Coachella is one of the biggest annual music festivals in the country. It takes place in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley. The festival has over 250,000 attendees throughout the two weekends. It offers a variety of different genres of music with all kinds of artists. Tons of celebrities and influencers are spotted at the festival on both weekends, gaining more attention to the festival.
Weekend one brought outstanding performances, especially from Charli XCX and Zedd. These performances brought an energy like no other hyping up the crowd. These artists put their all into their music. Charli XCX and Zedd are known for their upbeat and fun tunes. One changed the pop rebellion’s rules, while the other demonstrated that EDM can still be shocking and brilliant in the desert.
Charli XCX is a pop icon. Recently known for her “BRAT” era she has changed the game. Her performance on Saturday, April 12th for Coachella Weekend 1 demonstrated her cultural significance and effect once more. While continuing to explore her viral Brat era, Charli turned the main stage into a lively, hyper-pop-fueled haven for fans who have adopted her style as their way of life. Charli began her set by showcasing songs from her album Brat, such as “Von Dutch,” “360,” and “Club Classics.” But her performance was more than just the tracklist, the atmosphere she created was incredibly effective. Charli in bright green leather and backed by a group of dancers who had a Y2K style, Charli showed that “Brat summer” isn’t over, but rather it has evolved. In addition, Charli XCX brought out multiple guests for her set. Her surprise guest list includes Troye Sivan, Lorde, and Billie Eilish. Troye Sivan joined Charli on stage for their single “Talk Talk”,starting the lineup of guests strong and energetic. Lorde joined Charli on stage in a more masculine/casual outfit to sing “Girl, So Confusing” for an iconic moment. Finally, Billie Eilish joined Charli on stage to sing their hit “Guess”, having the crowd go insane. This created Eilish’s fifth consecutive appearance at Coachella. The concert concluded with a screen displaying “PLEASE DON’T LET IT BE OVER.” However, for Charli fans, this seemed more like a promise than a plea suggesting her Brat era is far from over.
Zedd, known for his producing abilities and chart-topping collaborations, did more than just DJ; instead, he arranged a full multimedia show combining EDM, rock, pop, and live vocals. The night started with the performance of “Stay the Night,” bringing together the audience through a song that continues to create powerful emotions even a decade later. The excitement only grew from there, helped by a seamless transition that Zedd brought between hit after hit, including“Clarity,” “I Want You to Know,” and “Spectrum.” However, the night was not owned by a single artist. Bea Miller lit up the stage with her rendition of “Tangerine Rays,” as did Elley Duhé for “Happy Now.” The emotional turmoil was sharedby Maren Morris, who took to the stage for a second time to perform “The Middle” with passion, encouraging the audience to join her for every word. Just as the night seemed at its most energetic, Zedd brought out the night’s surprise headliner: John Mayer. Some would call John Mayer the wildcard of the night. Mayer added solos to a remix of”Beautiful Now” and an unreleased collaboration rumored to be released this summer. The entire set was like no other. Zedd never fails to bring an out-of-body experience for those who attended.
Coachella is known for surprising reunions, viral guest appearances, and expensive production, but Charli XCX and Zedd demonstrated this weekend that it takes more than that to make a truly legendary concert. It requires vision, sincerity, and a strong connection to your audience.