Author: Ashley Bajet

The Ultimate Coachella Survival Guide

Ashley Bajet

Hey, Aztecs! Excited for weekend two of Coachella 2017? Before you go out and make new memories, be sure to follow my personal “do’s and don’t’s” for Coachella 2017 for the optimal time of your life.

Don’t be afraid to wear whatever you want.
I hear people say, “Coachella is turning into more of a fashion show than a music festival,” (or something along those lines) all the time. My response to that? Wear whatever you want. If you want to dress boho chic? Go for it. Want to wear your heels? It might be a little painful if you’re standing all day, but if you really want to wear them, go for it! Dress for yourself, and don’t think twice about what others think.

Just keep in mind that it’s going to be really warm (especially when you’re deep inside a crowd of hundreds of people), and that there will be a lot of walking, standing around and dancing!

Create a meet-up spot for you and your friends.
Do you and your friends want to see different sets that are happening at the same time? Before you split up and head to your respective stages, create a meet-up place. Whether it be at different art installations, bathrooms or some other area, this will help reunite the group without any worries. It’ll also save you a lot of battery on your phone because you won’t have to constantly check up on everyone. Just simply arrange to meet somewhere at a specific time.

Being present in the moment is better than being on your phone.
As much as I love being on my social media accounts, I always follow this one rule: don’t drown everyone in excessive concert postings. I find it best to limit yourself to a couple posts a day, so that you can be present and really enjoy the festival. It’s better to become entranced in the different music, light shows and awesome surroundings that Coachella provides. I’d also like to add that people spend $400 on a ticket, and should really take in every little moment.

Create a game-plan for each day – but break that plan too.
To really get the most out of the three days of Coachella, it’s best to figure out in the morning (or night before) what sets you want to see, and plan out which stages you’re going to. However, Coachella’s about relaxing, having fun and spontaneity. If you’re passing by an artist or band who has an appealing sound, check them out! You never know what new music you might discover. It’s Coachella – just go with the flow.

Chill out at the Do Lab.

An incredibly underrated stage, being at the Do Lab is possibly the best memory I have of Coachella. If you’re tired, exhausted, hot, and in dire need of some fresh air… head on over to the Do Lab. Not only does the Do Lab feature weird characters spraying you with these strange, misting guns (pictured above), but they also have great music from underground DJs. For example, I was cooling down at the Do Lab when I discovered Tokimonsta, in 2015. Tokimonsta brought out Anderson .Paak, and then I realized how awesome Anderson .Paak was. The moral of the story is that you can discover a lot of new music. And, the Do Lab is a pretty spacious place compared to the other stages, which can only mean one thing: more dancing!

That’s all I have for today, Aztecs! Be sure to wear your sunscreen, charge your phones and bring your own toilet paper and seat covers!

Ashley Bajet,
signing out.

Featured Image: The Odyssey

 

Lorde Is Back!

Ashley Bajet

The 20-year-old New Zealander, Lorde, forever changed the genre of indie pop with her album “Pure Heroine” back in 2013. Her first hit song, “Royals,” was a refreshing new sound that flooded our radio airwaves. And, ever since her first album, we’ve been wanting more.

Lorde went on to create singles for movies, such as The Hunger Games, as well as feature on other artists’ songs, such as Disclosure‘s song, “Magnets,” and Son Lux‘s song, “Easy (Switch Screens).” Each song had its own unique sound because of the different artist/groups: Son Lux had a trip hop sound and Disclosure had an electronic sound. But, we were still in need of that simplistic and refreshing Lorde that provided us with the songs “Royals,” “Team,” and “Tennis Court.”

On March 3rd, 2017, Lorde released a single, “Green Light,” from her upcoming album “Melodrama.” Upon first listen, I felt as if she definitely lost her simple yet unique sound (if you compare it to “Tennis Court,” you’ll hear a difference). Lorde evolved to create more of a commercial sound with her new song.

Although joyous sounding, the song is about a heartbreak. Lorde stated, about her new song, that it’s about “that drunk girl at the party dancing around crying about her ex-boyfriend who everyone thinks is a mess. That’s her tonight and tomorrow she starts to rebuild.” Without hearing the true meaning of the song, you’ll automatically think that it’s just a stereotypical song about someone encouraging themselves to go and get something. However, reading her description of what the song is about really changes how you listen to the song – in a positive way. With that being said, take a listen to her new song “Green Light” below.

Lorde will be performing at Coachella in April and her new album will be coming out on June 16th, 2016. Also, if you need a pick-me-up before the weekend, take a look at Lorde on South Park!

“I am Lorde, ya ya ya!”

Ashley Bajet,
signing out.

 

Featured Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lorde_ARIAs_2013.jpg 

FYF 2017 Line-Up

Ashley Bajet

The FYF Lineup has arrived and it is truly a blessing from above. With Missy Elliott and Björk headlining on the same day (July 21) and Frank Ocean and Nine Inch Nails headlining on the two other days (July 22-23), FYF is sure to be packed full of a diverse group of youngsters. However, the big-name stars performing at FYF come at a cost: tickets are on sale for $299 rather than $199.

FYF has evolved from a single-day attraction in 2009, to a three-day festival that features many mainstream and iconic names. Unlike Coachella, most of the people that attend FYF are there mainly for the music, not for the Instagram boomerangs and the fashion. Located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, FYF will please fans of older music (with the #throwback hits of Tribe Called Quest and Iggy Pop), fans of current music (with Solange and Anderson.Paak) and fans of artists on the rise (such as Cherry Glazerr and Mitski).

So, below are a few artists playing at FYF that I highly suggest you check out!

Frank Ocean

It’s a no-brainer. Frank Ocean has been AWOL for a little too long, so any time he is in town or playing a show nearby, it’s basically mandatory! He dropped an album last year called “Blonde” and has so many great hits within that album, such as “Solo” and “Ivy.” He still has the iconic album “Channel Orange” under his belt, as well. When he performs the songs “Thinking of You” and “Super Rich Kids,” I’ll definitely be there screaming the words.

Photo (A Seat at the Table) by Dani Miller. Click image to view source. Photo unchanged. License

Solange

The goddess herself is sharing her beautiful music with us at FYF. Solange is known for her pop/R&B album, “A Seat At The Table,” which covers many subjects ranging from the Black Lives Matter protests to black culture in general. It’s refreshing to see Solange making a name for herself, other than “Beyonce’s sister.” I, for one, am a firm believer that her music proves to be genuine and unique, rather than commercialized and stereotypical. Not to mention, she has really good dance moves. So, go see Solange at FYF to feel #empowered.

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen, an angel herself, will be blessing us with hits such as “Shut Up, Kiss Me” and “Intern” from her latest album, “My Woman.” With a more pop/gritty sound that showcases pain, love and self reflection, her music will sound beautiful live at FYF. I was able to watch some of her set at Coachella 2014, and it’s true that her music definitely has changed from “sad girl” music to a more upbeat sound. Because of that, I’m even more excited to see and hear her new music live at FYF.

I could talk about this line-up for hours, but this would turn into a novel, so I won’t. However, a few other notable performers playing at FYF that I think you should see are Tribe Called Quest, King Krule, Hannibal Buress, Björk and Cherry Glazerr! Have a great rest of your week, Aztecs!

Ashley Bajet,

signing out.

 

Featured Image by FYF.

 

Fleet Foxes is Back!

Ashley Bajet

As the winter weather is fleeing and wildflowers are blooming, it’s only fitting to announce the following: Fleet Foxes has finally put out new music, after six years. Yes, in fact, is has been six years since the group’s last album, “Helplessness Blues,” came out. Listen to their new single, “Third of May / Odaigahara,” below.

If you are an avid listener of Fleet Foxes, you know that through the years their sound has definitely changed, along with lead singer Robin Pecknold’s voice. I was curious to find out if Fleet Foxes would go back to using a wide variety of instruments (“Blue Ridge Mountains“), as their newer sound features a really prominent yet simple lead guitar (“Helplessness Blues“). I think it’s safe to say that the group’s new song is a perfect mix of both old and new. It caters to the grandiose orchestration that many fans seem to love, but brings it back to a more peaceful, reflective sound towards the end.

What I loved most about Fleet Foxes’ previous music is that it seemed to be nature oriented. This song did not disappoint – it had plenty of nature metaphors. Throughout the nine minutes of this experimental track we’re being told the story of the relationship between Pecknold and another founding member of Fleet Foxes, Skyler Skjelset.

Fleet Foxes underwent member changes as well. For example, Joshua Tillman (also known as Father John Misty) was unable to join the band again, most likely because he’s doing his own solo tour. The group currently consists of Pecknold, Skjelset, Casey Wescott, Christian Wargo and Morgan Henderson.

Here’s to going on road trips with new Fleet Foxes music at the top of our playlists! Their new album “Crack-Up” debuts June 16th and they will be at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sept. 23rd. I’ve been waiting six years to see them live, so I’ll be there (crying my eyes out)! Will you?

Ashley Bajet,
signing out.

Featured Image: Newsvibes.com