Coachella 2023 praised for South Asian representation in its line-up

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The verdict is out, Coachella’s 2023 line-up has been hailed to be impressive as popular South Asian musicians are set to perform at one of the biggest music and arts festivals in the world.

The event will take place in Indio, California for two weeks in April and this year’s headliners are some of the top international artists and bands including Blackpink, Frank Ocean and Bad Bunny.

According to the BBC, several fans are praising Coachella for the representation of South Asians in the line-up. Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani musician Ali Sethi are set to perform this year.

In an interview with the BBC, a British Asian fan Vishma Rai expressed her joy at seeing both the artists performing at the festival and said that it is a huge moment for South Asian representation on a global stage.

The 27-year-old told BBC Newsbeat that this was of significance as “we always find ourselves listening to that music, but never see it get that widespread attention and appreciation.”

A fan of Dosanjh, she says that his music brings many together as people across “all age groups listen to him”.

Jay Shergill, 20, who is of Punjabi descent and lives in Birmingham, echoes a similar thought about Dosanjh as Rai. She tells the BBC that he is “breaking barriers and paving a way” and adds, “Everyone around is so proud and so happy that he’s made it.”

Shergill goes on to reveal that she has had the opportunity to go to his concerts. She says, “When I saw him on his UK tour, I’ve never seen another Punjabi singer have production like him and his energy was so high throughout.”

Musician Joy Crookes, who was born to a Bangladeshi mother and an Irish father, and brought up in south London, was also announced to perform at the festival. She told Newsbeat that it was important to give a “platform” to artists from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Both Sethi and Dosanjh are increasingly popular among British Asian fans and have proven their respective talents over the years through melodious and catchy music which resonate with the masses.