Read the Fine Print: 10 Lesser-known Coachella Artists
Every year out in the middle of Palm Desert, California, an event known as Coachella offers an amazing opportunity for attendees to see many of their favorite artists at the same place, on the same weekend. In each of the last three years, I have gone to this wonderland of a music festival and I have relished the chance to see some of my favorite musicians like LCD Soundsystem, Jack White, Tame Impala, and The Arcs... just to name a few.
While the experience of seeing these bands has been borderline life-changing at times for me... performances by my favorite artists aren't always the most memorable of the weekend. Often times the absolute mind-shattering performances come from artists I had never even heard of, or from musicians I had heard of, but never bothered to check out.
Not a single musician is on the Coachella bill by accident, no matter how far down they are on the list. So this year, the moment after I purchased my wristband, I went to work exploring the lineup, even the names in the fine print at the very bottom that require glasses to read.
So if you're going to Coachella this year, check out this list I put together consisting of artists you may not have heard of before, but are definitely worth checking out!
"Photos courtesy of Coachella"
1.KAYTRANADA
It actually pains me a little to put this man on the list, and I know he is gaining momentum so maybe a lot of you have already discovered the magic that is KAYTRANADA. But in case you have yet to have the pleasure of hearing his music, check out his set. He masterfully produces the slickest dance music you've ever heard, blending together different genres, all the while maintaining a unique style. 99.9% was absolutely one of the best albums of 2016, but don't take my word for it, just ask collaborators like Anderson .Paak, or BadBadNotGood.
2.King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Don't be deterred by the crazy, weird band name, although if you're anything like me... this will actually make you more intrigued. These Aussies jam out intricately layered, psychedelic, jazz-rock. They clearly pull influence from all over, including heavy influence from Eastern styles of music, utilizing microtones. While I would say their sound is definitely an acquired taste, it’s easy to appreciate the impressive complexity and seemingly effortless flow of their music. Not to mention, their energy is electric. Check out our full review of their latest album, Flying Microtonal Banana, here.
3. Thundercat
Easily one of the greatest bass players in the game right now, Stephen Bruner has made a name for himself not only by absolutely shredding incredible bass lines through his own solo projects as Thundercat, but also by working on collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, and others. In recent years we have seen a revival of jazz-infused music thanks to people like Thundercat, Kamasi, and BBNG, as they keep the genre relevant by combining it with hip-hop and electronic music. Check out our full review of his latest album, Drunk here.
4.Chicano Batman
If you've been to Coachella in the last few years, this name might just ring a bell. Local favorites Chicano Batman hail from Los Angeles and are no strangers to the Polo grounds. They played the festival in 2015, as well as spent a number of dates opening for Jack White and Alabama Shakes. Their sound infuses Latin vibes with west coast surf rock and 60's psychedelia. They just dropped their new album, Freedom is Free, I recommend you check it out as well as the new single, "This Land is Your Land".
5.NAO
There are a number of reasons why this might be the most badass musician at Coachella this year, for one... she attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study VOCAL JAZZ; that's cool. She also opted to establish her own label, Little Tokyo, through which she released her first two EP's. Another fun fact, Frank Ocean recently played her song "Bad Blood" on his Beats1 radio show. If any of these things have caught your attention, go listen to her debut album, For All We know, released through RCA. Her sound craftily blends jazz and funk with pop, soul, electronic, and R&B styles to create some seriously fun dance music. I also recommend checking out the Remix EP of her album with features from KAYTRANADA and Sam Gellaitry.
6.Sampha
If you're a fan of R&B/electronic artists like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, James Blake, or The Internet, you really must check out Sampha. He made a name for himself through his features with British electronic musician SBTRKT and has collaborated with the likes of Solange, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, and most recently, with Drake on the track "4422" from More Life. Sampha has some amazing pipes and a real musical ability as a multi-instrumentalist. Go listen to his debut album, Process, as soon as you possibly can. His music is emotional and sincere, and his shows are likely to follow suit. Here's our full review of Process.
7.Tennis
If you feel like you born in the wrong decade, this band might just change your mind. Dishing out lo-fi, 70's pop, and surf-rock, this husband-and-wife duo can be described in no other way but retro. Their riffs are undeniable catchy and their baselines are groovy. Alaina Moore's vocal tone fits the mood just right and her lyrics are contrastively relevant to our present time. Check out our full review of their latest album, Yours Conditionally, here.
8.Klangstof
This Amsterdam-based indie, alt-rock band will transport you to a dreamland with epic, atmospheric soundscapes. Heavily influenced by bands such as Radiohead, this group uses synthesizers as well as a mesh of reverb-drenched guitars and keys to create an intensely layered sound. The vocals are sweeping with a haunting tone. The bass lines are clean and slick. Klangstof finds a way to take a really simple song idea and develop it into something wonderfully complex. In doing so, they are able to maintain a very human feel even with a very artificially produced sound. Check out their debut album, Close Eyes to Exit.
9.Classixx
In terms of electronic music, this has to be one of my most anticipated performances of the year. Los Angeles-based indie-dance production duo, Classixx consists of Michael David and Tyler Blake. With experience in session guitar playing and education from music school, these two know how to fuse elements and sounds from all types of genres to create classic pop-sounding dance music. Their music keeps a very organic feel without losing an edge of energy or production value. With collaborations with artists like Passion Pit, and Nancy Whang (LCD Soundsystem) and remixes of artists like Phoenix, Local Natives, and Holy Ghost!, there's a lot to love here. Check out their albums, Hanging Gardens and Faraway Reach, released through the wonderful Innovative Leisure label, as well as their plethora of funky singles.
10.Devendra Banhart
Splitting time as a child growing up between Venezuela and Los Angeles, indie rock singer/guitar player Devendra Barnhart puts his unique experiences to work with a raw and clever songwriting capability. His shimmering fingerpicking and lo-fi guitar riffs are catchy as hell and should be used in more soundtracks. His Latin background fuses effortlessly with the folk roots that lay under his songs. I recommend checking out his 2013 album, Mala.
Honorable mentions: GoldLink, Warpaint, Breakbot, Preoccupations, Allah-Las, Real Estate, Ezra Furman, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Twin Peaks
