From sets by YOASOBI and LE SSERAFIM to the combination of star power courtesy of 88rising Futures, the promise of Asian pop music was on full display in Indio.
Number_i's Yūta Jingūji, Yuta Kishi, Sho Hirano, Jackson Wang and Liu Yuxin perform during the 88rising Futures show on the Mojave Stage during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 14, 2024 in Indio, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
Historically, Coachella has relied on trusted partners to deliver a major “who's next” artist from Asia when it sets up camp in the desert.
Longtime K-pop label YG Entertainment first landed hip-hop trio Epik High at the 2016 festival before BLACKPINK in 2019 and 2023 (where the girl group headlined), as well as their longtime boy band BIGBANG for the 2020 Coachella was eventually cancelled. Music and media company 88rising brought Jackson Wang from China in 2023 and as a surprise guest this year, Joji from Japan in 2022 and both NIKI and Rich Brian from Indonesia in 2022. Korean indie-rock acts Hyukoh, those in electronic spaces such as Peggy Gou, and even Japan's vocal scene through booking Hatsune Miku in 2020, as well as this year, have previously brought a much-needed range of representation to the festival.
But for 2024, Coachella has opened its arms to a host of young and up-and-coming artists of long standing, houses and backgrounds, casting its widest net yet across Asia's various pop scenes – most fans showing off their fandom with intense excitement – giving artists as much exposure as is afforded to pop, rock, electronic and Latin music at the highly influential festival.
From ATEEZ, YOASOBI, The Rose, LE SSERAFIM and ATARASHII GAKKO! all rocking their own ensembles to the electrifying mix of crowds and surprise guests gathered at the 88rising Futures show, read on for more on the artists they're representing this year and why Coachella 2024 clearly did their research when it came to this year's extensive spotlight on Asian pop.
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ATEEZ
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Headlining this year were ATEEZ, the first K-pop boy group to take on Coachella, where their revolutionary brand of cinematic show dominated the Sahara stage on Friday night — best displayed in both the country-western set and the shirtless members San and Mingi unbuttoned their jackets mid-performance to stand apart from any preconceived notion of a band. With a number of cryptic hints about new music and a future tour on the field at the festival as well as social media following their high-octane set, ATEEZ made sure every moment was used wisely for their Coachella debut.
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Xin Liu
Image credit: Natt Lim/Coachella
Not only did Xin Liu light up the Mojave stage with her famously intense and intricate choreography alongside a large dance troupe, she literally sparkled with the bits and pieces of glittering gold that decorated her outfit. Off the stage, the Chinese starlet also appeared to be one of the most talked about artists on social media with the latest 88 rising signee using Coachella to boost her exposure ahead of her upcoming English music.
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ATARASHII GAKKO!
Image credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella
Relive their first Pop Songs hit with “Hello”, ATARASHII GAKKO! they showed off all aspects of their performance style by jumping like gymnasts in pyramid formations, incorporating live taiko drumming, wearing outfits that combined traditional and modern Japanese fashion, and providing some of the cutest crowd interaction of all genres.
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The Rose
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Representing rock, The Rose's booking at Coachella marked a major moment for the quartet who have transitioned from Korea's pop scene to the indie route with their partner, Transparent Arts. The Rose's 2023 album DUAL, their first to enter the Billboard 200, boasts some atmospheric Coldplay-esque anthems, but the band's intense energy on stage more than justified their strong vocals on their tracks, aided by of their supporting LED displays. boasting the lyrics to anthems like “Back to Me.”
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YOASOBI
Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
Following last year's international breakthrough track “Idol” (which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart for seven weeks) and a string of internationally focused music, YOASOBI made their Coachella debut to rock both sets on the Mojave stage (where singer Ikuta Lilas frolicked on the tiered stage while never forgetting to play with her producer-organist partner Ayase) as well as taking part in the 88rising Futures showcase (bringing ATARASHII GAKKO! to accompany them on stage for an epic ending).
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Number_i, Jackson Wang & Xin Liu
Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
One of the most exciting parts of the 88rising Futures stage was the mix of talent coming together on stage. Japanese singers Yūta Jingūji, Yuta Kishi and Sho Hirano of the trio Number_i, Hong Born K-pop star Jackson Wang and China's Xin Liu have joined their star power on the Mojave stage for a collaboration that will likely done only once. for fans. Jackson even played with Number_i on their single 'GOAT', hinting at a global remix of their Japan Hot 100 No. 1 hip-hop hit.
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Peggy Goo
Image credit: Quinn Tucker/Coachella
Korean-born, Germany-based Peggy Gou had her audience (which reportedly included BLACKPINK's Lisa) enjoying her dance and disco music on the Sahara stage, but the DJ-producer-singer also brought her her own set of dancers — not usually seen in the EDM space — with the troupe's modern, gender-defining group choreography bringing in some additional appetizing visuals beyond the mega-watt LEDs.
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LE SSERAFIM
Image credit: Rachael Pollack
With less than two years under their belt, girl group LE SSERAFIM also delivered their attitude-driven performance style to the Sahara as Billboard Global 200 hits like “ANTIFRAGILE,” “Smart,” and “Unforgiven” (with a cameo from the song's legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers) all delivered the internationally eclectic sounds already inside Coachella. The quintet's live debut of new song '1-800-hot-n-fun' also showed that the festival was a place for artists to deliver musical surprises, and it wouldn't be the only new music debuting at the festival.
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BIBI
Image credit: Natt Lim/Coachella
A last-minute surprise announcement just hours before the 88rising Futures showcase, BIBI performed her South Korean No. 1 hit “Bam Yang Gang” and shared her new duet with Jackson Wang during the short but very of her effective period in the Mojave scene. It wouldn't be surprising if the quick cameo earned BIBI her own Coachella 2025 set.
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Tiger JK & Yoon Mi-rae
Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
After first hitting 88rising's 2023 Coachella stage, Korean hip-hop pioneers and married couple Tiger JK and Yoonmirae joined 88rising once again this year for a renewed lineup and collaborators. The duo unexpectedly opened with a cover of Stray Kids' “Topline,” featuring Tiger who called the K-pop boy group “the beautiful group Stray Kids.” Xiu Lin later joined the pair to perform the song “Boom Tick Boom”, which was written by the two and produced by Tiger.
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Awich
Image credit: Natt Lim/Coachella
With her eye on the international market, Awich played her first gig in Los Angeles just days before her 88rising Futures showcase. The Japanese rapper brought YOASOBI and ATARASHII GAKKO! on stage to display a versatility that could prove decisive as he prepares future English music
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from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/photos/coachella-2024-asia-pop-spotlight-kpop-jpop-china-1235656545/
