After two long years of absence, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival should finally return to the Empire Polo Club from April 15-17 and 22-24.
Goldenvoice, the festival’s producers, announced the long-awaited lineup for Coachella’s 2022 installment on January 12, and there’s plenty to delight festival-goers.
GRAMMY-winning pop hero Billie Eilish returns, rising from the second row of the lineup in 2019 to the coveted best poster, becoming the youngest ever Coachella headliner at 20. Other GRAMMY Winners Harry Styles, you (artist formerly known as Kanye West) and GRAMMY-nominated EDM supergroup Swedish house mafia share headlining status, closing each night of the desert extravaganza with pop, rap, dance, lots of fanfare and surprise guests.
Doja Cat, big-sean, 21 Wild, Disclosure, Karl G., Anita and Banda MS are just a handful of other heavyweights on the bill, covering just about every corner of music (even The Nightmare Before Christmas composer Danny Elfman will make an appearance).
The Coachella lineup announcement is always a major industry moment, as it unofficially marks the start of festival season. Its roster traditionally includes a mix of music’s hottest hitmakers and up-and-coming rising stars, allowing for a real-time reflection of what’s happening now and what’s to come.
What happens at Coachella is even more monumental, setting the trends for music, festivals and fashion for the year ahead. The performers use the Coachella stage as a proving ground to try out new elements of their live show, debut unreleased songs, reunite with collaborators, and deliver plenty of other headline-worthy moments (who could forget when? Billie met Justin Bieber for the first time?).
Beyond the buzz from the biggest names, there are countless standout acts on the Coachella 2022 lineup. Read on to find out the six main takeaways from this year’s standout offering.
Rap and R&B continue their reign
Hip-hop and R&B led the (eventually cancelled) programming 2020with some of those artists heading into 2022. Not only is Ye returning to close out both weekends of the festival (he did a special Sunday service over Easter in 2019), but the lineup is a treasure trove of rap talent.
Women represent, with Megan you stallion, city girlsDoja Cat, Sampa the Great and Princess Nokia all ready to throw bars and vibes. Vince StaplesBig Sean, Little babyDenzel Curry, JID, Run the Jewels, Isaiah RashadBROCKHAMPTON, Cordae and 2022 Nominated for Best New Artist Baby Keem also represents a solid selection of rappers who continue to shake things up.
As for R&B, showcasing some of the sweetest sounds of today’s alternative R&B wave, Amber Marks, Ari Lennox, Snoh Aalegra, Steve Lacy, Daniel Caesar, Emotional Oranges and Pink Sweat$ are sure to make listeners swoon.
Read more: 2021 in Review: 8 Trends That Defined Rap
Latin representation extends beyond superstars
Like rolling stone writer Tomás Mier Notedit might be “the most Latino lineup in Coachella history.”
It offers an exciting sample of the breadth of Latin music, with Mexican regional bands Grupo Firme and Banda MS, from Tijuana and Mazatlán, respectively, receiving the main billing on the second tier. Other Latin bands include Brazilian popstars Anitta and Pavlo VittarColombian reggaetonera Karol G, Argentinian rappers Nathy Peluso and Nicki Nicole, Mexican corrido trap artist Natanael Cano and Mexican alt-folk singer/songwriter Ed Maverick.
Mexican-American Alternative Genre Benders Cuco and Omar Apollowho both sing in Spanish and English and serve up an infectious mix of pop and rock influences and styles, will make their Coachella debut.
Meet the band: Banda MS explains how their collaboration with Snoop Dogg introduces Banda music to new audiences
The list spans the globe
In addition to rich Latin music offerings from Mexico, South America and the United States, Coachella attendees can also hear an eclectic mix of sounds from the rest of the world.
You can get lost in the funky Turkish psych-rock of Altin Gun; the energetic, luminous and super kawaii J-pop of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu; rock metal hair Italian group Måneskin; and the sublime French nu-disco of L’Impératrice. Legend of South African house music Black coffee and emerging Benin-born, Brooklyn-based DJ/producer AMÉMÉ will each command the dance floor with their sublime, sultry beats infused with Africa.
Related: Black coffee on the new album, Unconsciously: “Music is life for me and I want you to feel it with every beat and melody”
Desert rave goes on day and night
Dance music has never been lost at Coachella, as the festival’s legendary Yuma tent – an enclosed (and air-conditioned!) glittering, laser-streaked disco ball – brings the energy of the underground dance club to the middle of the desert. . And with this year’s lineup of dance and electronic acts, it’s definitely going to rock the whole weekend.
Beloved EDM trio Swedish House Mafia return to the festival 10 years after their first headline, since breaking up in 2013 and meeting in 2018. Major dance groups Fatboy Slim, Jamie XX, Flume and Disclosure will also host the dance party.
As with rap, women are also holding up in the dance category, with TOKiMONSTAAnd less, Jayda GLogic1000, ANNE, Sama’Abdulhadi, DJ Holographic, Honey Dijon and The Blessed Madonna, the latter two of which are billed together, ready to serve up house, techno and beyond. Black coffee, Canal TresThe Avalanches, DJ Koze, hot chipDixson, Caribou – who also performs as her DJ alias Daphne, ARTBAT, Damien LazarusRichie Hawtin, Chami, Made onPurple Disco Machine and more complement the dance numbers.
There are many alternative acts
The sun and alternative and independent artists always create the perfect festival atmosphere. While Coachella has served a broader rock menu in the past, there are plenty of indie rock and alternative genre mash-ups to see this year, including Phoebe BridgerMaggie Rogers, Japanese breakfastOmar Apollo, Caroline Polacheck, Girl in Red, Nilüfer Yanya and the Wallows.
Amyl and the Sniffers and IDLES will serve up punk energy, while always-masked crooner Orville Peck will deliver his brand of artsy, queer country. Ed Maverick, The Marias and chicano batman represent Latinx artists making beautiful music across the alternative spectrum from their life experiences.
Pop doesn’t stop at headliners
What would Coachella be without some big pop star headliners (Beyonce in 2018, Ariana Grande in 2019) to serve us everything we need and more?
Harry Styles and Billie Eilish will wear the crowns this year, but beyond their mega-shine, there are plenty of alt-pop acts we can’t wait to see. Billie’s older brother FINISHED will make his solo debut at the festival, and Conan GrayCuco, Alec BenjaminJoji, Still Woozy and hyperpop limit pushers 100 gecs will also keep things poppy.
Again, women are well represented in the ever-changing pop genre programming. Carly Rae JepsenKim Petras, Beabadoobee, Arlo Parks, Bishop BriggsJapanese-born, London-based art-pop queen Rina Sawayama and Indonesian actor NIKKI, who’s rising to 88, bring so much to the art form and will bring that energy to Coachella 2022.
For the full Coachella 2022 lineup, visit coachella.comwhere you can also join the Weekend 1 waitlist and register for the Weekend 2 presale (which takes place this Friday, January 14).
2021 in Review: 8 Trends That Defined Pop
