Sampling Coachella 2023
Earlier this week, many music festivals released their headliners and line-ups. I used to listen to a lot of music and have been adamant that I think music is worse now than it was 15 years ago, but you know, maybe 2023 is the year I get back into the hits.
I’ve been working through the Coachella line-up, where I could only identify 15 artists as names I recognized.
This left lots of discovery.
By no means is this a comprehensive look at any of these artists. But maybe you also have big dreams of exploring the music scene in 2023.
Maybe you don’t want to read?
Just listen.
Headliners:
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny
The first time I heard about Bad Bunny, he was moonlighting at the WWE Royal Rumble in 2021. He was, at the time, already massive globally, but again: I wasn’t listening to music! He followed that up in 2022 with an actual appearance in the Royal Rumble (and did Okay!). But outside of WWE appearances, Bad Bunny is a 28-year-old Puerto Rican who was recently named Apple Music Artist of the Year and is nominated for multiple Grammy Awards this year, including Album of the Year Un Verano Sin Ti. Many of his songs have social and political commentaries, sung in Spanish, and he collaborates with top artists from around the globe. His music is best described as Latin pop, Latin trap, and reggaeton.
Song to check out: DÁKITI
BLACKPINK
A foursome making history as the first K-pop group ever to headline Coachella, BLACKPINK is a collection of singers who make bangers. In my early listens, I’d say they do a lot of the DJ Khaled thing where they shout out their own name, “BLACKPINK.” Some singing, some rapping, huge crowds, and lots of energy. Collabs with other mega-super stars. It’s def regressive of me to say, “Like Bad Bunny, but Korean girls,” but hey, here I am!
Song to check out: DDU-DU DDU-DU
Frank Ocean
I stand by my claim that Frank Ocean’s best song is American Wedding and that Don Henley was a real dickhead about it, thus preventing American Ultra from appearing on streaming services. So what if he just sampled Hotel California?! Since that banger was released in 2011, Frank has had quite the journey! At times prolific and others reclusive, Frank has been rumored to headline Coachella seemingly every year since 2019. And now… it’s happening. One of his big moments on the rise to the top was his set at Coachella 2012, so it’s exciting that he’ll be back, hopefully. You must couch all Frank-language with cautious optimism because you never know if he’ll decide to back out and disappear. A Sallinger for the Millennial crowd.
Song to check out: Pink + White
First Row of the Undercard: a sampling
Burna Boy: The most significant act going on in Africa right now, Burna Boy is a 31-year oldAfro-fusion songwriter, singer, and rapper from Nigeria. He says his music comes from oral storytelling traditions and sings in Yoruba, Igbo, and pidgin English. He’s sold out Wembley in London and MSG in New York City.
Song to check out: Last Last
boygenius
boygenius: A musical trio made up of singer-songwriters —Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers — boygenius is getting together to crone. Easily the most-guitar-heavy thing I’ve recommended so far, this is a departure from the bangers of the aforementioned. I’m not sure when during the day is the right time to see this band, but I do not think they’ll be the openers for BLACKPINK or Rosalia. Very different energies between acts.
Song to check out: Ketchum, ID
Dominic Fike: It’s Eliott from Euphoria. One can’t help but wonder if he will sing the song about birds that he sang in the Euphoria finale that made many people very mad. Fike blew up via SoundCloud and then moved to Hollywood. Because he is really handsome, charismatic, and does drugs, he ended up on Euphoria. He now has dreams of being a double-threat musician and actor. I’m not betting against him.
Song to check out: 3 Nights
Other Artists I’d like to Point Out Because Either I Liked Them, or During My Extensive Two Days of Research, I Decided I Could Co-Sign:
Pusha T: Clipse back, baby! Check out his verse over the Succession theme song; recognize that dude writes jingles for Mcdonald’s (I’m lovin’ it) and Arby’s (WE HAVE THE MEATS).
Song to check out: Nosetalgia
Wet Leg: Outside of The Wheels on the Bus and Fishin’ in the Dark, Wet Leg’s Chaise Longue is the song I listened to the most or was most excited to hear in 2022. Rhian and Hester from the Isle of Wight play some excellent jams. Fun music. Barack Obama likes them!
Song to check out: Chaise Longue
Yves Tumor
Yves Tumor: Initially, when I googled Yves, the music was described as “Confrontational Noise” which sounded unappealing. I did not want to be yelled at. Music is an escape. I do not escape to Confrontation! Then you know, I asked around, and someone I work with told me that Yves Tumor “is one of the best (if not THEE singular best) live act in indie right now and that Coachella set is gonna be insane.” So I dove in. I feel like the “confrontational noise” thing is just a middle finger to the reviewers. Don’t be put off. Check out Yves.
Song to check out: Gospel For A New Century
Diljit Dosanjh: Punjabi-Sikh performer. You’ll hear unique rhythms, see great dancing, and enjoy Diljit’s whole thing. He’s also a bit of a double threat, and you can see him as he is working on his next film, Jogi, which will release on Netflix in 2023.
Song to check out: Chauffeur
Shoutout to European DJs:
SG Lewis: I haven’t confirmed this, but I have to assume this guy is a Nepo-baby. And this song is called Chemicals, and the video is about as trippy as you’d expect it to be, knowing that it came from a British DJ who makes “Future-Disco-Bangers.”
FKJ
Marc Rebillet: Kind of like if Andrew WK was a DJ, singer, and performer instead of a rocker. This ultra-high energy sort of quirky French-American guy spent most of the quarantine live-streaming him making music on the fly, like this 20 min song about waking up called Get Up. Not sure what it’s like live, but I bet it’s fun. The guy is fun. And handsome.
FKJ: Buried way down here, this is the one artist who 2015 Sam woulda turned his nose up, but 2023 Sam is like: yeah I can fuck with that. FKJ is an acronym for French-Kiwi Juice, and this guy (also handsome) plays instruments (the Sax), layers tracks, beats, and vibes. I have a very cool friend with impeccable music tastes who kept sending me this gem of an artist all year and each time he did, I really enjoyed it.
Leen def came home from work the other day while I was really feeling FKJs energy. Check out this live set from Paris.
Final Shoutout:
Two Friends: If you’ve wondered if mash-ups were still a thing, these guys answer in the affirmative. I really enjoyed Big Bootie Mix Vol 21.
Doubt any of you are going to Coachella. Me neither!
There may be more music takes in 2023!
Sam
