For the fifth time, Head In The Clouds brought the world’s best exponents of Asian music to Pasadena, USA. Produced by 88rising and Goldenvoice, the festival is characterized for being the one to gather Asian talents from around the world and place them at the Rose Bowl.
Its 2023 edition came stronger than ever since Asia devours the world by leaps and bounds. The headliners continued to be NIKI and Rich Brian, both part of 88rising, talents who were born from their Indonesian roots, but have been polished in the United States.
Held in Pasadena, Head In The Clouds also featured DPR LIVE, DPR IAN and Jackson Wang. In the last year they have only managed to outdo themselves once again with almost sold out world tours.
Jackson Wang, who is part of GOT7, but has established himself as CEO, designer, director, rapper and singer, lifted the festival with MAGIC MAN. This theater piece that aims to teach us to love ourselves and never give up was performed for the first time in Pasadena. He had previously made his Coachella debut with a similar set alongside R&B’s queen, Ciara.
WHAT’S NEW?: Epik High anuncia gira mundial que pasará por Chile
THE RETURN OF KEITH APE A HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Keith Ape was one of the first South Korean rappers to perform at Head In The Clouds, but was absent from the music scene for several years. This 2023, the artist returned with a set accompanied by Okasian and other South Korean’s rappers.
THAILAND PRESENT AT HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Representing Thailand, Phum Viphurit showed his best hits on the Honda Double Happiness stage. The singer and guitarist accumulates more than 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with no collaboration in his TOP5.
Next up was MILLI, who set the crowd on fire on the main stage with a unique flow. The rapper reached a more mainstream audience after her verse on F.HERO’s “Mirror Mirror” alongside Changbin of Stray Kids. But that didn’t stop her from collaborating with Jackson Wang and then on BIBI’S remix for “The Weekend“.
FROM JAPAN TO HEAD IN THE CLOUDS AND TO THE WORLD: XG AND YOASOBI
Japanese duo, Yoasobi came to Pasadena to perform on a stage that loved EDM. Although their career has only been going on for a few years, the Japanese duo has accumulated over 100 million streams on several of their singles.
Taking the world by storm, XG performed for the second time at Head In The Clouds, the first time was at the New York edition. And now they return to Pasadena with “TGIF” their new single with a voguing style.
The Japanese group, with a worldwide focus, has almost 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is set to release their first album ‘NEW DNA’ on September 27.
Although she has also been in the industry for a couple of years, Lyn Lapid stepped on the clouds’s stage for the first time. Having American nationality, but of Filipino descent, Lyn faced some difficulty, but followed her set at Head In The Clouds a cappella after a sound glitch that did not take the shine off her and her band.
THE TRAJECTORY OF THE BIGGEST ASIAN FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES: HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.
Its first edition was in 2018 with rappers like Dumbfoundead, Keith Ape and stars like Rich Brian and NIKI, both Indonesian and Joji, Australian-Japanese musician. This 2023, Head In The Clouds welcomed back Keith Ape who was missing from the music scene as well as Dumbfoundead, but this time as part of the backstage panel.
And the 2023 was closed by the OGs Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae alongside other festival’s guest artists such as KnowKnow, Masiwei, Rich Brian, Warren Hue, Phum Viphurit, MILLI, Zion.T, Keith Ape, Yoasobi, ATARASHII GAKKO!. Also, from South Korea, Okasian and Sokodomo were invited as guests.
