14 awesome acts you need to check out at We The Fest (July 20-22)

Lorde will be performing on the 2nd day of We The Fest (Saturday, July 22)
Lorde will be performing on the 2nd day of We The Fest (Saturday, July 22)

The biggest summer music festival in Jakarta, We The Fest, returns for its fifth edition from July 20-22 with an epic line-up of hot international headliners  and local heroes galore. With a packed schedule of performances from Friday to Sunday, we’re here to help by offering our picks for some the can’t miss acts on each of the festival’s three days.

Friday, July 22

James Bay




 

Heading up the headliners on WTF’s first day is soulful English singer-songwriter James Bay, who burst onto the scene with his platinum single “Hold Back the River” in 2014 and has been racking up the awards ever since, including three Grammy nominations. His second studio album, “Electric Light”, just dropped in May and critics say it enhances the folksy charm of his first with a light sprinkling of synth pop styling.

alt-J




 

Indie rockers alt-J have earned themselves a legion of fans with their eclectic folktronica ballads such as “Breezeblocks” and  “Tessellate”. Their three albums have each see the English band experimenting with a variety of different sounds but the through-line has always been their lyrical storytelling abilities.

Nick Murphy




 

The Australian artist formerly known as Chet Faker, Nick Murphy’s cult fame may have been built on his breakout hit cover of Blackstreets “No Diggity” but he’s proven his original songwriting talents again and again with haunting numbers like the visceral and haunting “Fear Less”

 

Patricia Schuldtz with Bayu Risa and Yacko




 

One of Indonesia’s hottest DJs (in several senses), Patricia Schuldtz has been at the top of Jakarta’s RnB scene since the early 2000’s. For her performance at WTF she’ll be joined by soulful singer Bayu Risa and Yacko, one of the leading lights in Jakarta hip hop scene and an unflinching feminist rapper who spits fire.

Polka Wars




 

This Jakarta-based indie band has seen its fervent fan base develop over the years along with their sound, which has progressed from neo-folk tunes drenched in harmonies to experimental rock with electronic flourishes.  Their single, ‘Rangkum’ topped  Rolling Stone Indonesia’s 2017 Best Songs list.
Saturday, July 22

Lorde




It’s hard to believe that Lorde is still just 21 years old, given her already stratospheric success and incredibly mature musical artistry (when “Royals” was released in mid-2013 she was just 17-years-old and the smash single earned her the title of youngest solo artist to top the Billboard 100 in over 25 years). She’s gone on to win a raft of awards including multiple Grammys and Brit Awards but her uncompromising commitment to her own artistic vision has also cemented her place as a pop culture icon.

 

Odesza




 

This electronic duo from the US are among the very top of the EDM scene, with their latest album, “Line of Sight”, earning a nomination at the 2018 Grammys for Best Dance Recording. Some have described hearing them play live as being akin to a religious experience.

 

Majid Jordan




The Toronto-based duo of singer Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman first started making music together after meeting in college and soon hit it big when they worked with fellow Canadian Drake to co-produce his hit “Hold On, We’re Going Home”. The combination of Majid’s soulful crooning and Jordan’s ambitious beats has earned them lots of loyal swooning fans.

 

The Sam Willows




 

Made up of siblings Benjamin and Narelle Kheng and their friends Jon Chua and Sandra Riley Tang, the Sam Willows have made a serious impression on Singapore music scene’s with their luscious harmonies and singular brand of soul-folk.

 

Efek Rumah Kaca

 




Formed in 2001, Efek Rumah Kaca has been a mainstay of Indonesia’s indie scene ever since, best known as much for tackling politics and social issues through their lyrically layered rock songs.

 

Sunday, June 22

SZA




 

The neo soul singer from America has a singular sound that draws from elements of minimalist R&B, witch house and chillwave, while her “unravelling” lyrics deal frankly with issues of sexuality, longing and abandonment. Her debut album “Ctrl”, dropped last year and won widespread critical praise before eventually going platinum.

The Neighbourhood




The “black and white” band from LA first made their mark on the scene with a dark, moody sound and monochromatic visual style exemplified by their breakout 2013 hit Sweater Weather. “Cool, gray and special, like a rainy day in Los Angeles” is a pretty good way to sum up their appeal.

Vince Staples




 

Rapper Vince Staples grew up amid the gang violence of Long Beach, California’s Ramona Park neighborhood but, after years of struggle, turned his life around with his critically acclaimed debut “Summertime ’06” album in 2015. His subsequent output has grappled with his sudden fame and fortune in ways far more thoughtful than other rappers with similar stories, utilizing lyrics that are self and socially aware and to craft songs that have been described as “brutal, elegant, playful, and despondent in one breath”.

 

Petit Biscuit




 

This 19-year-old EDM prodigy has a pedigree in classical music but found his true musical passion when he got his first computer. Since his debut single “Alone” dropped in 2015, he’s been releasing a steady stream of buzz-worthy hits like “Midnight Sky” and  “Night Trouble”.

 

We The Fest 

July 20-22, 2018

JI Expo Center, Kemayoran

For ticket and more info



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