Indio, California really brought the heat this year, as fans have crowned Coachella 2024 as one of the best versions of itself in a long time. From an (eccentric) lineup, to surprise guest artist features, Coachella proved the world that it was more than just a music festival this year. In this article, we delve deep into the essence of Coachella 2024, exploring its musical highlights, artistic endeavors, cultural significance, and the moments that defined this iconic festival experience.
Tyler the Creator, AKA the stuntman
Tyler Okonma, who is best known as Tyler the Creator, has recently taken the music industry by storm, with much acclaim that he is one of the best rappers in the business. He once again proved this statement during Coachella, as his headlining act was argumentably one of the best performances during the music festival. From his stage presence to the guest artist features, Tyler knows how to engage his audience.
The performance started with a bang (literally), with Tyler exploding through a fake setup for “Igor’s theme”. As the show went on, Tyler was able to feature all of his albums and previous personas, as songs such as “Tamale”, “Tron Cat”, and “See You Again” were performed. It’s safe to say that he was able to please his new post-flowerboy era fans, as well as his die-hard Odd Future fans during these two weeks in Coachella.
Along with his diverse setlist, Tyler brought out acclaimed artists on stage, such as Kali Uchis for “See You Again”, Charlie Wilson on “EARFQUAKE”, and A$AP Rocky on “WHO DAT BOY” and “Potato Salad”. A highlight of the show was when Tyler brought out Childish Gambino on “RUNNING OUT OF TIME”, who has not performed in the United States since pre-covid times. This has since gained traction for Gambino, who started to tease his upcoming album and tour on his website Gilga Radio. Some fans were a little upset with the sharp contrast between week 1’s guest artists versus week 2’s guest artists, as week 2 only featured Earl Sweatshirt. Regardless, both weeks were huge hits for Tyler, the Creator.
Doja Cat, a woman of many talents
Doja Cat absolutely rocked both weekends of Coachella with a stunning set, and fans couldn’t get enough of it. The LA-based artist was the second female Black artist to ever headline at Coachella, behind Beyonce. Many speculated as to whether or not Doja Cat could compete with the infamous “Beychella” performance. Spoiler Alert: She killed it.
Throughout the entire hour-and-a-half performance, all eyes were on Doja and her electric stage presence. Fans had to keep their eyes peeled the entire time, as every second featured chaos, in a good way. Some of the most notable moments were her outfit changes. The artist performed her older hits with a blonde wig that reached her ankles, along with backup dancers who wore body suits of golden locks. During the transition, a curtain was draped over the artist and showed a silhouette of herself shaving the hair off, featuring her natural hair.
Another highlight of her performance was the wide array of artist features, such as A$AP Rocky, Teezo Touchdown, and 21 Savage. Overall, Doja’s chaotic performance was exactly the performance that encapsulated the artist’s personality, which is why her set was one of the top performances of Coachella for the year.
Chappell Roan, a rising icon for the Queer community
Missouri-based singer Chappell Roan had already taken the music industry by storm. At her first-ever Coachella performance, she gained even more traction. With choreographed performances in songs such as “Hot to Go!”, she kept her audience engaged, all while cracking funny jokes.
Roan’s outfits were nothing less than fabulous, as fans were mesmerized by her diverse array of runway-worthy fits such as her butterfly dress, and her leotard bodysuit that said “eat me” in big bold letters. Everything that Roan did was breathtaking, and she has officially left her mark on Coachella grounds. With her upcoming summer tour, her fanbase will continue to grow, and Roan will rise in popularity as the months go by.
What went wrong?
While this year’s Coachella was one for the books, there were still some shaky moments. During Grimes’s week one set, she experienced a public breakdown due to technical difficulties. Grimes, fortunately, redeemed herself in week two with minimal technical difficulties.
Kid Cudi unfortunately did not execute his performance flawlessly, as he jumped from the stage and broke his ankle. The artist was then carried out of the venue and had to be treated immediately.
In comparison to last year, Coachella for sure made a huge comeback this year. With outstanding performances, Coachella will be on the rise of popularity once again as one of the best music festivals to attend.
