BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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The California desert once again roared to life in April 2025, as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival delivered yet another cultural phenomenon across its two stacked weekends (April 11–13 and April 18–20). With its signature cocktail of global stardom, surprise performances, and unforgettable fashion, the Empire Polo Club became a temporary capital of music, style, and shared wonder.
This year’s lineup read like a sonic fairytale. Lady Gaga returned to reclaim the stage with a spectacle-laden headliner set. Green Day brought the punk heat. Post Malone’s acoustic-led performance melted hearts, while Travis Scott closed out Sunday night with a visually arresting, high-octane set that lived up to the hype.
But what truly set Coachella 2025 apart wasn’t just its headliners–it was the unpredictable magic that unfolded between them.
LADY GAGA
Returning to Coachella after her 2017 debut, Lady Gaga delivered a nearly two-hour electrifying performance on both Fridays. She performed 20 songs, including fan favorites like “Bloody Mary,” “Judas,” and “Poker Face,” as well as new tracks from her March 2025 album Mayhem.
Gaga’s set was a visual spectacle, incorporating references to her past music videos through elaborate costumes and set designs, such as donning metal armor during “Paparazzi” and referencing her “Bad Romance” video in her performance of “Disease.”
GREEN DAY
Making their Coachella debut, punk rock legends Green Day headlined both Saturdays with high-energy performances. Their setlists included classics like “American Idiot” and “Jesus of Suburbia,” with modified lyrics to express political messages, including critiques of American President Donald Trump and support for Palestine.
While their musical performance was celebrated, the band faced criticism for their use of pyrotechnics, as a flame caused a palm tree to catch fire, raising concerns due to recent deadly wildfires in the area.
POST MALONE
Post Malone closed out both Sundays with genre-blending performances that showcased his versatility. Centering around his Nashville-influenced album F-1 Trillion, the stage was designed like a highway exit, with his band wearing trucker hats to emphasize the country vibe. He performed hits like “Circles,” “Congratulations,” and “Rockstar,” and delivered emotional renditions of “I Fall Apart” and “Goodbyes.”
Post’s infectious enthusiasm and humility endeared him to the crowd, as he frequently paused to connect with the audience and offer encouraging messages.
Billie Eilish stunned the Mojave crowd by popping in during Charli XCX’s set for a surprise duet, driving fans into a frenzy.
One of the most talked-about moments belonged to Megan Thee Stallion, who transformed her performance into a celebration of Black female excellence.
Midway through her set, she brought out Queen Latifah, Ciara, and Victoria Monét for a history-making medley that honored hip-hop, R&B, and female empowerment. Their energy was visceral, their choreography tight, and the crowd roared like a tide.
And then there was Travis Scott. Headlining Sunday night, the Houston rapper unleashed a jaw-dropping production that fused dystopian visuals with explosive energy. Performing on a volcanic, sci-fi-inspired stage with fire pits and industrial scaffolding, Travis tore through hits like “FE!N,” “SICKO MODE,” and “Topia Twins,” with surprise guest Don Toliver joining for an otherworldly “Embarrassed.”
The set was equal parts chaos and choreography, with pulsating LED displays and flamethrowers igniting the night. Fans called it one of his most refined yet ferocious festival showings, a triumphant return to form that reaffirmed his place as a live-performance juggernaut.
Amid the glamour and global spectacle, Coachella 2025 made space for the sounds of West Africa–none more prominent than those of Nigerian artists Rema and Seun Kuti. Though their experiences on the stages were dramatically different, both performances underscored the continent’s enduring influence on modern music.
Rema was billed to ignite the Mojave Stage on Sunday, April 13. Expectations soared as fans gathered for his high-octane blend of Afrobeats and trap, but technical delays and a 30-minute late arrival drastically shortened his time on stage. Despite the brief window, the talented singer still managed to squeeze in a fiery sprint through tracks like “Bout U“–his latest single, “Calm Down” and “Soundgasm,” though many fans expressed frustration at the anticlimax. Social media was swift in its judgment, dubbing it a missed moment for one of Afrobeats’ brightest stars.
In contrast, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 reminded the audience of the genre’s roots. Performing on Friday, April 11 at the Outdoor Theatre, Seun channeled the raw, revolutionary spirit of his legendary father, Fela Kuti. With rich brass sections, call-and-response chants, and rhythmic firepower, Seun’s set was a political and cultural awakening wrapped in thunderous sound. Their standout rendition of “Stand Well” earned roars of approval–one of the most soulful moments of the weekend.
As ever, Coachella wasn’t just a music festival–it was a runway with no rules. Lady Gaga hit the stage in a sculptural metallic bodysuit paired with futuristic headgear, proving she’s still the reigning queen of avant-garde aesthetics. Megan Thee Stallion stunned in a Swarovski-embedded leather bodysuit with a glowing stallion headpiece equal parts fierce and ethereal. Even attendees got in on the fashion flex, with desert goths, boho queens, and Afrofuturists turning the Polo grounds into a patchwork of personality and panache.
From Post Malone’s minimalist magic to the thunder of Travis Scott’s pyro-blasted closer, Coachella 2025 proved it’s still the gold standard for global festivals. The sheer diversity of styles–from punk to pop, hip-hop to highlife–offered a vision of music’s interconnected future.
And in the middle of it all, Nigeria made its presence felt. Whether through Rema’s moment of chaos or Seun Kuti’s moment of clarity, the desert heard echoes of Lagos–raw, rhythmic, and resolute.
Coachella 2025 wasn’t perfect, but it was electric. And as the lights faded on Weekend 2, one thing was certain: the world is still watching, still dancing, still dreaming, under the desert sky.
