Coachella audiences were treated to the first performances by Indian singer and actor Diljit Singh Dosanjh and Pakistani singer and composer Ali Sethi, respectively. Dosanjh was the first singer to perform in the Punjabi language at the event, and he did not let the crowd down. Singing hits like “Patiala Peg” and “Lemonade” with incredible intensity and mesmerizing skill, the singer won over the crowd.
Ali Sethi’s performance was just as thrilling, with him singing his viral hit song, Pasoori. The singer’s song, “Pasoori, was the year’s most-Googled song, and he’s been making waves in the South Asian music scene. The crowd was buzzing with excitement since the singer’s fans finally got to see him live.
Ali Sethi sported a black suit with silver accents on the lapel, a matching cap, and silver dress shoes. Equally stunning was his performance, which had the audience anticipating his set. Film and theatre director Mira Nair said of Ali Sethi, “Cowboy cherub, you’re divine.” Adnan Malik and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy expressed their gratitude with a heart and a flame emoji.
Dosanjh wore a black turban, black sunglasses, and black gloves for his performance, and he was a sight to behold. Fans were thrilled to see DJ Diplo moving his body to the music with other concertgoers in a video posted on Diljit’s Instagram Stories.
Alia Bhatt captioned the photo by Dosanjh “Epic!” on her Instagram Story. Kareena Kapoor Khan referred to the artist as an “OG,” and Sonam Kapoor expressed regret for missing the show in person.
These shows marked a sea change in the musical industry, and their importance cannot be overstated. Including South Asian performers in the highly successful Coachella Festival is a big deal for the advancement of musical diversity.
A large number of people traveled to Coachella to see these South Asian artists because of their high profile. This year’s list was just as exciting for fans as last year’s, which featured South Asian musicians like Raveena Aurora and Arooj Aftab.
Blackpink, Kid Laroi, Charli XCX, Labrinth, Jai Wolf, Joy Crookes, Jai Paul, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, Blink-182, and Boygenius were just some of the other well-known acts who performed at the festival. One of the most enigmatic figures in electronic music, Jai Paul, had his debut performance at this year’s festival.