POSTCARD FROM COACHELLA: G-EAZY

Presenting the third in a series of Q&As from our Coachella infiltrator, Samantha Hissong. Here, Sam sits down with RCA's G-Eazy, whose platinum-selling "Me, Myself and I" just recently topped the Top 40 radio chart, after already hitting #1 at Rhythm a few weeks prior.

How has Coachella treated you so far, and how was playing that stage?
Coachella has treated me just fine. I can’t really ask for more, other than maybe headlining main stage or something. Everything’s been beautiful. The crowd was fucking massive. I’ve had a great time. I’ve seen a lot of artists backstage that are friends of mine; you know it’s always cool running into people you haven’t seen in a while. I’m out here with a bunch of my friends; it’s dope to get to experience this all together. This is something we’ve all dreamed of and all talked about. I brought my mom out. It was her birthday the night I played, and I made the whole crowd wish her a happy birthday… It was dope.

How important is playing festivals to you? What benefit do they provide?
I love festivals. It’s a different energy... and a different crowd, because they’re just fans of live music in general. Say I’m in front of 20,000 people at the Sahara tent. It’s not necessarily 20,000 G-Eazy fans. They’re just people who are curious and are discovering new music. They’re fans of the whole experience.

I feel like festivals bring lots of different artists from different chapters in their careers together in one place. That being said, if you could share the stage with any act for one fantastical fest moment, who would it be and why?
I mean, Ye, for sure. He was my first concert that I went to on my own—well, with my friends; I was 13.

Where was that?
In San Francisco at The Fillmore.

Makes sense; you’re from the Bay Area, right? I went to Santa Cruz. Banana Slugs!
Right on, for sure. My mom did too.

Any highlights from previous festivals you’ve played?
I was just talking about the first Coachella that I came to. Kid Cudi on the main stage was like one of the best sets I’ve seen. I think he was just having a great day, and he killed it. Vince Staples was really dope last night. Matt & Kim play today [Sunday]. They’re incredible. We played a festival together in New Orleans.

Voodoo! Was it Voodoo?
It was. That was the first festival I went to. I lived in New Orleans for six years, actually. As for other highlights: Charles Bradley at Pemberton Festival. He was incredible. Incredible vibes.

Photo by Grady Brannan

Do you have any other fests coming up this season that you’re particularly excited about?
Lolla. I did it last year too; it was insane.

What’s the craziest story you’ve either personally experienced at a festival or heard of via friends/colleagues?
Ah, man! I walked past these people having sex just right on the grass… literally right on the grass. And people were crowded around just watching. This was like three or four years ago. It was funny; I was like, “Wait, are they really just fucking? Yea.”

For your viewing pleasure [laughs]. Wow; that's a good one. So, who were you (or are you) most excited to see here?
I was really excited to see Vince Staples last night. He did great. Matt & Kim today, like I said. I wish I could see Miike Snow, but I have a show in Vegas tonight. Oh, and LCD Soundsystem was super dope.

Is there anything you want your fans to know in regard to what they can expect from you in the near future?
I’m just excited about this summer tour that I just announced. It’s me, Logic, YG and Yo Gotti.