Coachella 2025 witnessed a historic and heartfelt moment for the South Asian community as two groundbreaking acts—Indo Warehouse and Hanumankind—took to the stage, representing a bold and beautiful fusion of tradition and innovation.
For the first time, South Asian sounds pulsed through the California desert, turning the globally recognized music festival into a celebration of Desi identity and cross-cultural pride.
Indo Warehouse, the New York-based electronic music collective founded by DJs Kunal Merchant and Nihal Singh, redefined what South Asian representation in global music can look like. Fusing deep house with the infectious rhythms of bhangra and Indian classical vocals, their set was a genre-bending journey that left audiences dancing, mesmerized, and awakened to a soundscape seldom heard at Western festivals. With visuals inspired by mandalas and tabla beats thumping through the iconic Polo Grounds, their debut was nothing short of revolutionary. Their performance featured striking visual storytelling that honored the late Rohit Bal, a legendary Indian fashion designer. Their custom outfits combined traditional South Asian craftsmanship with modern design, paying tribute to Bal’s legacy. This blend of heritage and contemporary style added a powerful, symbolic layer to their celebration of cultural identity and artistic innovation.
Joining them in this sonic revolution was Hanumankind, the dynamic Indian hip-hop artist from Bengaluru, who stunned audiences with his high-octane performance. Backed by live percussion and bold lyricism, Hanumankind used the stage not just to entertain, but to powerfully narrate his South Asian identity through English and Kannada verses. His presence on a lineup that historically sidelines global hip-hop was both disruptive and deeply affirming.
The inclusion of these acts at Coachella marks a seismic cultural shift. For decades, global South Asian artists have been relegated to the peripheries of major festivals. Now, they’re not just part of the conversation—they’re leading it. This moment is about more than music; it’s about validation, recognition, and the breaking of decades-old cultural silos.
In a world increasingly driven by multiculturalism, these performances send a message: South Asian music is not niche—it’s now. From tabla to turntables, Coachella 2025 became a stage where diasporic roots and modern artistry intertwined, and the world finally listened.
