‘Head In The Clouds’ Music Festival: Guangzhou Awaits Asian Superstars

Guangzhou is gearing up to host the much-anticipated “Head In The Clouds” music festival in September, marking the event’s debut in China. A celebration of talents from the Asian diaspora, the festival has earned the moniker of “Asian Coachella”. Slated for the weekend of September 23 and 24, the festival will grace the Chimelong Music Square in Guangzhou, a part of the larger Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort, replete with animal attractions, a circus, water park, and amusement park.

Easily accessible from Hong Kong via a brisk 45-minute high-speed train journey, Chimelong has long been a beloved spot for Hong Kong residents. For the inaugural China event, the line-up is nothing short of dazzling, with some of the brightest stars in Asian hip-hop and pop music set to perform.

Kicking off the festival will be the Higher Brothers, the Chengdu-based hip-hop ensemble that rose to international fame as the first Chinese rap crew to gain such recognition. Made up of dynamic rapper-producers MaSiWei, KnowKnow, Psy.P, and Melo, they have seen significant success both as a group and with their individual ventures. Having collaborated with international heavyweights like ScHoolboy Q, Soulja Boy, and Denzel Curry, they’ve solidified their status in the global music arena. Notably, Masiwei, the group’s leader, recently concluded a world tour, marking his presence in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Indonesian rapper Rich Brian is another name to watch out for at the festival. First grabbing attention with his 2016 debut single “Dat Stick”, Brian subsequently topped charts with his album “Amen” in 2018. His appearances on prominent Chinese TV shows, especially ‘Rap for Youth’, further boosted his Chinese fanbase. This festival will be his first major live appearance in China.

The Head In The Clouds festival, an initiative by the music label 88rising, first began in Los Angeles in 2018. Over the years, it has expanded its reach, with editions in New York, Jakarta, and Manila. The event also earned a coveted slot in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2022, marking 88rising as the first record label to achieve this feat.

Other notable artists performing in Guangzhou include Milli, the 20-year-old Thai sensation, and Akini Jing, the singer-songwriter hailing from Yunnan. The festival’s line-up is rounded off with acts like Warren Hue, HYBS, Adawa, OK Wang, and Young13DBaby. As the anticipation mounts, fans eagerly await more announcements, with ticket sales set to commence on August 25.

Behind 88rising’s monumental success are music producer Sean Miyashiro and media magnate Jaeson Ma. Their influence in the Asian hip-hop scene is evident, with the Head In The Clouds festival standing as a testament to their commitment to showcasing Asian talent on the world stage. Their genius was also behind the chart-topping soundtrack for the Marvel hit, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”.

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