Dominique Young Unique Dominates at SXSW Day Show

At 5:30PM on Wednesday at SXSW 2011, there were lines out the door on Red River, one of the main venue-lined streets hosting the music festival.

Inside the Swan Dive roots rocker Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit were ending their set with the acoustic 'Goddamn Lonely Love' (a song he penned during his days with the Drive-By Truckers); Danish electro-rockers WhoMadeWho were just beginning their set next door at Barbarella; and Dominique Young Unique was "popping" outback on Barbarella's patio stage.

It was hard to pick just one band to see within a 50 square foot radius of each other. Very hard.

Word started spreading about Tampa Bay native Dominique Young Unique well over a year ago. Already playing her second SXSW, Unique has released two mixtapes -- 'Domination' and the more recent 'Glamorous Touch,' the latter which she passed out from the stage during her sunset set on the Barbarella Patio.

"I don't want to release a studio album yet," Unique told Spinner after her sweaty, fist-pumping set. "I just want to have fun."

And she is having fun. With a third mixtape in the works, Unique blends electro-rock and hip-hop by delivering freestyles to dance music. Sassy is an understatement when it comes to Unique. She spits out songs like 'The World Is Mine,' 'Follow the Leader' and 'Show My Ass' where she repeatedly informs: "I'm doing this right!"

Then there's 'P---- Popping.' "It's just for my freaky ladies, who inspire me like Trina," Unique tells Spinner of the song. "She's a bad b---, and I figured I could make a nasty song too. All my real ladies relate to it. It's fun, it's dancey, it's catchy."

But when it comes to dance, Unique loves Beyonce. While she wouldn't put on an impromptu dance of Beyonce's hand-waving 'Single Ladies,' Unique was not afraid to get down during her own set; even her drummer managed to scale a nearby rooftop and pound the drum skin from there.

Spinner talked with Unique after she caught her breath following the set. She told us about how hanging with Tampa's female hip-hop duo Yo! Majesty helped her get her start, and also recalls her first freestyle ever. Careful, Unique's energy is contagious.

Watch Dominique Young Unique Perform at SXSW