Wang Congyu began playing the piano at three and is recognised as a complete musician and an exceptionally talented pianist. His early talent earned him a scholarship to the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris. Wang is an internationally renowned soloist, acclaimed as a recitalist, accompanist, and chamber musician. During his brief visit to Singapore in May, he spoke with us at a cafe in Dempsey.
ESQUIRE: Have you been travelling a lot?
WANG CONGYU: Yeah pretty much. Travelling from Singapore is easy and practical—you can go to Indonesia in an hour and return at night. If I lived [in Singapore], I’d probably travel every two or three days. However, I live on Réunion Island, where travel is more challenging. There are only two routes: one to Paris—an 11 to 12-hour flight—and the other to Bangkok. Additionally, I signed up with a cruise line this year, where I’ll head to Iceland and play in Antarctica this Christmas. I only signed up because my wife will be accompanying me. I often joke with her about how many people would love to be in her position, getting a free holiday while I’m working. After Christmas, we’ll spend time in Argentina for New Year’s.
ESQ: That’s so romantic.
WQY: I don’t know about the romance but it’ll be cold. We’re looking forward to seeing some penguins. Initially, the frequent travelling felt surreal. One week I’d be in China, the next in Japan, and then off to France—it was non-stop. They say time flies when you love what you do, and I agree. I can’t imagine myself stuck in an office. I used to teach a lot and own a couple of music schools. This year, I’m opening a new school in Shanghai. While I love teaching, doing it for seven hours a day, every day, can stifle your creative side. It feels like you’re losing half your life to routine.
ESQ: Do you find yourself being less driven because of that?
WQY: You’d only be less driven if you work with people you don’t like. Being driven is about knowing who you are and where you came from. I will never forget all the things I had to go through to get by, so the drive will always be there.
ESQ: Are you looking forward to the Olympics held in Paris?
WQY: I’d rather stay away from it, to be honest. The Olympics project in Paris can be quite disorganised. Normally, when you arrive at CDG (Charles-de-Gaulle Airport), the train to Paris takes about 45 minutes. So, they have Project Olympic Paris, which is to build a train that gets you to the city in 20 minutes.It’s set to finish in 2029 but the Olympics is happening this year. So French right?
ESQ: At least, there’s gonna be a super-fast train at the end of it.
WQY: Yeah, I suppose. But on the downside, Paris faces frequent strikes due to understaffing. In China, they’ve proved that it’s possible to build a hospital in five days, whereas in France, it could probably take five years. There was a scenario where the mayor expressed concerns about insufficient funds and manpower, leading to doubts about the readiness for Project Olympic Paris. When attempts were made to bring in additional workers, it sparked a strike due to a perceived lack of funding.Now, they’re considering shuttle buses instead of trains for the Olympics. Can you imagine the logistics? It seems best to avoid Paris during the Olympics; considering the exorbitant prices of three-star hotels, charging up to €500 a night. I’m always glad to be back home in Singapore
ESQ: So why live on Réunion Island?
WQY: My wife is from Réunion Island and is the main reason I chose to live there. We met when I was studying in Paris. She was doing an internship and we connected at church as students. We got engaged however, I had to return here to serve national service while she went back home and we eventually got married. But since my career breakthrough with Steinway, I had to travel more than before. However, it’s anything but routine. Travel brings new experiences. You never know what surprises await. Travelling feels like constantly putting out fires, solving new problems daily. You might miss a flight due to a forgotten form to fill in or end up in a strange hotel room with six others. The unpredictability keeps things interesting.
ESQ: Do you have a favourite destination to perform in?
WQY: It depends. Each country offers unique cultural experiences, and even cities within the same country can vary greatly. If I had to choose, I would say my favourite destination to perform in is Italy. [It] seems to check all my boxes: they got history, they got the views, incredible food. You can find anything you desire inItaly, after all, that’s where the piano and the violin were invented.
ESQ: You’ve been playing the piano since you were three. How have you managed to sustain your passion and interest in the piano?
WQY: I think there’s a misconception that all musicians have to start early. While many successful ones do, I started at three but only became truly interested around 12 or 13. This gives me an advantage when it comes to teaching because I understand the difficulties that can make learning annoying and uninteresting. Learning an instrument should come from within, not from external pressures. If your parents are forcing you, or you’re only practising to pass an exam, that’s not passion; it’s just fulfilling obligations. This is becoming more challenging with social media. Kids today can quickly find tutorials on YouTube for any song, but they don’t realise the hours of practice required to master apiece. Learning an instrument isn’t just about the instrument; it’s about understanding your body and how it reacts to the music. Many people get confused about this. There’s also a cultural aspect. In European families, parents might be overly encouraging even if their children are not very talented. Conversely, in Asian families, even if you play well, your parents might think it’s not good enough. It can be frustrating.Even now, when I practice at home, I sometimes feel that my mom is annoyed by my playing. She never attended any of my concerts until recently, and that was only because the Minister of Culture was there and she wanted a photo with him.
ESQ: Have your parents accepted you being a professional pianist?
WQY: Yes, a long time ago. When I came back for National Service, they kinda accepted it. At that time, I believe I was one of the few Singaporeans who dropped out of school to pursue music. Naturally, my parents were against it. For me, the only goal was to survive. Sometimes in life, when you don’t have a choice, it can be the best thing that happens because you either make it or fail. In Singapore, we have so many options and safety nets that it can be easy to lose sight of your dreams. That was my life in secondary school—teachers said I was good at certain things and should pursue them but I wasn’t passionate about any of those paths. First, if I hadn’t made it, I wouldn’t be doing this interview. Second, if my parents had supported me, I might be successful but I wouldn’t be as motivated. That’s why I own music schools, organise festivals and help young people with their music careers. I enjoy those things and it keeps me driven. I could have just opened a school and retired comfortably, but I chose a different path. Most musicians just practise and disregard the public relations aspect. While you can hire someone for admin work, building personal relationships and selling your art is a skill every musician in this era should learn. I was a student practising in a room for 10 hours a day, unknown to anyone. Then I met an agent who taught me how to market myself, and it changed everything.
ESQ: Are things different now compared to the past, especially with the rise of social media?
WQY: For sure, things are very different now. Today, you’ll need to be the first to respond to get the gig. That said, 99 per cent of the time, it’s luck—being in the right place at the right time; meeting the right people. It’s all about probabilities.Now, everything is digital. Interviews can be done over the phone, via video call, or by e-mail. The rise of social media and digital communication has dramatically changed the landscape, making everything faster and more immediate.
ESQ: You mentioned that you went to National Service.
WQY: There isn’t an official vocation for it but when I was in the band during National Service. I was appointed to the SCDF(Singapore Civil Defence Force) and When I was a recruit, they reviewed my profile and saw that I had a degree in music. It was pure luck that I met a guy recruiting musicians for his band and he invited me to audition, even though I told him I don’t sing. He assured me it was fine, so I auditioned and got in. For the rest of my NS life, I just played the piano.
ESQ: What was that like?
WQY: As a classical musician, I had never really dabbled in pop-music. When you’re part of the band, I had to improvise and play with others, which meant practising different genres. They offered incentives: if I play a certain song, I could get a day off. If I rehearsed a piece and the commissioners were pleased, I get two days off. By the end, I had accumulated about 70 days off.
ESQ: Do you feel less nervous in front of an audience?
WQY: I still get nervous when there’s a high chance of messing up or when I don’t feel ready. There’s always a professional conscience reminding me if I’m not adequately prepared.
ESQ: Any rituals before you go on stage?
WQY: Yeah, I like to eat pasta before a concert. It brings back memories. I ate pasta when I was really poor. Pasta with cheese brings me back to simplicity. Eating carbs before a concert gives me energy, makes me feel good, and gives me a sense of control. Now that I consider myself successful, I’m still eating pasta. The dish always played a big role in my life, especially during important moments. Whenever I win a competition and it’s late at night with everything closed, pasta is usually the only option.
ESQ: You’ve established the Piano Island Festival.
WQY: That idea came from my desire to minimise travel and bring renowned teachers to a central location. It evolved into a gathering where I could meet my musical idols. One of the highlights of organising the festival was having Đng Thái Sn. He was the first Asian winner of the Chopin Competition and he agreed to attend my festival which was such an honour Interestingly, there’s a unique connection to Réunion Island.During the Vietnam War, the French exiled the Vietnamese king to Réunion Island to prevent a revolution. One of the king’s descendants, Dorothy, is a family friend I met in church. ĐngThái Sn’s mother, was the first piano teacher in Vietnam and was curious about this royal lineage. When Đng Thái Sn joined the festival, his mother, then 103 years old, wanted to explore their heritage. I mentioned how having luck is important but this series of events shows how luck and destiny can work together.
ESQ: How has public interest in classical music evolved in Singapore since the pandemic?
WQY: Interest in classical music has grown a lot in Singapore lately. After COVID, in 2022, I played at Victoria Concert Hall. At that time, we could only fill 40 per cent of the seats; so about 200 people filled a 600+ seated space. However, two months ago, I had another concert here and it was a full house. The tickets were more expensive too so it’s not about the money but rather a sudden surge in interest. There’s a noticeable development in young people’s interest in music, not just classical but in general. When Taylor Swift played here, it was crazy.
ESQ: How can the Piano Island Festival boost the local classical music scene?
WQY: I hope to use it as a platform to introduce this art form to those who are unfamiliar with it. Southeast Asia holds many potential because of its growing population and increasing number of children learning instruments. Singapore is an ideal location for this. We have excellent instruments, a robust education system and a strong infrastructure. Ultimately, it comes down to the educational system to incorporate music and provide children with the opportunity to learn music in school.
ESQ: In 2020, there was a survey saying that artists were non-essential, what are your thoughts on that?
WQY: I posted about it. I think it’s inaccurate because it’s based on opinions from people who don’t understand music or the arts. If you survey 300 office workers, you’ll get responses from an office worker’s perspective.When I left Singapore, the situation for musicians was much worse than it is now. My parents believed there was no future for musicians here; there was some truth to that. In France, I can play up to five concerts a week, even in the same city but in different venues. I couldn’t play in the Esplanade Concert Hall twice a month. Singapore is highly developed, which is why it couldn’t support local musicians at that time—they weren’t considered good enough. The expectations were too high. It’s like recruiting football players and expecting them to be the next Messi. You can’t escape the reality of our artistic careers. We must Travel. I believe the next developing markets are Indonesia and then Malaysia. Even if you’re based somewhere, like me, travelling every three days, you can’t avoid it.
ESQ: Do you believe adjustments are needed in Singapore for careers in the arts to receive proper recognition?
WQY: I don’t think Singapore needs to undergo any major changes. In fact, Singapore already possesses a thriving market for the arts.It may surprise you to learn that there is a significant population of affluent individuals residing here. This became apparent to me after I had the opportunity to mingle with this demographic. Once you become part of this network, recommendations start pouring in, and one connection leads to another. When I was younger, living in Singapore, my routine was ordinary: attending school, enjoying local cuisine like chicken rice and focusing on my studies. On the flip side, there are people residing in Sentosa. They have beachfront homes with yachts. BeforeI knew it, I found myself aboard a luxurious boat, surrounded by individuals discussing the local vibrant art scene. It was fascinating to discover wealthy individuals who appreciate the arts but they also invest in them.
ESQ: How do you stay creative?
WQY: I disconnect from the Internet during the day. You have to belike Tarzan or Luke Skywalker to be creative. If you’re just another person going to the office, setting up your desk, typing, shutting down your computer, and going home, you’re living robotically. That stifles creativity. To be creative, break out of your routine. That’s what I’ve been doing. I never practice more than twice a day. If something isn’t working, I’d walk. I’d try different approaches—crossing my hands, playing upside down, or lying down. This keeps my practice fresh and prevents burnout. I also vary my teaching methods to keep my students engaged. If a student seems unmotivated, I might have them run a couple of laps to get their energy up. When you can’t do something, it’s rarely a physical issue. Your mind tells your body it can’t do it and you feel stuck. Learning an instrument helps build resilience. Music teaches you to solve problems and persevere. I’ve learned that I can solve problems in life and shouldn’t wait for solutions to come to me.
ESQ: Do you have a motto that guides you in life?
WQY: “Never beg for a seat if you can build your own table.” When you’re starting your career, facing rejection is inevitable. I’ve experienced it first-hand. Unlike instruments like the violin or guitar, where multiple players can perform simultaneously, the piano often allows for just one pianist at a time. With countless talented pianists out there, it’s tough to stand out. You have to create your opportunities—I formed my own music schools, organised piano festivals and built up my network of connections. This approach isn’t exclusive to music; it applies to every industry.
ESQ: It’s also trying to bounce back from failure, right? Because failure is essential for growth
WQY: Life would be simpler without it. But failures are a reminder of being human; they teach us it’s okay to stumble. I’ve noticed how people sometimes judge based on appearances. There have been instances where, despite being a featured performer with my face on the poster, I’ve been denied entry backstage simply because I wasn’t dressed in formal attire. It’s moments like these that reinforce the importance of self-confidence and staying true to oneself.
A nine-time Grammy winner and an American music institution, Sheryl Crow has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With songs like “Love is a Good Thing,” “Redemption Day”, and “There Goes the Neighbourhood” in her arsenal, she has few peers when it comes to chronicling, as she describes, “the things that I see and the things that disturb my peace.” Her 12th studio album, Evolution, continues the tradition; she wrestles with AI anxieties, rails against Internet trolls and yearns for human connection.
I HAVE BEEN A MUSICIAN since I was old enough to reach the keys on a piano.
THERE WAS A MOMENT when I realised that what I was meant to be doing was not only reflecting but documenting the human experience.
IT’S VERY HARD for me to understand why I’ve had the colossal success I’ve had when I’m not the greatest singer, I’m not the greatest songwriter, I’m not the greatest bass player, guitar player, or producer.
EVERYTHING IS ABOUT the voice in my head that tells me that I’m not enough.
MY CAREER HAS BEEN largely propelled by my need to not just be liked but to be great. I have really come to terms with that. Cancer put that all into perspective—and several bad relationships.
I’VE LOVED SOME AMAZING PEOPLE, and I’ve loved some other people, too.
THE LAST FEW TIMES I’ve been back to LA, I felt melancholy. It’s the feeling of being young and having everything be exciting and full of possibility.
BUT I DON’T REALLY MISS IT. I’m most happy when I’m in this house with my boys in this town.
I’ve loved some amazing people, and I’ve loved some other people, too.
I’VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED with the weight of everything. I come by that genetically.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED TAKING OFF, I could not figure out how to hold all the energy coming at me. So I went and studied with this woman named Sharon Salzberg; she teaches mindfulness meditation.
I DO MINDFULNESS at least 30 minutes in the morning. Wherever I am. Two cups of coffee. Focus on breath.
IT’S A PRACTICE of letting everything go. It’s about finding compassion for yourself and your imperfections.
I GREW UP looking at magazines with Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, and they were mythical. I didn’t know that fame wasn’t going to feel like those black-and-white photos.
NOBODY, where money is concerned, is trustable.
THERE IS DIVINITY and there’s ego in everything. When you take your analytical “This is who I am and this is what I do”out of it and sit down with that weird, obtuse experience called life, sometimes something you couldn’t imagine surfaces.
I HAVE A FEW SONGS that I think, I don’t even know where that came from.
I TALK ABOUT mental issues because when I was really struggling, I didn’t have an example of somebody who said publicly, “I’m struggling, and this is what I did.” We need to make that normal.
Nobody, where money is concerned, is trustable.
THERE’S NOT A HANDBOOK for how to navigate, as a woman, a business that is predominantly run by men. Or for when you have a strong woman, how that challenges men and their feelings of importance.
I HAVE BEEN ADVISED on numerous occasions to please just tone it down.
I WISH I would shut my mouth but I can’t do that.
WITH CANCER, I had to learn how to say no and put myself first. A year of crying and being mad and not writing and resenting and having fear—and then ultimate joy and adopting a child. There was so much living that went into one year of my life, it seemed like I’d been slapped.
I WOULD NOT WISH cancer on anyone, but for me it was a tremendous—actually, a monumental—gift.
HAVING A DIAGNOSIS like that demands that you rebuild and decide what your life is going to look like and who is going to be in it—and who you are going to be in it.
YOU AND YOU ALONE are responsible for your art.
I LOOK AT WHAT TAYLOR SWIFT has done and think: she’s a powerhouse. The fact that she came up with solutions for how to not allow her music to be a moneymaker for other people when she should be owning it.
YOU WANT TO BE AIRY-FAIRY and making great music and having people love you. But what a distraction.
BY THE TIME my kids came into my life, I didn’t have things that I felt compelled to accomplish. That makes decision-making easy.
I HAVE THIS RELATIONSHIP with these two boys that I’m raising, and I have not manifested somebody coming in and changing that dynamic. That’s not to say I’m going to grow old by myself. I would like not to.
I TELL MY BOYS: “You have a college fund and a therapy fund. I hope you use the college fund, but please use the therapy fund.”
OUR KNEE-JERK NOW is to immediately criticise, vilify. Just observe and try to breathe love through your heart.
YOU’RE HERE for a nanosecond. Why be an asshole?
Originally published on Esquire US
It's hard to believe a decade has passed since Lauv recorded his first single, "The Other", one of the many songs of heartbreak that he, as a music industry veteran, has come to be known for. But even before that tune was birthed from a 2014 split, Lauv could harness turbulent waves attached to romantic relationships before actually being in them; this kid was penning break-up bangers back in school. His ability to reach in and excavate raw emotion landed him a publishing deal upon graduation, with tracks snapped up by the likes of Cheat Codes, Demi Lovato, and Charli XCX, no less.
"It took me time to get the confidence to put out my own song," Lauv said, "but 'The Other' was different. It was a really personal song about a break-up. That feeling of when you know in your gut it's not right, but you're also not sure how to explain it in your head. On paper, it should be good."
"The Other" would act as a soft launch while Lauv (aka Ari Staprans Leff) busily pedalled hit after hit for other artists. But soon he'd join their ranks with a slew of hits, most notably, the 2017 hit "I Like Me Better" became an international smash. Inspired by his move to New York City and a romance that swiftly ensued, the electropop number became a soundtrack for summer lovers (as it did too for Netflix rom-com, To All the Boys I've Loved Before). It stayed on the US Billboard Hot 100 for over six months and broke Lauv across Europe, Asia and Australia.
"I was wondering if anything was going to happen in my music career... if it was going to go anywhere. Then I finally released 'I Like Me Better' and within the first hour of refreshing the YouTube page, the views and comments went up like crazy. Life became extremely busy, really fun but also super stressful. It became a lot of touring, interviews, artwork, making content and more songs, and quickly turned into 'this is my full-time thing now."
That September, Lauv joined British superstar Ed Sheeran on his Divide Tour in Asia. First stop: the Singapore Indoor Stadium. "I remember the city was so pretty, so clean and so vast. I had chilli crab, chicken rice and stuff like that, but I do need to delve more into Singaporean food. Success in APAC swung Lauv back and forth east on the regular. Lauv even collaborated on tracks with Lay Zhang, BTS, and TWICE.
"I still have to process the weight of some of these collabs. They've been so much bigger than I could have imagined," he muses. "Another cool aspect of it all has been being able to play some awesome shows in Korea, and meet tonnes more K-pop artists."
Lauv was in Japan promoting the compilation, I Met You When I Was 18, when we first met and I asked him to describe what it felt like being in love. “It’s awful!” he said in 2018, based on that experience, the one which shaped his acclaimed debut. He maturely echoes that sentiment today.
“Looking back, I feel like my first relationship maybe wasn’t the healthiest. Not necessarily the best match, but it was such a high just knowing you had somebody and feeling like you had a partner to rely on, especially at that age when I was at the end of high school, so shy and feeling pretty lost. Falling in love for the first time was magical.
“Now I’m in a place where I’m so single and really afraid to let in love again. It’s something I’m working on because in my 20s I’ve had a lot of career success but I’ve also had a lot of personal issues.” He admits, “I feel like in a lot of ways I don’t really know myself, trust myself or love myself fully. I needed to stop running to other people to fix that or band-aid that, and instead to learn to love myself and the right partner will come along.”
Emphasis on “partner”. “I don’t really have any particular answers yet, other than it’s something that I’m exploring in my music and exploring in my mind, and I’m going to be exploring in my life,” Lauv said in a 2013 social media post.
He reveals about where he is with that exploration. “It’s been a really awesome and exciting journey but it’s also been so hard for me. Two months ago I stopped taking all of my medication for my mental health stuff because I was feeling like it was numbing me a little bit and I felt ready to address my deeper issues and work them out in therapy.
“This is my decade to be myself and live my life for me and not for any outside anything. There’s no turning back from where I’m at right now, so I have to embrace all the parts of myself and learn how to be comfortable in my own skin."
“Now I’m doing a tonne of therapy multiple times a week to work through all of the deeper stuff I have going on. I’ve also been so lucky to have so much support from people around me: friends, family, and even my team. They’re like ‘Don’t rush yourself in this process, don’t rush to label yourself, and you don’t need to do this for anyone else except for yourself.’"
“Potential”, his first song released a year after the social media post, marks the beginning of what he calls the most authentic chapter of both his career and life to date.
“This is something that’s happened to me too many times in the past year or two, where I’m looking at friendships and being like ‘Wait...maybe these feelings aren’t just friendship feelings and maybe they’re way deeper for me'. 'Potential’ is a song exploring that.”
The colourful accompanying promo to “Potential” shows Lauv and dancers in start-to-finish choreography for the first time, expressing those emotions to a rather attractive love interest.
“Shooting the music video was really fun and such a positive experience. Everybody on the shoot had such a loving energy that made me feel very safe to explore something on camera that I’ve never really explored on camera.”
In 2019, Lauv joined forces with out-and-proud Australian pop singer, Troye Sivan, on the number three single on the Singapore chart. Lauv explains how Troye has been a constant source of support in this life following their at-first professional encounter.
“We were actually just texting yesterday, I miss him as it’s been a minute since we’ve seen each other. Troye was amazing from the moment we met, during the peak of crazy anxious times for me. Working together was such an easy process and then doing promo, shooting content, making the video...he’s been somebody I’ll forever be grateful for, who took the time to talk me through stuff. A couple of times in the past few years, I’ve hit these points of extreme self-questioning and feeling very lost, and he’s always been there, and been somebody who has been very... non-judgmental, accepting, kind, and patient. He puts me at ease.”
At ease including that of speaking openly and honestly about his crushes. When asked how that feels, a noticeable weight appears lifted off his shoulders.
“I’m at the point where once I started admitting it to myself, I found myself being so inspired and writing all these songs about different guys in my life or fantasising about a potential lover. It felt so beautiful and natural to me. I do feel like in terms of life experience I have so much more to unpack and experience. I’ve gone through the phase of allowing myself to talk about this and admit these feelings, dream and write about them, and now it’s like ‘Let’s go Ari,’ and I’m like, ‘ahhh!’”
Ari is his birth name. Ari Leff. Lauv’s stage name was coined from his Leo zodiac sign and his mother’s Latvian heritage (“Lauva” is Latvian for “Lion”). Lauv turns 30 on 8 August; a milestone birthday, which he describes as an opportunity to start fresh, not start over.
“This is my decade to be myself and live my life for me and not for any outside anything. There’s no turning back from where I’m at right now, so I have to embrace all the parts of myself and learn how to be comfortable in my own skin. I’m also trying not to put too much emphasis on only career since a lot of my 20s were so career-focused, however, at past points in my life when I’ve felt most at peace with myself, I’ve made music that I really love.
“Now I want to dig back into family, friendships, and living just as ‘Ari’. Not worrying as much about ‘Lauv’ and letting that follow suit however it does.”
With that in mind, what are his plans for the big 3-0?
“I’m not going to have a huge party. I’m going to do something intimate with people that I care about, who have been there for me and I want to be there for, just coming together and having a nice wholesome celebration together.”
Of course, Lauv’s not Lauv with a pinch of excess thought.
“I am nervous though,” he finally admits, “It’s wild turning 30!”
Photography, Digital Imaging and Retouching: Jayden Tan
Styling: Asri Jasman
Grooming: Emma Wendorff
Photography Assistant: Brian Neo
You may not know this, but if Spotify has been your go-to streaming service for jamming to your favourite tunes during your office commute or while keeping up with the latest fashion trends on Esquire (yes shameful, I know), then you’ve been unknowingly settling for low-quality music this whole time.
Spotify, of course, is aware of this and has been trying to introduce a high-fidelity (HiFi) subscription plan since 2021, despite rumours of them scrapping the idea. However, the plan is finally coming to pass as HiFi streaming is expected to arrive by the end of 2024, joining fellow streaming moguls, Apple Music and Tidal as streaming services that offer a high-quality option.
Amidst the controversy surrounding Spotify's recent price hikes—increasing costs twice a year across all subscription plans (the second hike thankfully sparing Singaporeans), users finally have something to cheer for, right? Well, I have some ill tidings that may convert even the staunchest Spotify apologists. HiFi streaming will be offered as an add-on that costs users at least USD5 more per month on top of their existing plan. This means that if you're currently on the individual plan paying SGD10.98, you might end up forking out SGD17 per month instead.
In contrast, both Apple Music and Tidal offer high-fidelity audio built-in to their streaming services, charging SGD10.98 monthly. Anyone else thinking of jumping ship?
As Angela Davis aptly puts it, “Palestine is a moral litmus test for the world”. The ongoing suffering of the Palestinians has become a dark stain on the global conscience. As Singaporeans, it's all too easy to feel disconnected and powerless regarding global conflicts, especially those unfolding thousands of kilometres away. Our country is small, and we may feel even smaller as a result. But true power lies in the masses, it always has, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of the oppressed.
Spearheading humanitarian efforts for Singaporeans is Gilbert Goh, the founder of Love Aid SG. Goh has helped raise over a million dollars for various Gaza-related projects. His initiatives include building a Gazan kitchen, which an Israeli airstrike later destroyed and killed nine people he worked closely with. He then constructed solar panels to generate electricity for Kamal Adwan Hospital, but another airstrike decimated that as well. While these setbacks are terrible, they have only strengthened Goh’s resolve to assist Palestinians. He currently remains in Cairo to continue the facilitation of aid into Gaza.
To rally solidarity, Collective Minds is partnering with Mandala Club to organise a music event called Dance for Life. It aims to raise SGD10,000 to support Love Aid SG’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza. With the entire population of Gaza projected to face famine by July, we have an opportunity and moral obligation as citizens of a privileged nation to help prevent that.
Dance for Life will feature an electrifying lineup of local artists and DJs, including Aurora, Bongomann, and Chris. Other artists include Dean Chew, Toppings, James Selva, Jenn Chunes, Kylie Nicole, and Leland. Also performing are Miss Lil, MZA, Puddle, Sivanesh, and RAAJ.
Tickets are priced at SGD40 and is inclusive of a complimentary drink. For those unable to attend in person, a SGD30 donation option is available. All proceeds from ticket sales, donations, and a percentage of the bar sales will be channelled straight to Love Aid SG.
Dance for Life will take place on 15 June 2024 at the Mandala Club from 12 pm to 11 pm. Buy your tickets or donate here.
It's that time of the year where Apple kickstarts its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2024. Esquire Singapore was at Apple Park where it all went down. Although Tim Cook opened the keynote and revealed a few of what the company was working on, it was ultimately Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi's show. Through his amiable style and parkour (you'll understand if you watch the keynote video), it was announced that there would be updates to its OS—iOS 18; iPadOS 18; macOS Sequoia; watchOS 11; visionOS 2—; what's on Apple TV+ slate; the Vision Pro coming to Singapore and the reveal of Apple Intelligence... or AI (“give-the-marketing-team-a-raise”). Here are the biggest takeaways from WWDC.
After keeping mum on AI, Apple loudly announced its proprietary AI, the Apple Intelligence. The Apple Intelligence works across all of Apple's devices and we saw a demonstration of its use in Writing Tools. Now you can see summaries of your e-mails or books and its ability to rewrite the e-mail tone to reflect your intent. Apple Intelligence can also generate transcript summaries of live phone convos or a recordings.
If you tire of 😉 (winking face), 🫃("Uh-oh, I seem to have cirrhosis of the liver.") or 💦🍆 (wash your vegetables), you can generate customised emojis with Genmoji. Simply describe what you want to see as an emoji and Apple Intelligence will create it.
A step up from Genmoji is Image Playground. Again, type in any descriptor and the style (currently only animation, illustration and sketch options are available) and the image will be produced. You can do the same with images from your Photos library or from your Contact list. We were also shown how Apple Intelligence can flesh out rudimentary sketches or ideas through Image Wand. With a finger or Apple Pencil, circle a sketch and after analysing it, Image Wand will produce a complementary visual.
With Apple Intelligence, Siri finally gets the limelight it deserves. Siri can carry out specific tasks with an awareness of your personal context. This means that it’s able to go through your apps and create a personalised approach. For example, if you ask Siri, how to get to a destination, Siri will trawl through your travel history and the weather forecast to formulate the best and personalised route for you. Which for me, is a long languid bus ride because I have no money for cabs and I hate playing the game of “Should I Give Up This Seat For This Person?”
Siri also has a richer language understanding, so if you have made a verbal faux pas and you backtrack, Siri will know what you mean. Does this mean that Siri will understand Singlish? Welp, Apple says that US English will roll out first, followed by other languages. Hope springs eternal, I guess.
And if you’re skittish about speaking out loud to Siri about—oh for example—whether you need to give up your seat to someone who may or may not take offence to said seat offer, you can type it to Siri instead, you coward (my words).
There were rumours leading up to WWDC24 about Apple’s collaboration with ChatGPT came true as it was announced that ChatGPT is integrated into Apple’s Siri and Writing Tools. If Siri is stymied by your request, it will tap into ChatGPT’s expertise. You will be asked if your info can be shared with ChatGPT and can control when it is used. It’s also free to use without the need to create an account. Some people aren't too keen on the Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT union.
Given the outcry about user data being sneakily used to aid in machine learning, Apple doubled down on its stance on user privacy ensuring that even though Apple Intelligence is privy to your personal information, it doesn’t collect it. While many of the large language and diffusion models are run on the device, there are certain instances where it needs to be stored on the cloud. That's where Private Cloud Compute comes in. As a cloud-based model on special servers using Apple Silicon, your data is never stored and only used to handle your AI request. This is what Apple proudly termed as a “new standard for privacy”.
Ever wondered who the hell is on screen and you scroll through IMDB? Now, there inSights, an Apple TV+ feature that shows who is playing what when their characters appear in a scene. There's even a handy bit of info of the music that's playing in the scene as well. inSights is only available for Apple TV+ original programming.
We even got a preview of what's coming to Apple TV+. A slight squeal may or may not have issued from us over the sight of Severance and Silo in the montage.
Called Sequoia, it comes with a Continuity app that allows for iPhone mirroring. You can connect to your iPhone from your Mac. We saw a demo where one could access the iPhone's Duolingo app and actually go through a lesson. The best part of it is that while this is happening, the iPhone is still in locked mode so that no one else, other than you, can have access to it.
There's now the Calculator app but with an added feature. Using your Apple Pencil, you can utilise Math Notes in the Calculator app and write out an equation. Once you write out the "=" sign, it immediately calculates. If you change any of the numbers, the tally automatically adjusts.
There's a Smart Script feature that refines your handwritten notes. You can scratch out certain words and it automatically erases, just like that.
Finally, this special announcement from WWDC: Apple's Vision Pro gets an operating system update. Using machine learning, it takes your 2D photos and adds depth to it; giving it more life to these spatial photos. There are expanded intuitive gestures to use with your Vision Pro and an ultrawide virtual display to operate on.
Oh, and the Vision Pro will soon be available to Singapore on 28 June.
For more information on WWDC 2024, check out the Apple website.
Well, well, well, it looks like Barry Keoghan’s boxing lessons have finally paid off. The actor put his athleticism to good use in Sabrina Carpenter’s latest video, “Please Please Please.” His role? Carpenter’s jailbird boyfriend. Don’t worry, though—he’s a bad boy with a big heart.
In case you missed it, Carpenter and Keoghan have been dating for a while. In January, eagle-eyed fans spotted them at Luna Luna, an interactive art museum in Los Angeles. Then he was seen filming her Coachella performance, stage-mom-style. Now they seem to have taken their courtship to the next level—which, in 2024, is a buzzy music video. Don’t you love it when a couple maximizes their joint slay? (Look it up.)
In “Please Please Please,” Carpenter spots Keoghan in jail. She walks out, he walks in, and it’s love at first sight. When it’s Keoghan’s turn to leave his confines, Carpenter scoops him up, and thus begins their whirlwind romance. “I heard that you’re an actor, so act like a stand-up guy,” she sings. “Whatever devil’s inside you, don’t let him out tonight.” Carpenter is ready to take a chance on the man. He has a rough reputation, but it’s fine!
Wrong. Keoghan’s character can’t stay out of trouble. He takes her to a gang’s den and promptly gets into a brutal fistfight, then he robs a bank and is arrested again. Meanwhile, his poor girlfriend begs him to chill out. “Please, please, please / Don’t prove ’em right,” Carpenter sings. “Heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another / I beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherfucker.” It’s no use. The man is who he is—which, by the way, is a pretty decent fella. Despite the chaos, he still remembers to hold her hand. He’s not all bad.
The cheeky video appears to be a nod to Keoghan’s onscreen bad-boy reputation. (None of us are over Saltburn’s Oliver Quick, are we?) Still, in “Please Please Please,” Carpenter asks him to behave. If not for his sake, then for hers. It ends with her cuffing Keoghan to a chair and kissing his duct-taped mouth while he lovingly gazes at her. I guess you can’t get into trouble if you can’t get up.
Originally published on Esquire US
The song you're listening to heralds the birth of psychedelic symphonies, predating The Beatles by a staggering 130 years. Hector Berlioz, the French composer who wrote "Symphonie fantastique" (French for "fantastic symphony") in 1830, offers one of the earliest musical depictions of a transcendent journey. Celine creative, artistic and image director Hedi Slimane stumbled upon this masterpiece at just 11 years old and was instantly captivated.
Berlioz's composition vividly captures the torment of unrequited love and obsession. Regarded as an "immense instrumental composition of a new genre", "Symphonie fantastique" showcases Berlioz's unmatched orchestration skills, impressing critics with its avant-garde essence. Transitioning seamlessly to Slimane's fashion narrative for Celine's Winter 2024 menswear collection also titled "Symphonie Fantastique", the collection boldly revives tailoring, epitomising the designer's pure sartorial essence.
The fit: Bold and cutting-edge, the garments featured in the film embody Slimane's unmistakable design language in menswear. Embracing the iconic "I" line silhouette—reminiscent of 1960s tailoring with a nod to 19th-century Anglomania—the collection exudes timeless sophistication. Frock coats, three-buttoned suits, and intricately hand-embroidered waistcoats are meticulously crafted from sumptuous fabrics like silk, cashmere, and vicuña. Throughout, matte black, satin, and lacquered finishes dominate, infusing each garment with an unmistakable sense of opulence and refinement.
Standout pieces include iconic motorcycle jackets with cropped hemlines, elegantly paired with 1970s flared bottoms as well as pinstriped peacoats transformed into militaristic uniforms. As with every collection, embellished accents adorn a number of garments, adding a captivating touch. Well-dressed cowboys take the lead in ballooning denim and multi-pocket button-down shirts for more casual proposals from the collection.
The details: Silver hardware embellishments on leather jackets inject that signature Slimane edge into the garments. They create a striking contrast to the refined aesthetic of the collection, all the while maintaining the rebellious spirit of Celine. Wide-brimmed hats and square-framed sunglasses further punctuate the collection's distinctive style.
Three exceptional looks: An embellished golden coat catching the sunlight; a sleek mandarin-collar jacket; and a pin-striped coat accentuated with a velvet collar.
The takeaway: This collection vividly embodies storytelling. Each piece reflects Slimane's current fascinations, meticulously crafted in every detail—from the setting and casting, to the music and garments.
View some of looks from the Celine Homme Winter 2024 collection in the gallery below.
I WAS PLAYING around in the surf one day in Hawaii and someone zoomed passed me on a boogie board and I thought, “That’s amazing!”. And then someone went by on a surfboard and I thought, “That’s even more amazing!”. It’s hard to explain how invigorating and joyful surfing is.
WHENEVER I SURF, I feel something deep inside me. That’s the same feeling I have when playing on stage in front of a lot of people.
OUR CHANGING THINKING on spirituality fascinates me. Where quantum physics meets with philosophy meets with mathematics meets with engineering; how they’re all coming to the same place from different starting points and how the numbers and teachings vindicate one another. We’re all one. We’re indivisible.
THAT KIND OF IDEA is not for everyone. You basically have to say goodbye to everything you thought was real. It gets craaazy!
WHEN I LISTEN TO MUSIC—even classical music—I have a tendency to imagine that all the instruments are guitars and that makes it all so much more interesting. Play an oboe passage on guitar and it can sound amazing. Translate a French horn passage in the harmonics of a guitar and the result can just be incredible.
I KNOW ONE DAY my children will come into a lot of money and that bothers me. I still don’t know what I’m going to do about that, especially as I grew up with very little and know that when I had some disposable income I went a bit crazy. I’ve had pretty much everything I’ve ever dreamt of having.
THE TRICK always is to want what you already have, not to keep on wanting.
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER and inspiring to be a rock musician, I was taken with rock ’n’ roll’s glamour, the romanticising of the lifestyle. Well, then you experience it—and it’s all bollocks.
BELIEVING in sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll is a quick way to ruin your life. Pretty much all of my peers bought into all that and didn’t come out at the end of it—addictions, narcissism, just inappropriate behaviour, all that changes people for the worse. The problem is that it seems like a good idea at the time. Yes, it was fun, but every day I have regrets [about it].
WHERE METALLICA STANDS in culture is very important to me. The band just gets bigger every year and when people hear your music for the first time when they’re younger, they just latch on to it. There’s only a handful of bands that are like that. In our case, it speaks to people who are pissed off and don’t know why, people who haven’t had enough of a voice or who haven’t yet found a way to express it.
WHEN we’ve all run out our lives, Metallica will still be this living entity. For some reason, it’s so much bigger than the four of us [band members].
IT’S SO HARD to find stage clothes—something that’s unique, that you don’t see everywhere but has a flashiness to it because it also needs to be something you can see from 50 feet away.
WEAR ALL BLACK—as you do in heavy metal—and the stage gets dark and then suddenly it’s like, “Where’s Kirk gone?” It took time for me to realise you can really express yourself through clothing and that clothing can be fun.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I never really understood what machismo was. And then one day I realised I was neck-deep in it. All my friends, my father, my uncles and cousins—they were macho so I was naturally drawn to that way of thinking. It wasn’t like we were all Clint Eastwood exactly but there is a covert kind of machismo—the aggression and hostility, the need to be the toughest guy in the room. For me that even meant writing tough, scary riffs. It’s still hard for me to write happy-sounding music. It needs to sound like scraping a shovel along concrete.
I TELL MY CHILDREN never to feel pressured by dad’s day job [or] by the idea that they have to rise to some kind of standard [of success]. I tell them to just try to do what makes you happy—as long as it contributes to your well-being—and pray that you can make a living from it.
THAT and be nice to people.
I DON’T KNOW where the points come from but you get extra points for being nice to people. It makes you a lot more positive. And positivity is progress.
I’M A HABITUAL COLLECTOR, BRO. My friend called me the other day and asked me, “Why do you collect plastic bags?”. And I thought ‘I’ve been completely rumbled here’ because I do. I have OCD and collect anything.
I’M AT THAT AGE when I can look back on my life and see patterns when I go hard on certain things—guitars, vehicles, watches... plastic bags.
THE TRICK IS to not care what people think [about you]—not the way you’re dressed or your music or anything.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN OPINION—that’s what my parents told me—and it just doesn’t matter, especially since everyone’s opinion is coloured by where they are at in their lives.
UNFORTUNATELY, social media has turned that around.
Childish Gambino is up to something. Then again, when isn’t he? The rapper—who is, of course, the great Donald Glover—is a Swiss Army knife. Glover began his career as both an actor and a musician in the early aughts, impressing fans on Community as well as with albums such as Camp, Because the Internet, and Awaken, My Love. Then he dropped the viral political anthem “This is America”—and flexed his acting chops on Atlanta (which he wrote and produced, too). And let’s not forget the recent Mr & Mrs Smith reboot. (He a co-creator and Mr Smith.)
Got all that? Good. Now he’s back in the booth. Early this morning, Glover dropped Atavista—the “finished version” of his 2020 album, 3.15.20. He announced the news on X, teasing a special vinyl, upcoming visuals, and another (!) new album that we’ll hear this summer. He also posted a link to the music video for his latest song, “Little Foot Big Foot,” which you can watch in the video streaming above.
Fans of Glover will recognize most of the tracks on Atavista, but “Little Foot Big Foot” is a new treat. The song features a verse from Young Nudy—and the Hiro Murai–directed music video stars Quinta Brunson, Monyett Crump, and Rob Bynes. Now that Atavista is out, we can appreciate the record in all its glory. But for those surprised by the release, perhaps it’s time we pay closer attention to Glover—he’s been dropping hints since April.
Last month, Glover played a few tracks for fans on Instagram Live, telling a stunned listener, “It’s a rollout, dummy.” His Instagram includes posts for Gilga Radio—a mysterious website named after his production company—and an album visual with the social-media star Casey Frey, along with dates for his upcoming world tour.
So what’s the difference between Atavista and 3.15.20? The new record boasts refreshed arrangements, but the most significant difference is that the tracks have names. Each song on 3.15.20 has a time stamp for its title. At the time, Glover decided to keep the titles simple amid personal and global strife from the pandemic. “I took that approach because I guess that’s what I was going through,” Glover told Complex. “People are always going to want what they want, but I have to express what I’m going through. I had just lost my father, I had just had a kid, and I was going through a lot. I was having a lot of different new experiences, and that’s what I expressed.”
Originally published on Esquire US
The evolution of music consumption over the past three decades has been a wild ride from questionable downloads to unlimited playlists. Remember when downloading music and burning CDs felt like it took an eternity?
With internet speeds being what they were back then, patience was indeed a virtue. Today, it’s all about 24/7 access and listening. It’s incredible how fast things can change.
Amid the rapid rise of AI and the digital age, the tempo of music consumption shows no signs of slowing down. As physical album sales plummet and streaming services take over, where will this relentless progress take us next?
The ’90s was the era of physical albums, which stored about 700 MB worth of audio tracks. Then came MPEG and MP3 formats, where transferring music between devices became as common as burning CDs. MP3s—and the world’s open secret—digital music piracy in the 2000s were the unsung heroes of the time, allowing people to acquire and carry tunes wherever they were.
That was everyone’s reality before iTunes, where instead of buying a physical album, you can buy music from your computer. Last.fm, SoundCloud and Bandcamp entered the market and offered budding artists a place to share their music with the world.
But it was Spotify’s arrival on the scene in 2008 that created a seismic shift in music consumption. It’s as if the platform has everything—infinite music to listen to, free and premium account options and an algorithm that seems to know every person’s music taste. Spotify quickly became the go-to destination for music lovers everywhere
@tyla_ ♬ Water - Tyla
Fast forward to today, the dynamics are evolving yet again. Research has shown that Gen Z spends more time streaming music than every other generation, dedicating 40 minutes more than the rest of the population.
Their eclectic taste spans genres like hip-hop, R&B and alternative rock. Having grown up with the internet as an integral part of their lives, this demographic embraces genre diversity more than any other generation.
It’s not just the younger audience—older generations are jumping on the bandwagon. Have you ever gone to TikTok, found great music and added it to your Spotify playlist? TikTok has emerged as a place where viral hits can catapult artists to stardom even with just one hit.
One perfect example is “Driver’s License” by Olivia Rodrigo, which became a massive song on the platform before dominating streaming services and “Water” by Tyla, who is often called a one-hit wonder.
What’s truly exciting, though, is the rise of DIY music. With a rising preference for fresh beats produced outside established recording studios, aspiring musicians are embracing their creativity like never before. This democratisation of music creation is not just a trend, but a movement reshaping how music can empower and connect people with others on their own terms.
J.Cole waited two hours in the rain outside Jay Z’s studio to give him his mixtape, which the latter casually dismissed. Back in the day, aspiring artists needed to get through the O.Gs to reach the top.
Gone are the days when success in the music industry depended on securing deals with prestigious labels. That was the reality for many musicians, but the game has changed. Today, indie artists are rewriting the rules. For the first time in many years, a new breed of independent copyright owners is growing and making music from the comforts of their own homes.
Home studios are all the rage today—with the rise of independent artists, they’re not going anywhere soon. With the advancements in technology and the rising accessibility of tools, artists can craft professional-grade music from the comfort of their own space.
This newfound accessibility will continue to empower many artists to embrace their own creativity in the following years. Who knows, it might inspire casual listeners to create their own beats, too.
The rise of home studios isn’t just changing how music is made—it’s reigniting the interest in learning musical instruments. Thanks to the digital age, access to music education has never been more democratised.
From free tutorials on platforms like YouTube to hybrid instruments, anyone can be a musician. Studies may have shown that music-related ability is 50 per cent inherited from a family member. Still, the availability of free resources means anyone can hone their skills if they dedicate enough time and effort to learning.
Musical instruments have also continuously adapted to the technological advancements of artists. Case in point: virtual instruments—powered by artificial intelligence and advanced software—allow individuals to learn a specific instrument and experiment with unlimited possibilities.
It’s also hard to keep up with the recent otherworldly musical inventions, such as sitars made from golf clubs and miniature synthesisers. Recently, the world’s first Kovar guitar strings were produced. They’re more corrosion-resistant than your typical Titanium string. Kovar is a nickel-cobalt alloy commonly used in the construction industry and has now made its way into the music industry. Will these strings strike a chord with guitarists? Only time will tell.
Even if you’re not strumming a guitar yourself, the prospect of future instruments looks promising. Picture wearable instruments like bracelets embedded with sensors and hybrid instruments that seamlessly blend digital and acoustic elements. In an AI-dominated era, what better way to appreciate technological advancements than through music?
As streaming continues to dominate the musical landscape, expect to see even more tailored-fit experiences in the years to come. Much of people’s lives are accompanied by a soundtrack, whether at work, home or play—and it’s not going anywhere. Around 71% of people say music is essential to their mental wellness, and 78% say it helps them relax and cope with stress. Given that, what we can expect is a total blast on hyper-personalisation.
As streaming platforms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve recommendations, you can expect more innovations like Spotify’s AI DJ and Daylist in the coming years. Soon enough, systems can analyse beyond your streaming activities, current weather, time of the day and location.
It’s a bit frightening knowing that AI can soon predict your desires long before you identify the need for it. That future is not impossible, given the rapid advances of AI. One thing’s for sure, though—personalised innovations will quickly rise as CD sales and digital downloads slowly go extinct.
With the rise of VR and AR technologies, music streaming will become a catalyst for more innovative live music experiences—exclusive live streaming of concerts, DJ sets and virtual series are possibilities of the future. Considering the future 6G, you can look forward to virtual visual streaming—imagine having your favourite artist performing in front of you as their only audience. It’s like having an intimate concert in the comfort of your own home.
With music playing 24/7, it’s easy to get tired of the same tunes. Talking about music is more than finding new songs to listen to—it’s a way for people to connect. That being said, you can expect to see the emergence of social music streaming, where users can follow friends’ listening activities, share playlists and collaborate on music creation.
Future music consumption tools would likely involve a mix of AI-generated and human-created instrumentals, songs and soundscapes. When the song “Heart on My Sleeve,” featuring Drake and the Weeknd’s AI-generated vocals dropped, it immediately went viral. The track was posted on TikTok and streaming services, which racked up 600,000 Spotify streams and 15 million TikTok views before it was removed from all platforms due to copyright violation claims. Despite the controversy, people love it, even going as far as telling AI is terrible, but not until this song dropped.
While some artists feel threatened by AI, others see it as an opportunity to make passive income from other creators producing songs that use their voices. Grimes is the living embodiment of this concept—she released Elf.tech, a platform that allows people to create new songs using her voice.
If you’ve ever created YouTube videos, you know the struggle of finding royalty-free music. Enter Beatoven and Boomy—platforms that let you generate music and royalty-free tracks with the help of AI. These tools will let you create music based on your chosen genre, energy level and mood. What a way to be your own DJ.
Looking back on the past, present and future of music consumption, one thing is certain—streaming will remain an unstoppable force. What’s exciting about the future is how people listen to music and the opportunities for music creation as home studios become more popular.
Whatever the future holds, remember that consuming music is more than just hitting that play button. It’s also about connecting people.
This year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (or, you know, Coachella 2024) has been exceptionally remarkable, with headliners such as the eclectic Tyler, the Creator as well as powerhouse performers from K-pop group ATEEZ to J Balvin. Iconic ska band No Doubt also made their return to the stage after a decade-long hiatus.
Besides the notable lineup, Coachella is the occasion for festival dressing, and this year's did not disappoint. As arguably the most popular music festival in the world, Coachella drew a huge number of attendees over the past two weekends, with many dressed in their most eye-catching fits. The headliners and performers were put on outfits that matched the intensity of their setlist while celebrity attendees made sure they stood out in the sea of the Coachella-loving crowd.
Suits aren't commonplace at Coachella—this is not an award show red carpet—but folks like Jon Batiste switched it up with show-stopping tailoring. Everyone tend to be a bit more experimental in the way they dress. From midriff-baring top to streetwear-inspired looks, it was quite a spectacle to behold. In the gallery below, we take a closer look at some of the best-dressed men seen during the two weekends.
