Music – Liner Notes

What happens to that one song you listen to a couple days ago that you found somewhat nice but didn’t write down? Does it get lost in the other better songs that swallow it? Do you remember the title only to make a mental note to not play it? What about the song that you heard seven years ago on a radio station that sounded so disposable that you vowed never to listen to it and become a fan of the artist ever?

In the fall of 2012, I had the same lifestyle as other adolescent teenagers trying to make their way through the awkward and tumultuous times of high school. I had just started using Spotify and made tons of playlists for me and my friends, had long nights of cramming for the SAT’s, and spent my free time going on Tumblr to update myself on the latest news of One Direction. My friends and I had a love of going to concerts and sharing music in between classes. The Observatory was basically my second home, as I would be there at least once a month catching a show. That was when one of my friends suggested we go see this band called “The 1975”. He said he heard their song “Chocolate” off their newest EP, and mentioned that it might be something I’d like. At first listen, my main take was of one word: petticoat, as the pronunciation stood out due to the singer’s British accent. I heard another song called “Sex” and concluded that this band attracts fans due to their provocative lyrics coupled with upbeat and 80’s reminiscent sounds, something I quickly dismissed as an industry plant. I denied the invitation to see them, and that’s when I would begin to hear about the 1975 for years to come.

Soon after, while scrolling through Tumblr to dissect more of One Direction’s new album Take Me Home, I stumbled across a black and white image of a rectangle with the bands logo dressed in the center. I thought nothing of it. On the hunt app, scrolling through. I see hundreds of likes on a shirt with a black rectangle, signifying the band’s logo. Hundreds of people were looking for the shirt and where to buy it. I felt like something happened overnight which catapulted The 1975 into stardom. The pretentious side of me vowed to not listen to them in resistance towards being a band wagoner super fan.

Their second album came out at four years later, when my music tastes began to expand and I decided I wanted a career in music. I was fortunate enough to land an internship that gave me an opportunity to attend the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2016. The 1975 performed on Sunday as me and my friend sat generously far from the stage. I heard their single “Somebody Else” and was impressed. It still had the same synth poppy vibe as their old material, but the sound was heavier and darker, the theme relatable with anyone. I went on to add the song to my Spotify playlists, and Somebody Else became a repeat track for the rest of 2016.

It wasn’t until A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships did I ever listen to a 1975 album in full. Although Somebody Else was a banger to me, I didn’t bother to listen to the rest of their second album after hearing some other singles and not being too interested in them. I heard their singles leading up to the release of the new album and was intrigued. It sounded similar but also different to the rest of their music. There was a refreshing element to it, like the lead singer Matty Healy being enlightened. The songs sounded like he experienced something and learned from it, and is doing better. My assumptions were confirmed when I saw interviews that he had struggled with substance abuse, and wrote the new album while at a rehab center in Barbados. Fast forward to 3 nights ago, when my sister and I spontaneously went to Coachella for one day, I saw the 1975 for the second time on the same stage, performing material from ABIIOR. And it just clicked. I was impressed with their performance, I was interested in what they had to say. I was empathetic about what the lead singer went through, I wanted to listen.

As I am listening to the new album more and more, I am reminded of the times where I used to protest The 1975 and hate on their music. I realize that I was at a different stage in my life that was filled with immaturity and closedmindedness, or I simply had different taste. I can safely say that ABIIOR is their best album in my opinion, and I find myself looking at their Coachella performance on my phone at least once a day. Though I might not listen to their first two albums just yet, I am proud to have altered my opinion on the band and develop a broader appreciation in music that includes a band I never thought I would listen to.

Hot desert heat, loud music coming from different directions, giant art installations throughout the field, and the sight of influencers wearing outrageous outfits everywhere. Alas, another Coachella festival season has arrived. Coachella today has more or less become a worldwide phenomenon instead of pure enjoyment of music. Individuals from across the globe gather at the Empire Polo Club for three days of music while sporting their best outfits and taking excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol, all while posting on social media for their followers to see. But when did Coachella start becoming more about the experience rather than the music?

Coachella began in 1999 as a two-day event, with Beck, Rage Against the Machine, and Tool headlining. The festival was a success among attendees and critics, but promoter Goldenvoice lost $850,000, leading to years of struggle as a company. It wasn’t until 2004 did Coachella saw its first sellout and began to breakeven and make profit off the festival. Coachella began attracting the worldwide attention for its booking of notable acts and concert in the desert experience. At this time, most of the musicians booked were of the rock genre, and reunion shows became an anticipation each year.

As the festival reached the new decade, three day tickets became the standard, and the event expanded to a second separately ticketed weekend with an identical lineup to allow for more attendance. By then, Coachella became the top music festival in the world, with goers flying from across the nation and the globe for this three-day event. Social media use skyrocketed, with Instagram launching in 2010, allowing users to share their lives through pictures with others, and Facebook’s users rapidly increasing each year. The growing popularity in social media helped spread Coachella to even more people and created a “I have to be there” mentality. Brand deals were created and Instagram influencer contracts were developed to generate a perfect marketing strategy, showing the world that Coachella has the best products and the hottest people at their event, further feeding into its own brand of the best festival in the world. Ticket prices were at an all-time high of $399 per three days with Goldenvoice booking its biggest talent at the time, Beyonce, before she cancelled due to pregnancy. She came back the next year to deliver a performance festival goers deemed historical.

Flash forward to today, ahead of Childish Gambino’s set of Coachella 2019, where making a fashion statement is more important than seeing an artist of whom you’ve only heard one song, rolling molly is integral to enjoying Diplo at the Sahara Tent, and taking a photo with a member of the Vlog Squad is your number one priority, all while music takes a step back as secondary. Will Coachella ever revert back to its roots of music at the forefront, or will it continue to capitalize off its popularity and place focus on the experience? As a die-hard fan of the 2013 lineup, I can only hope for the former.