The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

I know I know, I’ve been lagging on posts lately. I blame the senseless debauchery that was Santa Barbara over the weekend. Anyhow, its time to get you Coachillers prepped for the weekend ahead, gather ‘round. Los Angeles based DJ, producer and label owner John Dadzie is better known under his alias. 12^th Planet is recognized for thick wall-rattling music that works well in a strong set of headphones, but even better live. Although he’s local I’ve never had the privilege of witnessing a live set. Definitely on my list of top 10: do not miss. 12^th Planet drops bombs on Friday.

Jinder – Youth Blood (12th Planet & Flinch Remix)
12th Planet – Needed Change Ft. Skrillex

– Chronic Mncher

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

Prepare to have senses delighted when LA’s Nosaj Thing graces the stage this Friday at Coachella. Nosaj blends instrumental hip-hop with electronic synth elements to create a sound that anyone will enjoy. He’s widely known for his song “Aquarium,” which Kid Cudi sampled for “Man on the Moon.” With his “visual shows,” he’s mastered the art of uniting the power of audio and visual in a way that leaves you feeling immersed in a world of what you’re hearing. I haven’t been able to see any of the shows, but based on videos and Coachella’s history with visual masterpieces, I’m feeling pretty good about the chances of my mind being blown. Check below for a taste of what to expect and an improvised DJ set that he did. Make sure to catch his set on Day 1!

+Jangbar

BONUS

Didn’t get the chance to recap UCI’s Urban Arts Fest 2011 the other night; CA’s finest Dom Kennedy and Fashawn came out to perform to a crowd of maybe 250. It ended up being the ideal show — straight to the point, good openers, intimate, and free. Host Nduka Unaka and DJ Beatfiend kept the crowd interested in the short time in between sets and both Yancy Deron and Cobe Obeah got more than a few heads noddin’. Fashawn impressed, playing a couple tracks from “Boy Meets World” and a lot from his latest tape, “Higher Learning 2.” Dom delivered another one of his powerful performances that he’s quickly become known for. He played a little bit of everything and had backup from the crowd for most of the set. Shout out to Hip Hop Congress for putting it together. Got a couple videos of Dom… excuse the shitty capturing.

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

New York five-piece Freelance Whales are among my favorite new-ish bands. Formed in 2008 after connecting on Craigslist, the band is known for their unconventional creativity. They’re awesomely idiosyncratic with their synthesizers, glockenspiels and strange lyrics. Yeah, I don’t know what a glockenspiel is either. Taking the stage on Saturday, they’re a show I wouldn’t miss; they’re the kind of quirky and youthful fun that’s awesome to see live.

Freelance Whales

Freelance Whales-Starring
Freelance Whales-We Could Be Friends

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week till we’re all together!

Drum ‘n’ Bass greats Chase & Status revolutionized the world of electronic music when they first hit the scene in 2006, climbing the UK charts even as an electric dance duo on an indie label. They have collaborated with the likes of Kano, Plan B, Tinie Tempah and Cee-Lo Green in their most recent album No More Idols and have signed the likes of Nero to their own label. They’re set to storm the Coachella stage on day three and I’m expecting nothing but sheer greatness.

Chase & Status-Invaders Must Die
Chase & Status-Blind Faith

Plan B

Also from the UK, Ben Drew aka Plan B is a bit of a Renaissance man. His 2006 debut Who Needs Actions When You Got Words was a well-received slice of London life in hip-hop form. His most recent album The Defamation of Strickland Banks was something quite different, primarily focusing on soul. The album quickly reached the no. 1 spot in the charts. Between the production of his two albums, Drew gleaned his acting career, appearing in two films between the years 2008-2009. Plan B is also set to perform on day 3 of Coachella, which brings me to my next point….

Plan B-Stay Too Long

Chase & Status (feat. Plan B)

Plan B has done a lot of the vocals for Chase & Status; their colab single “End Credits” reached the top ten in the UK charts in 2009 and what’s more, they’ve been known to play together when they just so happen to be at the same music festival…do you see where I’m going with this? The combined energies of Chase & Status and Plan B is something I hope to experience live in my lifetime, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that it happens next Sunday. There’s absolutely no guarantee that this will happen but if it does, it could very possibly be a life-changing experience and that’s something I wouldn’t risk missing.
Chase & Status (feat. Plan B)-End Credits

Chase & Status (feat. Plan B)-Pieces

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

Hodgy Beats – Bubble Gum ft. Tyler the Creator x Casey Veggies
Tyler, the Creator – French! ft. Hodgy Beats
Tyler, the Creator – Odd Toddlers ft. Casey Veggies

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

Ok so these guys may not be as “low key” as the other artists we’ll be bringing up, but I just don’t want anyone to take a chance of missing ’em. And besides their name is WAY smaller on the flyer than they deserve. Jack Beats are turn table extraordinaires. They produce, remix, and DJ with an unmatched wobbly style that’s consistently filled with grimy bass. Jack Beats is formed of members of two separate turntable crews in the UK: Plus One from the Scratch Perverts and Beni G from the Mixologists. Together they throw down some of the nastiest sets I could ask for, and I’m saying this from first-hand experience. I’ve seen them twice and that’s not gonna stop me from being front and center for this. Their turntable experience is very apparent through their mixes, and I’m hoping they’ll bring out some unexpected tricks with their liveset at Coachella. They’ve got an album that’s set to release this year, so be ready for a lot of new tracks in Indio on Sunday!

-If you wanna see the video I got of them at HARD Haunted Mansion 2010, Click Here.
-Or Click Here to hear their new song “Elevator Music.”

J-J-J-Jack Beats

Jack Beats – All Night ft. John B Fresh Beats!
AC Slater – Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) C+A+D Favorite!
TC – Deep (Jack Beats Remix) [HQ Set Rip]
La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix)
Florence and the Machine – Drumming Song (Jack Beats Remix)

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

Formed in Sweden in the mid-1990s, The Radio Dept. sounds like something out of a dream…within a dream. Amidst digitalized drums and ethereal vocals, the band manages to channel the likes of The Smiths in a sort of hazy, downplayed manner. The overall energy they bring is calm–the sort of vibes you’ll want on the second day of Coachella, giving you a rest before the inevitable madness that will be day three; i.e., The Radio Dept. will give your throbbing ear drums a break but still put on a great show. If you’re looking for an awesome band with a lesser crowd, I’d suggest checking these guys out.

The Radio Dept.

The Radio Dept.-Heaven’s On Fire
The Radio Dept.-Domestic Scene