Coachella 2024: 8 pop acts you can't miss, including Sabrina Carpenter, Reneé Rapp
One of the best aspects of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is all the genres that are represented on various stages. From rock and jazz to K-pop and EDM, there truly is something for everyone.
If you're a pop fan like myself, then you're in for a treat, because there are plenty of stars who will be entertaining us throughout the two festival weekends. From Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, who have expanded their fanbases opening for superstars on tour this year, to international groups Atarashii Gakko! and Latin Mafia, the variety of pop music on the lineup is vast and exciting this year.
Here are just some of the pop artists to check out as you browse the Empire Polo Club. Coachella runs April 12-14 and April 19-21.
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Sabrina Carpenter
Performing: April 12 and 19
If you didn't catch Carpenter during the international legs of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, you don't want to miss your chance at Coachella. The young singer has done plenty in her career already, like leading a Disney Channel show, but she truly took off with her album "Emails I Can’t Send" in 2022. A fun running gag she's had on tour has been changing the outro to her hit song "Nonsense," usually by spotlighting the city she's performing in. There's a high chance she'll sing a little love letter to Indio while she's performing, so that's just one exciting element to look forward to during her set. And who knows, maybe her pal Swift will be in the audience.
Suki Waterhouse
Performing: April 12 and 14
Like a few other performers on this list, Waterhouse started her career in acting before dipping into the singing waters, and she's unbelievably talented in both fields. Her album "I Can't Let Go" showcases her nostalgic and melancholic side, but that doesn't mean you'll feel down in the dumps after listening to it. Instead, the moving melodies and gentle guitar rhythms will pull you in, and you'll soon find yourself swaying to the beat — exactly what we need from pop stars. As an added bonus, Waterhouse recently gave birth to her and actor Robert Pattinson's first child, so she's going to show everyone in the crowd how a working mother can bring the house down!
Reneé Rapp
Performing: April 14 and 21
You might know Rapp from her stint on Broadway's "Mean Girls" or her chaotic/iconic press tour for the movie musical, but once you hear her vocal chops, you won't be able to think about anything else. The rising star has made a huge name for herself in such a short amount of time, and her debut album, "Snow Angel," showed us she's poised to be the next big thing in pop music. If you don't believe us, listen to her hits "Pretty Girls," "Tummy Hurts" and "Snow Angel," — all songs we hope she performs, along with a possible surprise collab with Megan Thee Stallion for "Not My Fault" — and you'll know why she's our It Girl.
Atarashii Gakko!
Performing: April 14 and 21
The four women-led Japanese pop group Atarashii Gakko! is one audiences should not miss. These school uniform-clad singers (kawaii-but-fierce Mizyu, wildcard Suzuka, graceful Kanon and funky Rin) blend a variety of genres in their music, including pop, rock, jazz and hip hop, which leads to insanely catchy songs that will get stuck in your head. The group recently made its U.S. television debut with a performance of the pulse-pounding track "Tokyo Calling" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and got everyone in the crowd on their feet and cheering. We expect nothing less at their Coachella set.
Bebe Rexha
Performing: April 14 and 21
It seems like Rexha gives us a new pop hit every few months or so — I know you're all jamming out to "Deep In Your Love" and "I'm Good (Blue)" — so she might pull out all the stops and drop some new music during her Coachella set. Maybe even more likely is she might bring out some guests during her set. Perhaps we'll get a Snoop Dogg appearance for their song "Satellite" or a Dolly Parton surprise for "Seasons." Regardless, Rexha will get the crowd grooving and singing.
Chappell Roan
Performing: April 12 and 19
If you recently fell in love with Roan's recent Tiny Desk concert, that's just the tip of the iceberg. This powerhouse singer behind the album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" has been delighting fans with her '80s/2000s sound by opening up for Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" tour, but we're eager to see what a full Roan show looks like. We may even get a peek at her "next era" with a performance of her newest song "Good Luck, Babe!" and possibly some other tracks.
Latin Mafia
Performing: April 14 and 21
It's not enough to describe Latin Mafia as a pop group. The band, made up by brothers Milton, Emilio and Mike, blends reggaetón, R&B, trap, house and soul, making listeners want to get up and dance, and possibly even shed a tear with their moving lyrics. With a hefty following on TikTok, these brothers are sure to have an excited crowd at Coachella, and deservedly so. If you're just discovering the group, check out songs "Patadas de Ahogado," which explores love and vulnerability in a relationship, and "Julieta," which expresses admiration and attraction toward a dancer.
L’Impératrice
Performing: April 12 and 19
A pop and disco French band? Sign us up! L’Impératrice is returning to the desert, and if its groovy and packed Gobi tent performance from 2022 is any indication of what to expect, we're looking forward to even more dancing and singing (forgive us for our French pronunciations, however). The group also just announced its third album, "Pulsar," will be out June 7 and will include a number of collaborations, including Maggie Rogers and Erick the Architect. Fingers crossed we get one of these artists to join the band onstage.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Must-see Coachella artists: Sabrina Carpenter, Reneé Rapp, Bebe Rexha
