Music Festivals

Whether it be Coachella in California or Governors Ball in New York, music festival season is upon us. For many, the bold fashion choices, dust-filled lungs, and blistered feet are the highlight of their summer. This festival season, however, is different from the rest: as my friends and I reviewed the Gov Ball lineup, we found ourselves looking forward not to Post Malone, 21 Savage, or SZA, but rather to smaller artists such as Chapel Roan and Faye Webster. It seems as though these micro-artists have piqued the interest of music festival attendees, and are the beginning of a new era of music. 

The method by which new artists secure their platform may be unknown to you, but don’t fret; you’ve come to the right place. As your favorite niche music enthusiast, I’m here to give you the run-down of how these smaller artists raise an audience. It all starts with the small venues: Terminal 5, Toad’s Place, and more throughout the country. The discographies are small and the tours are as short as me in the Boy Genius pit this past fall. Then, the new artist is spotted having their emotional “I made it” moment on stage and edited on TikTok to songs like “Sparks” by Coldplay. As social media promotes this new artist, you start seeing them appear on festival lineups. Although the name is small on the performer’s list, they are on there nonetheless. Now, the audience that once saw this artist in a small venue feels obligated to go support them while they grow, attracting a new audience to the music festivals this spring. Artists such as Renee Rapp and Sabrina Carpenter have grown from Terminal 5 to Coachella and now are the highlight of my friends’ and I’s festival lineups. I love being proud to say that the artists I’ve seen grow up are now playing to a crowd full of people who will give them their big break.

Up until now, the headliners have been the big hit, so why are the smaller artists all of a sudden taking over? Has it become “lame” to appreciate something big and instead have niche preferences? The other day, I was scrolling on TikTok when I came across a video that caught my attention. A girl was putting together an outfit that fits the “Art mom core” aesthetic. I know you’re staring confused at your paper right now and frankly, your guess is as good as mine. I didn’t know if she was going to put on a smock or wear a paint dress like Bella Hadid at the Caperna fashion show. As I kept watching, she didn’t do either of those things. Instead, she threw on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. She gave a name to something “basic” to make it sound more creative and individual. That is exactly the pattern that has been occurring throughout the music industry. These small-artist-filled music festivals are a way for people to express their individual and niche music tastes. The small artists that have taken the music industry by storm are not only a representation of the new talent, but also of the individuality people are desperate for in a world of overconsumption and mass marketing. 

One of the things that I have noticed lately in particular, is the way that people prove they are real fans of an artist. When I’m asked to name three songs of the band I'm wearing on my shirt, I know I have to come up with the most niche and underground songs these artists have to offer. I like Phoebe Bridgers, but when I tell someone my favorite song is “Waiting Room” or “Motion Sickness” I get a laugh and a weird look as if I am not a fan at all. Liking artists on a surface level seems to be seen as basic and non-original. Even though I’m a Phoebe Bridgers fan, I like listening to “Waiting Room” and pretending I’m in a music video, sue me. 

I asked Hopkins to tell me who they would want to see at their dream music festivals. Although popular artists such as Drake and Taylor Swift prevailed, almost every person included smaller artists or bands such as “Cannibal Corpse” or “Pierce the Veil.” When choosing the final two headliners, the options were Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift. Olivia Rodrigo won first, while Kendrick and Drake tied for second. I then asked Hopkins why they made the choice they did, and the most common response was similar to this one: “Taylor Swift’s music is overrated and Olivia Rodrigo's music has been overplayed.” Similar to what I’ve realized throughout this festival season, “overrated” is the reason for a shift in music today, giving smaller artists their platform. 

With the Governors Ball coming up, the focus has shifted from idolizing big artists to bragging about knowledge of the smaller ones. Even if it is because of overplaying songs, or people wanting to be original, the new artist’s talent can not be denied. Artists such as Maggie Rogers, Maryjo, and Steven Sanchez have set a new standard for production and vocal abilities through their incredible vocal range and creative songwriting. This being said, I will proudly be standing at the barricade for Chapel Roan’s concert this summer.