Situated in a picturesque setting in the desert, music enthusiasts and the creative community at large have been gathering in Indio, California’s Coachella Valley since 1999 to create an annual music mecca far from any urban metropolis. In its early days, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival provided a massive platform for a wide range of alternative icons, including Rage Against the Machine, Björk, Beck, Tool and Arcade Fire. Over its 25-year reign, the festival has played host to a diverse, incredibly well-curated range of artists, from Beyoncé and Drake to Bad Bunny and Blackpink – and not to mention, an edgy undercard that has featured OFF!, Bad Religion, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and the Rapture.
Since Coachella’s beginning, dance music and rave culture have been an integral part of the festivities at the Empire Polo Fields. The inaugural year featured the Chemical Brothers, Moby and Underworld as main acts, with support from DnB icon Roni Size, techno luminary Richie Hawtin, and Detroit forefathers Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May. Acts such as DJ Shadow, Paul Oakenfold and Sasha & Digweed each ignited the desert at the height of their powers. In 2006, Daft Punk’s legendary pyramid setup made its global debut, and with social media and YouTube technologies just emerging, the duo’s thumping filter house grooves traveled around the world. This moment signaled a new chapter for dance music, and in the years that followed, Deadmau5, Kaskade, LCD Soundsystem and Tiësto would all get top billing at the vibrant annual gathering.
Over the course of two consecutive action-packed weekends, the 2024 edition of Coachella boasts a massive lineup of global superstars, ranging from Tyler, the Creator and Ice Spice to Peso Pluma and Lana Del Rey, just to name a few. In celebration of the desert’s invitation to dance-culture loyalists, we’re focusing on a collection of beat-driven sounds that are set to thump throughout the Coachella Valley this year.
Paris’ electro-dance duo Justice, who are dropping their first album in eight years, will return to the desert for the first time since 2008. Iconic electronic duo Orbital, who first appeared at the festival in 1999, will also make their return. Melbourne’s Dom Dolla, currently exploding on the international dance scene, will return after making his debut in 2022. The rapidly ascendant American DJ and producer John Summit, who also made his Coachella debut in 2022, will be making a return pilgrimage as well. Meanwhile, the buzzing Scottish musician and producer Barry Can’t Swim, known for his groove-laden soulful house vibes, will make his debut, as will South African-born British singer-songwriter and record producer Kenya Grace. Whether you’re heading to the desert or just dreaming of it, this collection of dance floor and rave-ready tracks from icons and new-era breakouts alike belongs on your radar.
LISTEN TO THE FESTIVAL RADAR PLAYLIST NOW ON SOUNDCLOUD
⠶ Dom Dolla ⠶, "Saving Up"
Upbeat thumper from the Aussie producer, featuring vox from Clementine Douglas.
BLOND:ISH, “Call My Name”
Formed as a duo, now a solo act, Vivie-ann Bakos adopted the name from her Montréal residency.
Barry Can’t Swim, “How It Feels”
The Scottish producer ’s 2023 debut album got him thinking about writing music as “jigsaw pieces that slot together”.
JUSTICE, “Justice, Miguel - Saturnine”
The French production duo tapped R&B singer Miguel for vocals on this advance track from their forthcoming album “Hyperdrama”.
DJ SEINFELD, “DJ Seinfeld and Confidence Man - Now U Do (Edit)”
A celebration of summer: “quirky, naive,” as Seinfeld says, “and an ode to all the summer flings out there”.
JUNGLE, “Don't Play (feat. Mood Talk)”
This one samples a rare 1984 deep cut from a soul/gospel group called Enlightenment.
Kenya Grace, “Hey, Hi, How are you?”
Self-taught singer-songwriter-producer from London
John Summit, “John Summit & Hayla - Shiver”
Follow-up to last year’s “Where Are You,” the earlier collaboration from these two.
Mall Grab, “SAY NOTHING”
The Aussie Jordon Alexander took his stage name from a term for the wrong way to hold a skateboard.
Two Shell, “Touchpad”
UK mystery duo put out this polyrhythmic banger in 2020.
Nikki Nair, “Never Let Them Know Your Next Move”
This emerging DJ-producer got his start throwing parties in Knoxville, TN before launching as a recording artist
No Art, “ANOTR, Abel Balder - Relax My Eyes”
The Amsterdam house duo convinced guitarist Abel Balder to sing here for the first time.
Anna Lunoe, “Anna Lunoe - Real Love (Club Edit)”
Even before fans have been familiarized with this one, the reaction from the dance floor has been “immediate,” Anna says
The Blessed Madonna (Chi), “Happier (feat. Clementine Douglas) [Extended]”
Formerly the Black Madonna, the dance DJ enlisted the Chicago singer for this classic slice of diva house
PurpleDiscoMachine, “Something On My Mind
Bit of a New Wave vibe from the German producer, who celebrated a Grammy win in ‘23
sam gellaitry, “ALONE”
Scottish producer hails from a family of musicians, including a dad who makes bagpipes.
Mahmut Orhan, “6 Days (Club Edit)”
Turkey’s Orhan samples 1971’s “Six Day War” by Colonel Bagshot, which fans may recognize from DJ Shadow’s own remake.
Hudson Mohawke, “Hudson Mohawke - Intentions”
Recent work from a founding member of the UK label collective LuckyMe.
Gorgon City, “Voodoo”
Lead single from the fourth album by the English duo.
Anti Up “Chromatic"
“This is automatic/Feel like anesthetic”: Yes, yes it does.
Channel Tres, “Walked In The Room”
One of Compton’s finest hits a fine groove on this infectious, bass-y slab of piano house.
Oneohtrix Point Never, “CC”
Ethereal, skyscraping new track from the mercury Prize-nominated artist.
steveangello "Steve Angello - ME"
To celebrate the news of his Coachella return, the Swedish House Mafioso dropped this track in January.
djwillclarke, "Move Your Body (feat. Moxie Knox)"
Find your bliss inside this summery jam, which features vocals from Moxie Knox
BICEP, "BICEP | WATERFALL"
Instrumental version of the Belfast duo’s flipside track “Water,” which features vocalist Clara La San
Carlita, "Carlita & Calussa - Fell In Luv (Extended)"
The sample: UBQ Project’s “When I Fell N Luv”
DJ SNAKE, "Nightbird"
The French production superstar dropped this non-album single in late ‘22
Nite Fleit, "Tell Me Another One"
Australia-born, London-based producer specializes in golden-era rave and EBM
Adriatique, "Vera"
Latest from the veteran Swiss duo, with input from Undercatt
Miss Monique, "Miss Monique & Paul Thomas - The Morning After"
Ukraine-UK mashup between Olesia Arkusha and her progressive house counterpart
Chase and Status, "Chase & Status - 2Ruff (feat. Takura)"
UK DnB chart-toppers who supplied heavyweight champ Tyson Fury’s walk-on music
ORBITAL, "Belfast (30 Something Years Later Mix)"
2022 remix of one of the classic techno duo’s signature tracks
Gesaffelstein, "Hard dreams"
The well-connected French DJ takes his name from a mashup of the German word for “total artwork” and Albert Einstein
LISTEN TO THE FESTIVAL RADAR PLAYLIST NOW ON SOUNDCLOUD
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