The time has come — Coachella season.
The king of all music festivals has just released their stellar lineup, boasting its most fruitful and diverse roster yet. While highly popular superstars like Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, The 1975, CHVRCHES, Billie Eilish, and Tame Impala are all performing, tons of promising young breakout singers are also stepping out onto the pristine desert stage.
Here are some artists you should be on the lookout for.
1. Maggie Rogers
Folk-infused dance music is definitely our jam, and 24-year-old Maggie Rogers gives us all that and more. She has an eventful 2019 in store. Her debut album ‘Heard It In A Past Life’ is set to be released this month, and she’ll embark on her first headline tour soon after. Full of charisma and creativity, Maggie is bound to light up the stage at Coachella with her signature style.
2. Clairo
Viral artist Clairo is definitely another one to look out for this Coachella season. Her breakout single ‘Pretty Girl’ made waves online, garnering over 25 million views on YouTube. It eventually earned her an opening slot on pop star Dua Lipa‘s world tour. She touches the teenage heart better than any other with her electric keyboard beats and relatable lyrics.
3. SOPHIE
Scottish record producer and singer-songwriter SOPHIE is the name on everyone’s lips after she released her Grammy-nominated album ‘Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides’. After previously working with Charli XCX on numerous projects, she made a captivating breakthrough. Her hypnotizing spin on pop music is refreshing, and it’s opened our eyes to a whole new world full of sharp edges and booming synthesized rhythms.
4. A R I Z O N A
New Jersey natives Zachary Charles, Nate Esquite, and David Labuguen make up the electropop band A R I Z O N A. Since their debut in 2016, they’ve established a comfortable niche for themselves. As they continue to flourish within the high-energy pop music genre, the band can only go up from here with a strong spot on the Coachella stage.
5. Rosalía
Rosalía Vila Tobella makes her alternative R&B and flamenco sound into a genre all its own. With her sophomore album ‘El Mal Querer’, she explores a virtual art-pop world that delves into all the magical aspects of smooth Spanish tradition. It makes us want to dance, and she’s sure to spice up one of the most popular music festivals of the year.
6. Tierra Whack
Hip-hop artist Tierra Whack will be gracing the Coachella stage with her epic rap skills. The Philadelphia native stunned critics with her debut album ‘Whack World,’ cementing herself as a fresh addition to the rap scene. With her signature quirkiness, the rapper has carved a place for herself in a mostly male-dominated genre.
7. Soccer Mommy
Indie-rock sensation Sophie Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, had one hell of a 2018. From her debut album ‘Clean’, wowing even the toughest music critics, to touring alongside top artists like Kacey Musgraves, Paramore, and Foster the People, Allison can only go up from here. Her sound favors the angsty feelings we harbor in our darkest moments, and it’s definitely something we can get behind.
7. Lizzo
Lizzo is bound to heat up the desert stage this festival season. She’s bold, sassy, and confident — all qualities we search for when discovering new artists. It’s been a while since the singer has released a full-length LP, her last being ‘Big Grrrl Small World’ back in 2015. But she’s back with vengeance in 2019 with her self-love anthem ‘Juice.’
8. Wallows
Braeden Lemasters, Cole Preston, and 13 Reasons Why‘s Dylan Minnette make up the up-and-coming indie-rock band Wallows. After the release of their 2018 EP ‘Spring’, the band established an upbeat sound that differed from the usual broodiness of indie-rock music. They’re certain to have a fruitful 2019 with an overflowing amount of indie love — and Coachella is first on that list.
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