Head in the Clouds lifted fans to the sky during Mother’s Day weekend with a successful two-day festival on May 11th and 12th at Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, New York City. Organized by 88rising, the festival has become a crucial platform for amplifying the voices and culture of AAPI artists, especially during Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
From diverse food vendors offering Filipino, Thai, and Korean cuisines, and classic American burgers to unique beverages like bubble tea by Silk, attendees were treated to a rich cultural and culinary experience. The festival’s efficient stage production was a highlight, featuring a rotating stage that minimized downtime between acts, allowing seamless transitions that kept the energy high.
Despite Day 2 being Mother’s Day and on the colder end from the day before, fans still arrived in high numbers, excited to see some of the big acts of the day like Awich, Spence Lee, Atarashii Gakko!, and of course the closing acts, BiBi and Joji.
Spence Lee started the show strong. Taking advantage of the set time allotted, Spence Lee performed well-known tracks “Write My Name” and “Spend My Days.” He brought out Slim Jxmmi, the second half of the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd” to perform two tracks, “No Type” and “SRT,” before ending his set with “Angie,” his most recent track which was released two months ago.
Artists like Warren Hue, Awich, Deb Never, and Lyn Lapid engaged the fans with a wide variety of music. While Warren Hue gave fans mellow rap tracks like “Split” and “candy choppa,” he also showed the audience a softer side of his vocals with his ending song, “BOY OF THE YEAR.”
In turn, Awich turned up the heat, showcasing Japanese rap to the audience. Throughout her performance of hit tracks like “Gila Gila” and “Guapanese,” as well as a freestyle cover of “Tokyo Drift,” Awich kept fans energized and on their feet
Transporting fans to a different realm, artists like Deb Never and Lyn Lapid mellowed fans out with their soothing voices and alternative, lo-fi tracks, creating a chill atmosphere that felt like a cozy late-night hangout with old friends. Their music wrapped around listeners like a warm blanket, inviting them to unwind and lose themselves in the dreamy melodies and introspective lyrics.
An unexpected dark horse that captured my attention and the attention of many others is Eyedress. Fans were instantly transported to the 80s as they opened with “Can I See You Tonight?,” a track that has heavy goth-punk and alternative influences. The audience could be seen dancing as the artist played popular tracks like “Romantic Lover,” “Kiss Me Like it’s the First Time,” and the unreleased track “Dreams of Surfing,” and choosing to end the set with “Jealous.”
Taking the stage next was the highly awaited, high-energy quartet, Atarashii Gakko!, took the stage. “Atarashii Gakko!,” which means “new school” in Japanese, is known for infusing traditional Japanese flair with hip-hop, rock, and EDM influences, the four-member Japanese pop sensation brought a fresh perspective to the J-pop scene. Suzuka dominated the stage with her powerful vocals, while members Kanon, Rin, and Mizyu shone brightly with their self-choreographed set. During “Otana Blue,” each member had an individual dance break to introduce themselves to both old and new fans. Atarashii Gakko! ignited the stage with nothing but dynamic songs on their set list, ending their set with “Tokyo Calling” and “NAINAINAI.”
Following such a high-energy act was South Korean artist and actress Bibi, who is known for her musical versatility and captivating stage presence. Despite the jetlag, she captivated fans with her siren-like vocals, performing R&B and Pop tracks like “Step?” and “쉬가릿 (cigarette and condom),” along with songs like “City Love” which is known for engagement with fans where she chooses one or a couple to kiss during the song break. She and her dancers dominated the stage with “Sugar Rush” a mellow rap-dance track with double intenders throughout the song, and “BIBI Vengeance” which showcases a sense of what “female rage” can look like. In an unexpected turn of events, Bibi delighted fans by ending her set with “Bam Yang Gang,” which is a Korean jelly snack made of chestnuts and red beans. The set list took fans through Bibi’s musical journey, highlighting the different sides of her as an artist.
With an unexpected change the morning of, the Finale for night 2 was cancelled, leaving only one act remaining. Closing the curtains on the Head in the Clouds festival was the one and only Joji, who made sure to grab the crowd’s attention from start to finish. Introducing a new element to his performance, Joji unveiled a live band on elevated platforms alongside him on stage, each adorned with visualizers that seamlessly merged to create a hypnotic visual experience. Joji began the night hyping the crowd up, before transitioning into “Sanctuary.” What is normally a soulful, R&B track came to life and sounded full with live band support. Throughout the set, Joji introduced and acknowledged the band members while treating fans to beloved hits like “Yeah Right,” “Daylight,” “Will He” and some others. A magical connection unfolded as fans sang back to Joji during “Slow Dancing in the Dark.” Joji capped the night off with the most highly requested song from fans, “Glimpse of Us,” where both Joji and fans could be heard from surrounding areas of the arena.
Despite the changing weather temperaments throughout the weekend and already planned familial events for Mother’s Day, fans showed up and showed out for Head in the Clouds, filling the stadium on both days of the event. ]
Head in the Clouds not only provided a platform for showcasing AAPI talent but also fostered a sense of community and cultural pride among attendees. The festival’s success highlights the growing influence and importance of AAPI voices in the music industry. With room for improvement, the festival continues to grow with each year, and fans can certainly look forward to next year’s lineup being bigger than the last.
Check out our day one coverage of Head in the Clouds here!
