Coachella 2022: 12 must-see artists, from Billie Eilish to The HU

Coachella leads the way when it comes to innovative lineups. Two of the top artists (Harry Styles and Billie Eilish) are under 30, while further down the carefully curated list you’ll find some of the hottest new acts – Koffee, Amyl and the Sniffers, Rina Sawayama – mingling with old school notebooks like Spiritualized and The Avalanches.

But with so many great bands on the schedule, it’s hard to know where to start. So if you’re in Indio for either weekend 1 (April 15-17) or weekend 2 (April 22-24), here are the 12 acts you won’t want to miss.

the who

Formed in 2016, Mongolian metal band The Hu is a phenomenon. The Independent wrote in a 2020 live review: “Their fusion of traditional Mongolian throat singing (“khoomei”) with modern elements of rock, metal and even pop (some members are massive Coldplay fans) is like nothing the UK has seen before. But if you think their music feels ancient, you’re not wrong: The Hu are built on a sound that’s been around for thousands of years.” Predictably, there’s something extraordinary about seeing them live. Don’t miss it.

Arlo Parks

Grammy-nominated British artist Arlo Parks has the perfect sound for a hot, hazy California day. The instrumentation is long, sluggish; Her voice is a dreamy, blissful whisper. While the songs deal with heavy themes like depression, anxiety and unrequited love, many have an anthem-like quality. Perfect for parties.

Billie Eilish

The mega-pop star is headlining Coachella and Glastonbury this year – not bad for a 20-year-old with just two albums. She brought down the house while performing in front of a crowded field at Worthy Farm in 2019. Expect this to get bigger, better… Billier.

Emotional Oranges

This Los Angeles group has been flying under the radar for a while – hopefully Coachella will bring them a whole new set of fans. Their sound is sultry late-night R&B with smacking beats and vocalist “V” delivering lyrics in a hoarse croon.

Rina Sawayama

Described by The Independent As “one of pop’s boldest voices,” Japanese-born, London-based Rina Sawayama throws a lot of glamor over industrial nu-metal instrumentation. It’s a heady mix of harsh guitar riffs, angry rumbling synths and smooth ’90s-style pop and R&B. Her self-titled album came out last year and she has also worked with the likes of Charli XCX and Elton John. Hopefully she’ll also be showing off her superb cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” at Coachella.

Phoebe Bridger

Phoebe Bridgers is what you might call an understated performer. She manages to captivate her audience with minimal effort, focusing on the music rather than over-the-top explanations. Think fatalistic lyrics, pounding percussion and brass. Prepare for the scream of the epic “I Know the End”.

David

Dave always puts on a great show, but you can bet he’ll take it one step further when he represents the British Stateside rap contingent. Expect him to perform tracks from 2021 We’re all alone in this together which was unanimously acclaimed by critics and topped the charts in the UK.

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hot chip

Still going strong, the British synth-pop nerds should make a splash in the California desert with crowd favorites like the crunchy “Over and Over” and the bouncy “Ready for the Floor.” Then you have their 2019 albumbath full of ecstasy, and his euphoric single “Melody of Love”. Let the dance begin!

Coffee

Just 22 years old, Jamaican singer-rapper Koffee managed to catch the attention of Rihanna, Protoje and Chronixx, all before the release of her debut album. gifted. Released just last month, it’s a leisurely mix of breezy, Afrobeats-nodding tunes, indie jams and powerful reggae anthems.

mane skin

Italy’s Eurovision 2021 champions are a total riot and live performances live up to the hype. Since winning the annual song contest, they’ve toured with Guns N’ Roses, had a few top 10 hits and picked up some rock ‘n’ roll tips along the way. Expect lots of leather and over-the-top rock demeanor from frontman Damiano David.

Omar Apollo

Bilingual Mexican-American singer Omar Apollo will have just released his debut album, ivory, until he takes the stage at Coachella. He excels at R&B slow-jam (see “Killing Me” and the bass-heavy “Hit Me Up”) and has just released his Pharrell collaboration, the sizzling “Tamagotchi.” Things are getting hot.

Rich Brian

The Soundcloud rapper has matured since he broke through with his debut at the age of 18 Amen. More recent tracks, like last year’s viral “Edamame” featuring Canadian rapper bbno$ and “New Tooth,” with its dazed synth line and Rich Brian’s staccato performance, have a new playful sound.