Culture

Los Angeles-based Indonesian singer-songwriter NIKI and rapper Rich Brian are set to kick-start 2020 in style, as they’re confirmed to play at this year’s Coachella, making them the first Indonesians to perform at the festival.

Annually held at California’s Empire Polo Club, 2020’s edition is set is set to take place on 10-12 April and 17-18 April, with NIKI and Rich Brian scheduled to take the stage on the second weekend.

Other acts performing at Coachella include Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Lana Del Ray, Travis Scott and K-pop superstars BIGBANG — who are set to make their comeback after being discharged from South Korea’s compulsory military service and the scandals surrounding former member Seungri.

Reactions from NIKI and Rich Brian

The 20-year-old Brian Imanuel Soewarno, or better known as Rich Brian, shot to fame with the viral hit Dat $tick in 2016. He was known then by his controversial stage name Rich Chigga. According to Coconuts Jakarta, he relocated to Los Angeles from Jakarta in mid-2017 to embark on his first US tour and joined American record label 88rising.

Nicole Zefanya, popularly known as NIKI is a 20-year-old R&B singer/songwriter born and raised in Jakarta. Coconuts Jakarta mentioned she grew up listening to 90s R&B artists such as Aaliyah and Destiny’s Child. When she studied at Pelita Harapan School, NIKI gained popularity due to covers and original songs uploaded on YouTube.

She received more than 40,000 subscribers at the time. NIKI also opened Taylor Swift’s The Red Tour concert in Jakarta in 2014. Three years later, she moved to Nashville to study music in Lipscomb University, and has never looked back ever since, releasing acoustic versions of her singles in 88rising’s label-wide album.

Looking to support your fellow regional artists for making it big? Coachella’s second weekend tickets can be purchased from 6 Jan 2019, as the first weekend pre-sale tickets has been sold out.

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