Here is the final installation of our look back into this year’s SXSW festivities through the eyes of our music editor @mensathedj...

Day 3 of my jaunt through the streets of Austin was a bit of a wash, literally. The inevitable rain that was predicted came in heavy and didn't relent for most of the day. It probably benefited the many artists given the dreaded afternoon time slots because the street revelers who flocked into any bar to stay dry were treated to a show.

I stumbled into some downstairs hole in the wall and found myself enthralled with performances by DJ duo Lindsay Lowend, whose cacophony of funky house grooves and R'n'B countered the gloomy rain perfectly. Stepping over to praise them, they were kind but curt, as this was stop one of five mini sets they were performing that day and had to be on their way.

Immediately after, producer wunderkind Sweater Beats tested out his new production to whoever was in the room. To think that all these acts would cost a pretty to see in my own city, and here they all were, shilling their wares to completely fresh ears in hopes of winning new admirers. This was the spirit of South By Southwest: dipping yourself into the pool of discovery with the hopes of being anointed the "it artist."

My wanderlust had me move on, as well. My windbreaker reached its saturation point as I sprinted down to the W Hotel to meet a friend. The W was where many of the established artists were staying. Its lobby, filled with so many industry movers and shakers, turned into its own little music festival. Austin dance music movement Do It To It was curating the music in the lounge. Fool's Gold consigliere Nick Catchdubs populated the room with house and rap. My spirits were lifted once again.

I braved the trek across town once more to treat myself to Austin's number one export: meat. Ironworks BBQ satiated my appetite with its brisket, sausage, and ribs, complete with a tall glass of sweet tea. Southern hospitality indeed. I dined with a sample of folks: truckers from Arkansas, Australian hipsters researching the restaurant on Yelp, and the blinged-out management for rap outfit Migos. Austin was the melting pot, for sure.

One last short walk back to the OkayFuture/Serato tent to hear the collective known as Soulection take over the whole decks the whole night. Andre Power & The Whooligan had its followers going on the edge of their seats going back and forth in the mix, bouncing fast b-more beats with downtempo bass. By the time ESTA came on, the crowd was more than ready for his tracks, which have been gaining notoriety. He was a chiropractor, aligning peoples' backbones with his warbly baselines. Soulection's curator-in-chief, Joe Kay, took it all home with a mixed bag of crowd favorites and new on the horizon selections, as is his M.O. By the time the jam ended, I had known my time in Austin had concluded.

I retreated back to the hotel and prepped for my red-eye flight home. My body gave in: I got the chills, my back ached, and fatigue set in. All in all, it was a small sacrifice to make in exchange for all the phenomenal musicians, artists, and DJ's that invigorated my passion for what I do. Austin is not sacred ground, and South By Southwest is not a religion, but if you make your pilgrimage, you will definitely find your soul.

If you missed part one of our recap of SXSW, check it out here-
For part two, click here!