Pop, dance, and late-night visuals!
Day 1 at Coachella hit that perfect balance of chaos and calm. The sun stayed strong most of the day, lighting up the fields at Empire Polo Club, while a cold breeze would roll through just when you needed it. It felt good. People were in a real mood to move, to explore, to just be outside again with music everywhere.
The crowd felt open and easy. Groups dancing with strangers, outfits that looked planned for weeks, others thrown together last minute. No one cared. Everyone was just there. You could walk from one stage to another and catch totally different sounds without losing the energy.
What stood out most was how natural everything felt. No rush, no pressure to chase every set. Just follow what sounds good. Day 1 had a mix of rising artists, global acts, and a few moments that felt bigger than expected. It was loud when it needed to be, soft in the right places, and always moving.
By the time the sun dropped, the lights took over and the whole place shifted into something else. That’s when the night really started.
SLAYYYTER
Slayyyter opened with pure attitude. No slow build, just straight into it with “Broke Bitch Free$tyle” and the crowd locked in right away. Her set felt messy in the best way. Loud, confident, a little chaotic. Songs like “Yes Goddd” and “$t. Loser” had people yelling every word, phones up, bodies moving without thinking too much.
She knows her audience. The references, the humor, the energy all felt super online but still hit hard in a live setting. “Brittany Murphy” brought a different kind of reaction, more emotional but still playful. It gave the set a little depth without slowing it down too much.
By the time she closed with “Beat Up Chanel$”, it felt like everyone was fully in her world. Not polished, not trying to be perfect. Just fun and loud and a little reckless. It worked.
YOUNA
YOUNA came in with no wasted time. The beats were tight, fast, and constant. From the start, the crowd was jumping. No warm-up needed. It felt like stepping into motion and just staying there.
Her control behind the decks stood out. Clean transitions, strong drops, nothing felt random. She built momentum and kept it going without overcomplicating anything. The sound hit hard but still felt light enough to dance through.
People around me were locked in. Not just moving, but actually smiling, reacting to every shift. That kind of connection doesn’t happen by accident. It felt earned.
Short set, but it did exactly what it needed to do. High energy, no filler.
BINI
BINI brought something special. Being the first group from the Philippines to play Coachella gave the set a real sense of pride, and you could feel that in the crowd.
They moved together like a unit but still had their own personalities shine through. Songs like “Strings” and “Zero Pressure” hit clean, while “Out Of My Head” and “Blink Twice” kept things light and fun.
There was a strong connection with fans. Smiles, eye contact, little moments between songs. It didn’t feel distant. It felt close.
When “Pantropiko” closed the set, it turned into a full celebration. People dancing, singing along, even if they didn’t know every word. That kind of energy spreads fast.
HUGEL
HUGEL turned his set into a party. Simple as that. Bringing around 30 fans on stage changed everything. It didn’t feel like a performance anymore. It felt like a shared moment.
The music stayed consistent. Strong beats, easy to follow, built for movement. But the real highlight was the vibe on stage. People dancing freely, no pressure, just enjoying it.
It made the crowd feel included. Like anyone could be up there. That kind of energy carried through the whole set.
Not complicated, not trying to prove anything. Just fun.
TEDDY SWIMS
Teddy Swims brought a completely different tone. Slower at times, more emotional, but still powerful. His voice carried everything.
Songs like “The Door” and “Hammer To The Heart” felt personal, almost heavy, but in a good way. Then he flipped it with “T.N.T.”, giving the crowd something louder to grab onto.
The moment everyone will remember was when David Lee Roth walked out for “Jump.” It felt unexpected and kind of surreal. The crowd reaction said it all.
Closing with “Lose Control” brought it back to his world. Big vocals, real emotion, and people fully locked in.
CMAT
CMAT was all personality. Bright, funny, and completely present. She didn’t just perform, she talked, joked, and pulled people in.
“Have Fun!” set the tone right away. Light, playful, but still sharp. “When A Good Man Cries” and “Euro-Country”showed more range, mixing humor with something a bit more honest.
Her energy never dropped. Even between songs, she kept the crowd engaged. It felt natural, not forced.
“Stay For Something” closed things in a way that felt full. Not over the top, just right.
THE XX
The xx slowed everything down in the best way. Their set felt quiet but still strong. You had to lean in a bit, but it was worth it.
Songs like “Crystalised” and “Islands” felt familiar and warm. “Say Something Loving” and “On Hold” added a softer emotional layer.
The lighting stayed minimal, letting the music carry the space. No distractions. Just sound and feeling.
Ending with “Intro” felt right. Calm, reflective, and kind of grounding after a busy day.
CACHIRULA & LOOJAN
Cachirula & Loojan brought raw energy. No filter, no holding back. Their set felt loud, messy, and alive.
Tracks like “Cachubi”, “Culo && teta”, and “Chaka” kept the crowd moving nonstop. There was no pause. Just constant motion.
Bringing fans on stage added to the chaos in a good way. It felt real. Not staged.
When Malilla joined for “Beiby”, the energy jumped even higher. Closing with “Chingon 2” felt like the perfect send-off.
KATSEYE
KATSEYE stepped onto the Coachella stage with a clear sense of identity. Not oversized, not trying too hard. Just locked in. From the start of “PINKY UP”, the energy felt sharp and intentional. Clean choreography, tight vocals, and a group dynamic that actually looked natural, not forced.
“Debut” and “Gameboy” kept things moving with a playful edge. There’s a confidence in how they switch between soft and bold moments without losing focus. “Mean Girls” leaned more into attitude, giving the crowd something louder to react to, while “Gabriela” added a bit of warmth and rhythm that balanced the set.
The acoustic version of “My Way” slowed everything down. It felt like a reset. No heavy production, just voices and presence. You could hear the crowd shift from dancing to listening. That moment made the rest of the set hit harder.
They closed with “Gnarly!”, and it felt like the right call. High energy, a little chaotic, and fun in a way that didn’t feel scripted.
For a group still building their story, this set felt solid. Focused, confident, and very aware of the moment.
JOOST
Joost was unpredictable in the best way. His set jumped between sounds, styles, and moods without warning, but it worked.
Songs like “Ome Robert” and “Luchtballon” had a playful energy, while “Axel F” and “Farmcore” pushed things into something more chaotic.
The crowd didn’t overthink it. They just went with it. Dancing, laughing, reacting to every switch.
Ending with “Europapa” felt huge. People singing, jumping, fully in it.
DISCLOSURE
Disclosure delivered exactly what you want from them. Clean production, smooth flow, and strong visuals.
“When a Fire Starts to Burn” set the pace early, and it didn’t drop from there. Tracks like “F For You”, “Work”, and “Latch” kept the crowd steady and engaged.
Everything felt controlled. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. Just a solid set from start to finish.
Closing with “You & Me” gave it that final lift.
ANYMA
After the cancellation during Weekend 1, Anyma came back with something to prove. And it showed.
The visuals were massive. Screens, movement, light, everything working together. It felt immersive without being overwhelming.
Tracks like “Æden”, “Ritual”, and “Atoma” built the foundation, but the guest moments pushed it further. Matt Bellamyon “Carrier Of Souls”, Lisa on “Bad Angel”, Swae Lee on “Phenomenal”, and Joji on “Beautiful.”
Each one added something different, but it never felt crowded. It all made sense.
Closing with “Beautiful” felt calm after everything. A quiet finish to a very loud set.
Day 1 didn’t try to be perfect. That’s what made it work. It felt open, flexible, and real. You could catch a full set or just a few songs and still feel like you were part of something.
The mix of artists made the day feel wide. Pop, dance, indie, experimental. All sitting next to each other without clashing.
What stayed with me most was the people. The way strangers connected, the way artists met the crowd halfway, the way every stage had its own little world.
As the night ended, there wasn’t a rush to leave. People lingered, talked, replayed moments. That’s always a good sign.
Day 1 set the tone. Not just for the weekend, but for how this year feels. Open, loud, and ready for more.
