Why I’m Okay With Coachella Being Cancelled This Year

Music

Apr 9

It’s gonna be a no-chella from me.

The popular music festival, which happens annually, will be cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while many are grieving this year’s Coachella, I will not be a part of that! In fact, I actually think it may be a great time to reflect on why we’re probably better off without Coachella.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never been to the festival itself, but something about it just doesn’t sit right with me. I can appreciate music allowing us to escape into our own little world. These days, I’m especially reliant on my Spotify playlist to put me in an alternate universe where COVID-19 doesn’t exist.

But when I think about Coachella, a few things come to mind beyond just bohemian fashion, great music, and good company. Because while the “celebrities in the dessert” aesthetic is a pleasing one, I can’t ignore the cultural appropriation we see every… single… year.

Cultural Appropriation at Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music Festival is notoriously known for its attendees taking part in cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is when you take an element of somebody else’s culture, and use it for a different reason, which completely ignores and dismisses the rich history behind it. For example, many people use Bindis purely to accessorize their outfits, but the Bindi actually holds a lot of cultural significance in South Asian cultures. Additionally, a very popular form of cultural appropriation is when people wear Native American headdresses. Many Indigenous folks have already experienced having their land and cultural practices being taken from them, and on top of this, to ignore the importance of the headdress is disrespectful as it reduces its true sacred meaning.

While vaccine rollouts are ongoing all over the world right now, it’s still important for people to remember to do their part in slowing and stopping the spread of COVID-19. A music festival? Yeah, that’s got “super spreader” written all over it. Not to mention the financial stressors that so many people are dealing with right now… can people really afford to drop hundreds of dollars on tickets? With the cultural appropriation on top of that, I will not be mourning the loss of Coachella.

Here are some alternative ways for you to get into the Coachella spirit, without the problematic cultural appropriation, expenses, and health risks that a 2021 Coachella would have resulted in.

In it for the music?

With tickets being approximately $400, one could justify it because of how many artists perform at the festival. However, in addition to the artists you enjoy, there are a lot of performers that you may not be interested in! Perhaps this is a great time to browse through YouTube, Soundcloud, Spotify, and other music streaming platforms to learn more about some up and coming artists. Another amazing alternative? NPR Tiny Desk Concerts... check it out, you won’t regret it. The internet alternative here is far less expensive, and way more customizable. You and your friends could each choose a few artists to feature in the lineup of your own little virtual music festival!

… for the fashion?

Looking for creative ‘fits that aren’t disrespectful and demeaning? Exploring apps like Pinterest, Depop, and Tik Tok are great ways to gain some fashion inspiration while you revamp your wardrobe ahead of the world transitioning back to normal… or perhaps a new normal. Regardless, we’re going to have more opportunities to show off our fits soon enough. Until then, why not pop off to run some errands? Personally, I have days where I skip the sweats and throw on my cutest outfit just to go to the post office. Sometimes, the outfit deserves to be seen! And if you want to immortalize it, consider having a socially-distanced photoshoot (when it’s safe to do so), or one with your phone’s self-timer!

... for the company?

This one’s hard, because a lot of us are craving company and connection right now during the pandemic. But it’s so important to remember to stay safe, while also keeping in mind that as humans, it’s natural for us to want to see our family and friends! Coachella and other music festivals alike create a sense of community amongst like-minded individuals with similar interests and motives—to have a good time! While a Zoom Listening-Party or Facetime photoshoot may not be the same as a music festival, perhaps this is a new challenge for us to get creative and come up with new ways to engage with others online.

Overall, while Coachella is cancelled this year, I think there are tons of other ways to celebrate music, fashion, and company, without the need for an expensive music festival. Perhaps, as consumers, it’s an opportunity for us to be more mindful of why certain traditions exist… Does Coachella really need to be an annual thing, or will this year remind us that sometimes, it’s okay to call a “no-chella?”

Written by Pravieena Gnanakumar

Header photo by Silvie Kinart