Big Sean Returns to Coachella and Plays for the People of the Pandemic Era

Three years after the eclipse in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is back. Festival attendees still rush out into the desert on two long April Fools’ Days (April 15-17 and April 22-24) to organize music, fashion and wreaths. Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and The Weeknd with the Swedish House Mafia (replacing after Kanye West left at the last minute) are this year’s headliners; Also on the Indian stage are Megan T. Stallion, Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers, Lil Baby, Flume and Maggie Rogers. Before and after the show, the party moves to the regular Neon Carnival, Revolve Festival, Bootsy Bellows, Tao and Soho House.

Coachella also returns with Big Sean, who will do his first solo set in 2016 with Calvin Harry and 2 Chainz, YG and DJ Mustard in 2019. Ahead of his show, the “Wolves” rapper – currently working. Two new albums – spoken THR On his rehearsal strategy, fashion training and crowds in the pandemic era.

How do you feel about returning to Coachella?

Man, I feel like it’s going to be so much fun. I feel like this is what a lot of people expected, especially festival goers. Coachella is the highest level festival in the world, you really can’t talk about festivals without Coachella, so I feel like people are excited and spinning. On top.

What is your performance vision?

I wanted to give people experience. This is actually a very useful set. One of the things I have on my side is that I’ve been here a long time, I have some nostalgic songs and some songs that I feel are going to bring people back and evoke good memories.

What kind of training do you do?

I haven’t been out in a long time, so we’re doing this. Very soon we will start intensive rehearsals, but I also want to keep it that way. I don’t want to be too organized and say, “Oh, do that dance move, do it and do it,” I just want to keep it raw and authentic. The magic you get from live shows is sometimes taken away when it’s too fictional and too rehearsed. This is not an award, it’s more of an energy exchange, I respect and love Coachella.

Do shows and people feel different than before the pandemic?

The energy is still there and the love for live music and performance is still there, but I feel like the world has experienced a lot, personally and collectively, and is still experiencing a lot. People really need to get away, and I’m glad that I do, but just the state of the world – how high is gasoline for people, how are food prices going up, everything is going up and people’s wages aren’t going up – is disastrous. . I think it also affects festivals because some people who really wanted to go to the festival might not be able to go because life just doesn’t give them a break.

Fashion is a big part of Coachella. Do you have a specific look planned?

I’ve talked to a few people, I only know people. he is one of my friends [creative director] Matthew Williams from Givenchy, I spoke to him. I talked to my verbal friends and they at Ambush. I also recently talked to black designers just to see where I’m going. I thought of course.

How does a festival show compare to one of your touring shows?

I think one of the best parts of going to a festival and seeing an act that you might not just be going to see their show is the discovery aspect. I always have this in mind for many people who haven’t seen my live performance, maybe [hearing] Songs they’ve never heard and might like a lot. I take care of each song, although some songs might be five years old, it might be the first time people hear them. I want to give you this experience in the best way.

The interview is edited for length and clarity.

A version of this story first appeared in the April 13 issue of The Gossipify. Click here to subscribe.