It is undeniably difficult to keep track of every artist on the Coachella lineup or the seemingly endless surprises that take place over the two-weekend event, as the fest is absolutely packed with talent and special moments. The whole desert experience is extemely well-curated, and the production value is unparalleled, so Coachella's long-term partnership with the festival and event experts at Do LaB, who create a festival-within-a-festival experience with the Do Lab stage, makes perfect sense.
Every Coachella, the Do LaB brings their colorful, fun vibes—which can also be found at their annual springtime Lighting in a Bottle fest—with their own expertly curated desert oasis experience. Their stage offers an always-stacked electronic music focused lineup, along with surprise guests that are revealed last-minute via their Twitter account and text message alerts.
Do LaB loves bringing stellar, unexpected collabs (Pete Tong and Guy Gerber linked up for a surprise B2B set during Weekend 1 this year), as well as bringing back old friends playing the larger fest (Bob Moses and RÜFÜS DU SOL stopped by to close out Weekend 1 at the stage, and Sofi Tukker hopped on for a surprise DJ set last night.). If that's not enough to get you on the road to Indio, Calif,. right now, the bumping sound system under a colorful, geometric shade structure, and playful moments brought to you by squirt guns are also pretty compelling.
We asked British GRAMMY-nominated electronic singer/producer Elderbook, who played at the Do LaB Weekend 1, along with L.A.-based dreamy-house duo Dance Spirit, Berlin-based cosmic-house duo KMLN (pronounced chameleon) and L.A.-native house music and live band blending master Justin Jay, the three of whom will be bringing the vibes this weekend, for an insider/artist's perspective of what makes Do LaB so special.
If you're at the fest, you'll want to make sure and catch Justin Jay today, Saturday, at 5:15 p.m. at the Do LaB, as well as KMLN on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., followed by Dance Spirit at 4:45 p.m., all of whom will be bringing their joyful energy, great jams and sunny vibes.
The Do LaB at Coachella 2019 | Photo: Gina Joy/courtesy of Do LaB
You'll be playing the Do LaB stage this weekend, what are you most looking forward to about it?
Dance Spirit: There is so much to look forward to—the vibe, the amazing sound system, the people who are up for a trippy dance, and by the looks of it, the weather. Not to mention being able to listen to dozens of other world class musicians with our friends. The thing we are looking forward to about this set is being able to showcase and share our latest and greatest productions.
KMLN: Do LaB is comprised of some of our closest family for over 15 years, it was only a matter of time that we could collaborate on their shapeshifting stage that sits right in the middle of the Coachella grounds. We're most excited to see everyone, it's like a homecoming for us as we've spent most of the last few years touring elsewhere in the world. It's been amazing and we're so blessed to get to experience the world but sometimes you miss you closest friends, and at the Do LaB there's lots of them.
Justin Jay: Throughout my times here at Coachella, even as the stage has evolved, the Do LaB has always been one of my favorite parts of Coachella. And my senior year of college, I played the Do LaB and, dude, I had friends on stage with water guns and, a chunk of high school friends here and chunk of college friends here, and it just felt like I was surrounded by homies. I'm just excited to be back in that environment, and the artists they curate; it's just a great experience.
You played at the Do LaB stage last weekend, what was your favorite part about it?
Elderbrook: Coachella was amazing. It's something I think every artist wants to play and I feel lucky to have been able to myself. My favorite part about it was testing out some new material that I've wanted to do for ages. I think it went down okay!
What would you like to share with the Weekend 2 crew about your set?
Dance Spirit: We always craft and play original music and material and we've been jamming out in the studio writing new grooves and moods that we think will be appropriate for the festival.
KMLN: Regarding the vibe to expect, well, it's a daytime set [on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.] so we'll be bringing our brightest, most playful and adventurous chameleon colors.
How would you describe the vibe and energy at the Do LaB stage?
D.S.: We've not only played the Do Lab stage before, but also their Lightning in a Bottle and Woogie Weekend as well. They have always strived for a top quality production, and most importantly, their attention to the sound. It is booming and comfortable and a producer/engineer, it is a real joy to be able to play on [their sound system].
The mood is always fun and always on. It's is a shaded structure and when it gets hot enough they water down the crowd with giant squirt gun hoses. Overall, it's super vibey and fun. Their reputation brings in the right kind of heads, but also attracts new ones as well. I think they did a great job curating the stage this year, and we are honored to be asked back.
KMLN: Their vibe there is all about family feelings, colorful, playful and most of all inclusive. [We] really enjoy the variety they offer with their lineups each year. And the water guns.
Elderbrook: The energy of the crowd was great. It was the first day of Coachella 2019 so everyone was full of energy. I love playing festivals but this was a new level!
J.J.: It's just a great, great time, you know? Water guns, bubbles, friends…And [you meet new people and] you're like, "Ah, we can be friends too." That's cool.
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You've played Lightning in a Bottle before too; do you feel like the Do Lab stage is like a mini version of that within the larger Coachella vibe?
D.S.: That is a great question. I would have to say that LiB is its own unique festival considering the fact that it is a varied curation of many genres over three or four stages. We have always played the Woogie stage at LiB and it is always a switched on dance party—so I would say that the Do LaB stage has more of the Woogie/Favela Bar vibe. The LiB festival goes further into musical territory in my opinion.
As far as context at Coachella, I would assume that the Do LaB experience is for people who are excited for the lineup or others who are looking for something new. An enticing dance floor is always more experiential and is more welcoming of participation than a pop music/band area. You [can] go to listen to a band, but at Do LaB you go to feel it and let it move you. In the end, we will let the Instagram influencers decide [laughs].
KMLN: It's true, we've played LiB five years as KMLN and we're pretty sure we've had the honor to play every one of their stages. This seemed like a good year to take a break from that and join the little LiB that is the Do LaB stage at Coachella. The main difference is at Coachella you're missing all the beautiful art, workshops, games and the adventures you can have finding strange little nooks of delightful surprises that makes LiB so special.
Elderbrook: Yes, definitely! The whole experience of the stage and the art behind it definitely reminds me of LiB.
What does it mean to you to be a part of Do Lab's curated Coachella experience?
D.S.: [It's] an opportunity that we are grateful for and it has motivated an intense amount of creativity in a short amount of time. Needless to say, we are excited, and dare we say one more time, excited to play on that sound system!
KMLN: It's so exciting and an honor to be playing on the same grounds as so many legends of music history. We love Do LaB so much and wanna grow old with them
Elderbrook: It means so much. Like I said, playing Coachella is so many musicians dream and to be part of it just felt amazing. Hopefully I’ll one day return!
J.J.: It means I’m gonna play my favorite stage at the festival while surrounded by friends. Even though it’s grown into a large stage, it still feels so intimate. I love how people dance on stage, as a DJ it really feels like you're a part of the party. Water guns, acrobats and veggie burgers all help as well [laughs]."
