Image via Complex Original
Every year, Coachella unveils its lineup with those famous posters touting dozens of bands, rappers, singers, and DJs. The headliners for each day of the festival are listed in big, bold font, but as you go down the list, and the type gets smaller and smaller, you’ll see some names you may not recognize, haven’t heard in years, or are used to seeing on the marquee of a small club. The big names are what attract those massive crowds out to the desert, but in a long weekend of live music, you’d be a fool not to wander over to the smaller stages for a chance to discover a new favorite. Here are a few artists you should make a point to see at Coachella in 2016.
Meg Myers
Moving from Tennessee to L.A. to pursue rock stardom, Meg Myers made her mark with her 2015 major label debut, Sorry. The album spun off a string of radio hits like “Desire” and “Lemon Eyes,” hooky songs with vivid lyrics and dark, visually arresting videos that established her as an alt-rock femme fatale in the tradition of Shirley Manson or PJ Harvey. On Sunday, April 17 and 24, she’ll unleash her charismatic stage presence at Coachella.
Ibeyi
Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz are twin sisters who infuse a melting pot of cultural influences into their music. They were born in Cuba, currently reside in France, and write lyrics in both English and Yoruba to reflect their Nigerian heritage. Songs like “River” and “Oya” mix acoustic percussion and piano with thumping modern beats for an exciting blend of the past and the present. That being said, it’s the twins’ haunting voices and uncompromising vision driving the tracks. The duo’s self-titled, debut album, released a year ago on XL Recordings, generated major waves in Europe, but memorable performances on Friday, April 15 and 22, at Coachella could help raise their profile in America.
Anderson .Paak
Ventura County native, Anderson .Paak got the co-sign that every Californian dreams of in 2015 when he appeared on half a dozen tracks on Dr. Dre’s Compton. But, before officially signing to Dre’s Aftermath label this year, .Paak released his second independent album, Malibu, which cemented the rapper, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist as one of the most versatile and talented up-and-comers in the game. He may not be a household name yet—.Paak’s most popular song is “Might Be,” in its re-recorded form as a radio hit for Luke Nasty—but Sunday, April 17 and 24, is a perfect opportunity to catch him on a smaller, Coachella stage before he becomes a headliner.
Lido
Norwegian producer Peder “Lido” Losnegard has been producing mixtapes and remixes since 2008, putting his unique spin on trip hop. But in recent years, his profile has leaped significantly thanks to releases on Mad Decent and Universal Music Group, and his production work for a wide variety of artists, including Chance the Rapper and Ariana Grande. He executive produced Badlands, the hit album by Halsey (one of Coachella’s 2016 headliners), and produced her breakthrough single “New Americana.” This year, Lido will get to show off the full range of his sound, during his own Coachella set Friday, April 15 and 22. And he just announced that he'll be performing his entire new album, so it shouldn't be a performance to miss.
Gallant
L.A. studio rat Gallant spent a year crafting soulful, textured pop songs for his debut album, Ology, preparing to make good on the promise of early singles like “Weight in Gold” that racked up millions of plays online. He recently performed a duet of the song with Seal, and has made fans of stars like Elton John and Sufjan Stevens, who took Gallant on tour as an opening act in 2015. Gallant was one of the most talked about performers at this year’s SXSW, and with Ology finally out on Mind of a Genius, he’s poised to win over more fans Friday, April 15 and 22, at Coachella.
Snakehips
James Carter and Oliver Lee are both from London, but as fate would have it, they met while working abroad in Hong Kong in 2012. Upon returning to England, they formed Snakehips. In 2015, the duo released “All My Friends,” a single featuring Chance the Rapper and Tinashe that cracked the top 10 in the UK and Australia, and is still gaining steam in the U.S. On Friday, April 15 and 22, they’ll bring their hits, remixes, and diverse record collections to Coachella.
ZHU
When tracks from a mysterious producer and singer named ZHU began gaining popularity on SoundCloud in 2014, the artist preferred initially to remain anonymous. As it turned out, he was hidden in plain sight. The musician was actually Steven Zhu, working under his real last name. He soon signed to Columbia Records and collaborated with everyone from A-Trak to Trombone Shorty, while releasing hit covers like his take on CHVRCHES “Gun.” ZHU’s appearances on Saturday, April 16 and 23, come hot on the heels of his latest and greatest single, the seductive “In the Morning,” released in February.
