do the recovery event at Empire, and Monday, its Comedy Mothership. SXSW will be over, but what a great way to see who’s left. I’d like to wander and maybe see a great act I have never seen before. I want to see a random artist who approaches me on the street at invites me to their show. I know how much it means when I show up because I did the same thing. Let’s pass it on!
5. Make a friend or two and help others – I have always been obsessed with my career and what it needs to take off. Being kind and helpful at SXSW and giving someone a merch purchase or standing front row at their show and making their camera man love me while I dance.
6. Calling my parents – My folks have had some massive health scares this week, which shattered me, to be honest. The amount of fear I had coming into this is massive, and I simply look at shit differently. Being vulnerable is something I am gonna do with strangers and friends. I’m gonna do my best to facetime people I care about from Austin. You should too!
7. Document more and do less – I’m gonna make a vlog . I’m gonna upload more raw footage, and I’m gonna sing in the street. I don’t have a camera, man but I am gonna make
8. Enjoy my Show OY VEY SXSW – A lot of times I’m gonna be running around. This time I’m gonna be in the front row of all the artists I booked. There is this girl Kels who I found on Instagram
   and Bridget Lyons (Lyons and Co) who is an upcoming alternative country start and one of the dopest rappers in Termanology, as well as FragileRock, an Emo puppet rock band from Austin!
   It is important to enjoy. I wasn’t sure if I’d even make it due to the fact my dad was reading me his will and offering me his Costco card before surgery (emotional Jewish moment), but now that he is on the road to recovery. Let’s keep it going. Let’s really dance at your show.
9. Getting criticized or rejected? “Let Them” Criticize – I’m sure people will have something to say, whether its that they love my show or they are not messing with me because of “politics.” I already had the venue say people were stopping by to protest me.(wild experience) As probably the 1st Israeli American act to play since last year’s protests at SXSW, my job is to bring a good show and unify people. That’s all I ever wanna do in general. My dream with OY VEY is univting people of different backgrounds. But if I am being protested or criticized, I welcome all smoke, and as Mel Robbins theory proves the point,. “let them” do it! (book reference) But if you are an artist and hustling yourself in some facet, the “let them” theory is great when you get told many no’s in life. Everyone has a hater in some capacity. This is SXSW. Just play and promote and show up and do the work you are supposed to do.
10. Get a Taco – When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Texas, do as the Texans do. Get a taco, take a pic/video, and send it to my family group chat.
11. Go for a run – Running has been very therapeutic for me. I believe in some higher power so as I run, I plan to bump into someone and maybe run by a show and watch it in my running shoes. I want to enjoy SXSW before I go back to the health care situation I am in with my family, and that is something I can take with me when I go back. The Spirit and Hustle of SXSW will run and sweat with me no matter what. For that reason, I am gonna for a run!

Kosha Dillz is at SXSW. Say hi to him. Rapperfriends at gmail.com, and his website is koshadillzworld.com. If you are a film critic and are interested in watching, you should reach out to his publicist who is actually just him! Check out his official SXSW profile and check his flier out too for the show. PS. see his full schedule on Bandsintown so you can check a show in the future.