Image via coachella.com
Did you get a good look at all the artists? While most people focus on the headliners and maybe the first couple of lines, I tend to focus on the small-print artists you basically need a magnifying glass to see. I’ve been going to Coachella since 2010, and one of the main reasons I keep going back is for the potential of discovering new up-and-coming artists playing at the smaller tents only to see the same artists move their way up the lineup the following years.
For example, did you know Kendrick Lamar played Coachella back in 2012 and was on the last line of the lineup? And now, he’s a headliner alongside Radiohead and Beyoncé. So here are some of the small print artists from the last three lines on the lineup that I plan on checking out this year:
Friday, April 14 & 21
Klangstof
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This alt-indie act from Amsterdam play the perfect backdrop music for a rainy day. Their Spotify bio compares them to artists such as Radiohead, Sigur Ros and Alt-J, so you can say it was love at first listen for me. You can listen to “Hostage,” which is their current number one song on Spotify below:
Floorplan
Image via coachella.com
Robert Hood, a.k.a. Floorplan, is a Detroit techno veteran who has a sound all of his own. What makes him different? His signature tracks mix techno and house with soul, disco and funk. Take a listen. It’ll be hard not to bob your head to the beat of his song “Never Grow Old – Re-Plant”:
Kungs
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This French producer’s number one song on Spotify “This Girl” is a song you have probably heard, but may have overlooked. What hasn’t been overlooked are his numerous remixes on SoundCloud for songs such as “Jamming” by Bob Marley and “Are You with Me” by Lost Frequencies, which both have several million plays. He was also an opener for David Guetta in 2016, so you can say this 20-year-old is someone to keep an eye out for. Yup, 20.
Oh Wonder
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One listen and I promise you’ll get hooked with their soothing R&B influenced tracks. This England-based songwriting duo made their debut back in 2014 when they released their album “Oh Wonder“ in a very unconventional way. They decided to release one song a month from their album on SoundCloud for an entire year, which lead up to the album release in September 2015. According to Spotify, similar artists include Banks, Halsey and Broods. Take a listen to their song “Drive” below:
Saturday, April 15 & 22
Autograf
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Mix art with electronic music and you get the unique trio that is known as Autogragf. These guys are bringing their own artistic twist to their music, album artwork and stage installations. Ready to get hypnotized by their song “Metaphysical – Gianni Kosta Remix”? Check it out:
Bishop Briggs
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Having opened for Coldplay in 2016, it’s safe to say that our very own Los Angeles-based dark pop singer and songwriter is constantly bringing her A-game. Her strong, soulful tracks make it hard to not keep listening. Her current number one song on Spotify “River” has over 20 million streams on the site, but you actually might recognize her song “Wild Horses” which was licensed by Acura for their TV commercial.
Brodinski
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This French DJ and producer is known both in the electronic and hip-hop scene. One minute you can catch him having a bromance with fellow French DJ Gesaffelstein, and then the next you’ll hear about him producing tracks on Kanye West’s album “Yeezus”. With this guy, there’s no telling what you’ll get, but I guarantee it’s worth a listen. You can listen to his song “Let the Beat Control Your Body” below:
Thundercat
Image via pitchfork.com
Stephen Bruner, a.k.a. Thundercat, was initially a behind the scenes type of guy having played bass for artists such as Erykah Badu and Flying Lotus. He even helped produce tracks on headliner Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” album. But now that the spotlight is all on him, he seems to be doing just fine on his own. Pitchfork even reviewed his “The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam” album to be a “Best New Album” in 2015. Take a listen:
Sunday, April 16 & 23
Caveman
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The Brooklyn-based quintet have opened for Edward Sharp & the Magnetic Zeros, Cursive and The War on Drugs. And while they’re no strangers to playing at music festivals, such as SXSW and Bonnaroo, this is their first appearance at Coachella. Their Spotify bio describes them as an indie pop band that draws influence from “experimental rock, post-rock, wistful indie rock and African traditions,” which basically means they’re worth checking out. Listen to their song “Never Going Back” below to see for yourself.
Anna Lunoe
Image via Anna Lunoe Facebook
Anna Lunoe has been on my radar for quite some time, so I’m excited to finally see her live. As a DJ, vocalist, songwriter and producer, she is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Lunoe has not only played at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Ultra, TomorrowWorld and Hard Fest, but she has even opened for The Weeknd. You can bet her latest single “Radioactive” doesn’t disappoint.
Sofi Tukker
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Are you ready for a dance party? Because that’s exactly the mood you’ll get into when listening to the New York-based duo’s song “Drinkee,” which is currently nominated for “Best Dancing Record” at this years Grammy’s. The lyrics from the song are said to be directly adapted from Brazilian poet Chacal and is even sung in Portuguese. And even though I can’t understand the lyrics, the song alone made me curious enough to check them out this year.
Honne
Image via itsallindie.com
With influences such as Al Green and Bill Withers, the British duo’s soulful electronic songs make it impossible not to instantly fall in love with them. I haven’t heard the entire album yet, but I do plan on listening some more. You can listen to their song “Someone That Loves You” here.
Don’t see your favorite artist? Share with us which small (or big) print artists you plan on seeing at this years Coachella by using the hashtag #CampusCropChat on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to follow us on Snapchat @ASICPP!
