Photo via We Are One Music + Arts Festival
THIS FESTIVAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL NOVEMBER 12 + 13. LINEUP IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THIS EDITORIAL FOCUSES ON THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED LINEUP.
Houston is making its swift return to the music festival scene with the Inaugural We Are One Music + Arts Festival, which is scheduled to take place on May 14+15, 2022 at Eleanor Tinsley Park.
Houston is notorious for its nightlife experiences and immense music scene, but the city hasn’t had a proper indie music festival since the In Bloom Music Festival in 2018. Luckily, a few local Houstonians got together to create the next lively festival experience – We are One Music + Arts Festival, which is set to host musical acts like Grimes, Illenium and JPEGMAFIA. It will also emphasize Houston’s local culture with numerous small businesses, art galleries and murals. In preparation for the fest, we’ve created a list of artists to look out for!
Combo Chimbita
This Colombian quartet from New York embraces their latin roots through music. They fuse elements of cumbia and psychedelia to create their signature sound, which they call “tropical futurism.” According to NPR, Combo Chimbita consists of Carolina Oliveros (lead singer), Niño Lento es Fuego (guitar), Prince of Queens (bass, synthesizers) and Dilemastronauta (drums). They released their newest album called Iré earlier this year, which does an amazing job of portraying their experimental sound. Combo Chimbita’s unique fusion of sound seems like a great opportunity to put their audience in a musical trance, something we know is bound to happen at WAO.
Alice Longyu Gao
We all love a resilient hyperpop queen. Alice Longyu Gao is a Los Angeles/New York based DJ who is currently signed to Dog Show Records, a label founded by 100 Gecs’ producer Dylan Brady. Gao has released multiple collaborative singles with fellow DJ artists like Mura Masa, Baauer, and Alice Glass. To date, she’s only released one EP called High Dragon and Universe, a wild collection of tracks that will definitely get anyone moving. Earlier this year, she released a new track “To My White Boy Princess…” and we sense that more tracks are on its way. Gao’s entire aura and sense of style is highlighted in all of her works and music videos, so we can’t imagine what she’ll bring to Houston this upcoming May.
Poppy
Poppy is known for being the cryptic youtuber everyone loves, as her persona is uncanny and satirically unnatural. She began making music in 2016 under the name That Poppy after signing with Island Records, and released a series of artpop songs like “Lowlife” and “Interweb.” She has then completely changed her genre since her sophomore album Am I Girl?, where she debuted a nu-metal sound. In her most recent works, I Disagree (2020) and Flux (2021), she has shown her musical capabilities with an tumultuous avant-garde sound. Her rock-heavy tunes are sure to emphasize her immense stage presence, something we are dying to see at WAO fest.
Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast (JBrekkie for short) is having an amazing start to 2022 – two grammy nominations for their album Jubilee, releasing their very first video game soundtrack for Sable, and making multiple appearances at this year’s South by Southwest. Japanese Breakfast is a four-piece dream-pop band that consists of lead singer Michelle Zauner, members Peter Bradley, Craig Hendrix and Deven Craige. The band released their debut album Psychopomp in 2016, followed by their successful sophomore album Soft Sounds from Another Planet – all inspired by the events during/following the death of Zauner’s mother. Jubilee turned things around and became a joyous celebration of life, something Zauner takes pride in during live performances. Jbrekkie is one of the most energetic bands to see live, and we’re excited to see what’s in store.
PEYTON
Along with a few others on the lineup, Peyton is a Houston native who is set to take the stage at WAO fest. The R&B singer/songwriter is on the rise and is full of passion – she pours her soul into all of her music as heard in her EPs Roller Coaster, Peace in the Midst of a Storm and Reach Out. Most recently, she released her debut album PSA and has had songs featured in Issa Rae’s comedy-drama series Insecure. Peyton’s sound is vibrant and creative, making her a must-see artist.
Mykki Blanco
Mykki Blanco is a legendary performance artist, rapper and LGBTQ+ activist. She is known for being a founding member of the genre “queer rap,” and has collaborated with a number of artists, including Charli XCX and Blood Orange. They released their first debut album called Mykki in 2016, and later released their sophomore album called Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep in 2021. She has been promoting an upcoming project on social media, including the release of brand new single “Family Ties” and its accompanying music video. Blanco is known for precise lyricism and strong musical cadences – shining light on personal experiences and social issues. Seeing her vibrant persona on stage will definitely be a set to remember.
Lupe Fiasco
From “The Show Goes On” to “Superstar,” Lupe Fiasco has provided some of the best tracks we have on our throwback playlists. His work is very unique in terms of lyrical content and hip-hop, as his music focuses on his perspectives on societal issues. Most recently, he released a new single called “100 Chicagos,” an immersive track that focuses on his momentous lyrics about the city where he was raised. Fiasco is rumored to release a new album later this year – hopefully that means fans will be getting a taste of his new work at this year’s WAO fest.
Pearl Earl
This all-girl rock band from Denton is definitely one of the most anticipated acts yet! The band formed in 2014 after a drunken jam session and consists of members Ariel Hartley, Bailey Chapman, Stefanie Lazcano and Chelsey Danielle. Since their start, Pearl Earl has toured with multiple acts like Parquet Courts and Divino Niño, as well as made appearances at festivals like South by Southwest and Levitation. They released their self-titled debut album in 2017, which features hot tracks like the jaunty “Meet Your Maker” and the kitschy “Cosmic Queen.” Pearl Earl is definitely an act that needs to be on everyone’s list, as they are bound to make you headbang and dance all around.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
