Could this be the start of a Canadian Invasion?
By Rebecca Draper
Seeing Canadian artists take on big stages around the globe always warms my heart. There’s no doubt that they are leaving an international impact with their talents, and Coachella 2024 is no exception. The lineup was released recently, with plenty of prominent names, some newbies and some expected regulars.
The annual festival is taking place from April 12-14 and 19-21 in the desert city of Indio, California. Headlining this year: Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat along with a special reunion from No Doubt. The festival showcases some of the music industry’s biggest artists of all genres, creating the ultimate live music experience. Canadian artists such as Kaytranada, Testpilot (Deadmau5) and Chromeo were some of the big names featured last year. Here are some artists repping Canada on the lineup this year.
Nav
Nav is a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer born and raised in Toronto to a Punjabi Jat Sikh family. He first came onto the music scene in 2015 co-producing Drakes’ hit single “Back to Black”. In 2016, his song “Myself” went viral on Soundcloud and he was later signed to XO, a record label founded by The Weeknd. He’s no stranger to the Coachella stage, with his first-ever solo public performance being at Coachella 2017—also guest performing alongside The Weeknd and Travis Scott.
AP Dhillon
AP Dhillon is a singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer originally from Punjab, India, he later moved to British Columbia to continue his studies while pursuing music in 2015. AP Dhillon became a significant new artist in the Punjabi-Canadian community when he was the first artist to sing a song fully in Punjabi at the 2023 Juno Awards, putting Punjabi music on the international map. He later released his first single “Fake” in 2019 under the Canadian independent record label Run-Up Records. "I moved here with two suitcases and one dream, and that was just to do something that can inspire people back home," Dhillon told CBC News at the Juno Awards. This will be his first time performing at Coachella.
Blond:ish
Vivie-ann Bakos, known by her stage name Blond:ish, is a Montreal-based producer and DJ. Alongside being a praised house/techno artist, she is also an environmental activist and founded Bye Bye Plastics, a grassroots organization aimed towards eliminating single-use plastic from music venues and events. The artist recently released a lively single called “Sorry” featuring none other than the “Queen of Pop”, Madonna. She will be returning to the festival after making her debut in 2019.
Grimes
This acclaimed Montreal native is familiar with performing on big global stages. Her musical style is a blend of several genres, including electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop. Her most recent release is the upbeat single “I Wanna Be Software”, produced by Calgary native IIIangelo who is also known for his frequent collaborations with The Weeknd. She last performed at Coachella in 2016, featuring guest appearances from Janelle Monae and Aristophanes for an eclectic performance.
This lineup offers some of the best talent Canada has to offer, and the diverse range of music exemplifies the country’s multiculturalism. Hopefully, this growing exposure in the global music scene will leave a lasting imprint on future music stars and give Canadian artists the recognition they deserve.