Come inside the SXSW Defender House with Esquire

AND THAT’S A WRAP. Having made its Australian debut last year – the first time travelling outside of its native Austin – renowned music and ideas festival SXSW returned so Sydney for another week of performances, panels and keynotes. The festival is renowned for hosting some of the world’s most dynamic thinkers, disruptors, and artists, while never failing to inspire the unexpected. This year was no exception. And while there was plenty to see and do, the suite of events that comprised Defender House topped our list of highlights. Sure, the performers were impressive – Sahxl, Nick Ward and Maina Doe the standouts – and The Kid LAROI’s keynote address was a major coup for the festival. But it was the British car marque that left the biggest impression.  

First, some background. Defender, for those who don’t know, is part of the broader JLR House of Brands, which comprises Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar. Think of Defender as the younger brother with plenty of style, substance and no shortage of ambition. The cars, with their iconic boxy design, are impressive beasts that can stand up to the demands of off-road driving just as much as they can inner-city roads. But beyond that, Defender has built a reputation for masterminding some of the more unique and creative partnerships to hit the car world over the past decade. In the UK, collaborations with British rapper Kano set the standard, and Australia is following suit, as SXSW saw Defender partner with a wide and often unexpected range of performers, creative thinkers, and adventure enthusiasts who embody their tagline of ‘Embrace the Impossible’.  

Take Ant Williams, a man who embraces that ethos rather literally in his career as a freediver. Williams holds dual world records, one for swimming to the deepest depths of the ocean, under ice. Yup, you heard that correctly – as if freediving wasn’t thrilling enough, Williams added ice to the equation to really up the stakes. And on Thursday, against the backdrop of the newly unveiled Defender OCTA (more on that later) he hosted an intimate in-conversation where he discussed his record-breaking achievements, as well as how others can break down mental barriers to achieve the impossible. Though we recommend leaving the ice swimming stunts to Williams.  

Next up, the ‘Body and Soul’ session with Sydney fashion brand PE Nation and yoga studio Humming Puppy, a play on the innovative ‘body and soul’ technology inside the OCTA. This one was the antithesis of Ant Williams’ edge-of-your-seat session, as guests were invited to sit back and experience the OCTA’s in-car vibro-acoustic technology, which is capable of delivering no less than six wellness programs to enjoy while driving.

The morning session saw guests move from ‘calm’ to ‘invigorate’ as they were put through a dynamic yoga session against the sonic backdrop of Himalayan crystal singing bowls. The aim here was to mimic the sensory experience of driving the Defender OCTA, the newest addition to the Defender family, and its most dynamic offering yet. 

Which brings us to the pick of the bunch: the VIP launch night of the Defender OCTA itself. Inside Sydney’s Machine Hall, guests including surf legend Mick Fanning, actor Bryn Chapman Parish and musician Grentperez, were treated to the first unveiling of the OCTA in Australia, a car that, with its twin-turbo V8 engine, easily takes on the mantle of the biggest, toughest, most accomplished Defender ever created. Don’t believe us? Check the stats. To ensure it was truly built for off-road demands, Defender put the vehicle through a whopping 13,960 tests to ensure its durability. (We’re assuming it passed everything with flying colours.) 
 

Of the new release, JLR Australian Managing Director Penny Ferguson said: “Defender OCTA is the definition of breadth of capability and the ultimate companion for the urban jungle with capability to take on nature’s most epic adventures.” 

With a sustainable menu designed by chef Sean Connolly, that paired perfectly with Krug Champagne, the night brought SXSW 2024 to a close in style. Now, we wait another year before SXSW returns Down Under again. Until then, the OCTA is available for a test drive. We highly recommend booking one in.

Related:

The Defender isn’t just a car, it’s a personality 

The Esquire guide to SXSW Sydney 2024