In this music column series, we ask Leila Okuhama, a music and film personality active as an MC at festivals and music shows around the world, about artists to watch this month.
With the spread of streaming services, we now live in an age where we can keep up with music trends both domestically and internationally in real time. Which artists are currently trending on Spotify's top charts (most played songs) and viral charts (songs currently trending on social media)? This time, we bring you a report on Lollapalooza, one of America's three major music festivals.
The three major music festivals in the United States are Coachella in California, Bonnaroo in Tennessee, and Lollapalooza, held in Chicago, Illinois.
This year, I attended Lollapalooza for the first time. It is held over four days in Grant Park in downtown Chicago during the first week of August every year. This time, I'd like to introduce some of the leading female acts from the stellar lineup!
First, a little about the festival: it began in 1991. It is a touring festival founded by Perry Farrell, the lead singer of the rock band Jane's Addiction, and is now held in countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
By the way, X JAPAN also performed from Japan at the Chicago concert in 2010, and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra at the Chile concert in 2019.
This year, approximately 170 artists, including rock, hip-hop, pop, and DJs, performed across seven stages (a whopping nine if you include the kids' and VIP areas!) across a variety of genres. All the stages were located within the park, with a flat surface making it easy to move around, and the stages were close together, allowing you to see many acts. Plus, there were hotels and restaurants right outside the venue, so in my opinion, this ultra-urban festival was the easiest and most laid-back of all the large festivals I've been to, both in Japan and overseas. I recommend it even for those new to overseas festivals.
This year, some of the live performance was available to watch on the official streaming service, so some people in Japan may have been able to enjoy the local atmosphere.
The audience was incredibly excited by Tierra Whack, a female rapper and singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. She also participated in the album inspired by the much talked about film "The Lion King" released this summer (produced by Beyoncé, who also voiced the film). Her catchy songs had many parts that people could sing along to, and the audience's reactions were vibrant.
Their latest album, "Whack World," is a conceptual one, with every song under a minute, totaling just 15 minutes, and their live performances (conscious of the fact that videos can be posted to Instagram Stories up to a minute long) are also Instagram-esque, playing one impactful song after another. Their MC performances are humorous and approachable, yet have an overwhelming sense that no one can imitate. He's already a hot topic, but he's sure to set even more new trends in the future, so be sure to check him out while you can!
Another artist who is also gaining a fan base among music lovers is Yaeji, a track maker and singer born and raised in New York to Korean parents.
Personally, since last year, whenever I feel tired, I've often reached for her songs. Her veiled, whispery voice and trippy, floating sound seem to have a soothing effect. Her artsy fashion, featuring round glasses and oversized, baggy vintage clothing, is also cute. She performed at Coachella last year and Fuji Rock this year, selling out the venues, and it looks like her addictive style will only increase her fan base.
And the final act on the final day of this year's Lollapalooza was Ariana Grande. Despite experiencing numerous tragedies in 2017, including the terrorist bombing at one of her shows and the death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, Ariana never stopped expressing herself to overcome them. Her presence inspired many people, regardless of age or gender, including young girls, and the venue was already filled to capacity before the start time to see her. It was the most crowded performance of this year's Lollapalooza.
By the way, on this day, many girls were seen wearing Ariana's style, with high ponytails and horn-like buns. Her influence is also remarkable in terms of fashion.
When she first performed "Boyfriend," released two days before this performance, the two members of Social House, who featured on the song, appeared on stage. It was impressive to see the audience sing along to the newly released track.
Even as she danced vigorously with dozens of dancers, her singing voice remained unaffected, and the quality of the show was impeccable. There was no harsh lighting, and the performance was centered around a mood, but her presence radiated light wherever she was, reaffirming her undoubtedly as an artist who will lead the entertainment industry in the future. Having overcome difficult times and moved on to the next step, Ariana Grande is definitely one to watch in Japan.
Lollapalooza Festival has been announced for next year. Every year, being held the week after Fuji Rock Festival has been a physical challenge, but next year, Fuji Rock Festival will be held at the end of August due to the Olympics, so festival-goers might find it easier to attend Lollapalooza than usual. The venue is easily accessible, making it an easy festival to get around, and Chicago is also a fun city to walk around, so I hope many people from Japan will come and join us.
The viral chart, updated daily, lets you find out the hottest songs on social media around the world! Be sure to check it out.
With the spread of streaming services, we now live in an age where we can keep up with music trends both domestically and internationally in real time. Which artists are currently trending on Spotify's top charts (most played songs) and viral charts (songs currently trending on social media)? This time, we bring you a report on Lollapalooza, one of America's three major music festivals.
Leila Okuhama's Music Recommendations Vol. 3
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The three major music festivals in the United States are Coachella in California, Bonnaroo in Tennessee, and Lollapalooza, held in Chicago, Illinois.
This year, I attended Lollapalooza for the first time. It is held over four days in Grant Park in downtown Chicago during the first week of August every year. This time, I'd like to introduce some of the leading female acts from the stellar lineup!
First, a little about the festival: it began in 1991. It is a touring festival founded by Perry Farrell, the lead singer of the rock band Jane's Addiction, and is now held in countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
By the way, X JAPAN also performed from Japan at the Chicago concert in 2010, and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra at the Chile concert in 2019.
This year, approximately 170 artists, including rock, hip-hop, pop, and DJs, performed across seven stages (a whopping nine if you include the kids' and VIP areas!) across a variety of genres. All the stages were located within the park, with a flat surface making it easy to move around, and the stages were close together, allowing you to see many acts. Plus, there were hotels and restaurants right outside the venue, so in my opinion, this ultra-urban festival was the easiest and most laid-back of all the large festivals I've been to, both in Japan and overseas. I recommend it even for those new to overseas festivals.
This year, some of the live performance was available to watch on the official streaming service, so some people in Japan may have been able to enjoy the local atmosphere.
The audience was incredibly excited by Tierra Whack, a female rapper and singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. She also participated in the album inspired by the much talked about film "The Lion King" released this summer (produced by Beyoncé, who also voiced the film). Her catchy songs had many parts that people could sing along to, and the audience's reactions were vibrant.
Their latest album, "Whack World," is a conceptual one, with every song under a minute, totaling just 15 minutes, and their live performances (conscious of the fact that videos can be posted to Instagram Stories up to a minute long) are also Instagram-esque, playing one impactful song after another. Their MC performances are humorous and approachable, yet have an overwhelming sense that no one can imitate. He's already a hot topic, but he's sure to set even more new trends in the future, so be sure to check him out while you can!
Another artist who is also gaining a fan base among music lovers is Yaeji, a track maker and singer born and raised in New York to Korean parents.
View this post on Instagramstill thinking about this sweet moment in seoul ????back in america for @lollapalooza tmrw!
Personally, since last year, whenever I feel tired, I've often reached for her songs. Her veiled, whispery voice and trippy, floating sound seem to have a soothing effect. Her artsy fashion, featuring round glasses and oversized, baggy vintage clothing, is also cute. She performed at Coachella last year and Fuji Rock this year, selling out the venues, and it looks like her addictive style will only increase her fan base.
And the final act on the final day of this year's Lollapalooza was Ariana Grande. Despite experiencing numerous tragedies in 2017, including the terrorist bombing at one of her shows and the death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, Ariana never stopped expressing herself to overcome them. Her presence inspired many people, regardless of age or gender, including young girls, and the venue was already filled to capacity before the start time to see her. It was the most crowded performance of this year's Lollapalooza.
By the way, on this day, many girls were seen wearing Ariana's style, with high ponytails and horn-like buns. Her influence is also remarkable in terms of fashion.
When she first performed "Boyfriend," released two days before this performance, the two members of Social House, who featured on the song, appeared on stage. It was impressive to see the audience sing along to the newly released track.
Even as she danced vigorously with dozens of dancers, her singing voice remained unaffected, and the quality of the show was impeccable. There was no harsh lighting, and the performance was centered around a mood, but her presence radiated light wherever she was, reaffirming her undoubtedly as an artist who will lead the entertainment industry in the future. Having overcome difficult times and moved on to the next step, Ariana Grande is definitely one to watch in Japan.
Lollapalooza Festival has been announced for next year. Every year, being held the week after Fuji Rock Festival has been a physical challenge, but next year, Fuji Rock Festival will be held at the end of August due to the Olympics, so festival-goers might find it easier to attend Lollapalooza than usual. The venue is easily accessible, making it an easy festival to get around, and Chicago is also a fun city to walk around, so I hope many people from Japan will come and join us.
【Profile】
Okuhama Leila
Music and film personality. Active as a film stage presenter and music program MC. Currently writing the new releases introduction column for the women's magazine "GINZA." Her hobby is attending music festivals overseas.
【Inquiries】
www.spotify.com
Okuhama Leila
Music and film personality. Active as a film stage presenter and music program MC. Currently writing the new releases introduction column for the women's magazine "GINZA." Her hobby is attending music festivals overseas.
【Inquiries】
www.spotify.com
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