Kpopcast: for the best sounds & ideas in Kpop

Kpop at Coachella 2025 & KAI Wait On Me Album Review

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Lisa's Coachella set featured electrocuted dancers and a halo prop, while Jennie's performance felt limp.

The episode begins with the hosts introducing themselves—DJ Peter Lowe, Stephanie, and PD Mikayla—and sharing 'hit replay' song recommendations from EXO Kai's new mini-album 'Wait On Me'. Peter recommends 'Wall Stone Talk' for its vocal stacking and lower tones, while Stephanie praises the Afrobeats title track 'Wait On Me' despite initial skepticism about the pre-release 'Adult Swim'. Mikayla highlights 'Riding U' for its production by Warren 'Fetter' and Duckworth. The conversation then shifts to K-pop at Coachella 2025, noting it's not the first time K-pop has appeared there, with historical mentions of Epik High in 2006 and Blackpink headlining. This year's acts included Lisa, Jennie, &TEAM, and XG, primarily on the Sahara stage. The hosts compare the production scale, with Lisa's performance described as theatrical and high-budget, featuring elaborate costumes, a halo prop, and electrocuted dancers. In contrast, Jennie's performance on the Outdoor Theater stage is criticized for limp stage presence, vocal issues, and awkward lyrics. &TEAM utilized a live band and dancers effectively, while XG's production was minimal. The hosts discuss the importance of intros and tension-building at Coachella, citing Lisa's example. They speculate on future Coachella invites, suggesting aespa, BTS members like Jungkook, Stray Kids, and Rosé, while questioning if labels understand the event's significance. The episode concludes with social media plugs and a call for donations.

As heard by us

Kpopcast pairs Coachella stagecraft talk with Peter Lowe's close listen to Kai on Wall Stone Talk.

Kpopcast frames K-pop at Coachella 2025 as a setting where songs and artists listeners already know can feel newly built for scale. The conversation lingers on the suspense before an idol appears, Lisa's big-stage intro, and the ways festival performances can reshape…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want Coachella stagecraft and a close listen to Kai's Wait On Me hit replay?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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