The lineup this year at Pitchfork is probably one of the best I’ve seen (last year’s was pretty darn good too). Solange, Cherry Glazerr, Mitski, A Tribe Called Quest, Angel Olsen just to name a few.
These names are pretty well known in the college radio sphere, but here are a few of the artists playing early in the day at Pitchfork you should give a listen to if you haven’t already.
Madame Gandhi
One of the firsts artists playing at the festival is Madame Gandhi. Born Kiran Gandhi, the electronic artist who grew up in New York and India, has made a name for herself as the drummer for M.I.A., and as a political activist. In 2015 she ran the London Marathon while on her period and was free bleeding the entire time. Listen to her EP Voices, and if you’re going to the festival check her out live first thing on Friday.
Priests
The D.C. punk band that have two self-released tapes under their belt, Priests released their first official LP in January through their own label Sister Polygon Records. “Nothing Feels Natural” Pink White House” are songs off the debut you should definitely check out.
Vagabon
Laetitia Tamko, known professionally as Vagabon, is the voice of indie rock. Pitchfork named her newest album Infinite Worlds Best New Music, and she’s shared stages with the likes of Frankie Cosmos and Told Slant. She draws inspiration from her life in Cameroon as well as New York. Listen to “The Embers” now.
Kilo Kish
Reflections in Real Time by Kilo Kish (Lakisha Robinson) was one of the most overlooked albums of 2016. Her music, and especially this album, is deeply introspective and at times sarcastic, in a way where you feel you can relate, but still bop along to it. A multi-medium artists who works with music, paint, textiles, and visuals, Robinson puts on great live performances that have such attention to detail and her aesthetics are so clean and well put together. I saw her live in the spring opening up for Vince Staples, another artist performing at Pitchfork, and it was a phenomenal set. Definitely catch her live if you can.
