Coachella 2023: Juliet Mendoza shares what its like to be one of the opening acts

For musicians, getting a slot on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival lineup is considered a quite huge career turning point. It's definitely a landmark minute for Los Angeles-based producer and DJ Juliet Mendoza.

" In our Latin culture, they always inform you when things are implied for you, it will simply come," Mendoza said after being one of the extremely first artists to carry out on the opening day of the three-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio on Friday, April 14, just after noon in the Yuma Tent. She'll be back for the 2nd weekend of the festival, April 21-23, too.


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Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 14, 2023.( Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). < img alt=" Juliet Mendoza carries out in the Yuma throughout day 1 of ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" automobile" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RPE-L-CF-DAY1-0414-03-WP-3.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Juliet Mendoza performs in the Yuma throughout day 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG).
Juliet Mendoza carries out in the Yuma during day 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG).

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" From our Latin families, we find out a lot about integrity and morals, so I always do whatever with that in mind, and Coachella simply took place naturally," she continued. "I never thought I would remain in the position I am in. I would have never thought I would remain in this environment, or in this area, and even representing Latin females like this. It's been an extremely difficult journey, It's not easy, however it caused here.".

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Some fans took a trip from far away puts to see Coachella's top-tier acts, artists like Mendoza are put in the unique position to kick things off and set the mood for the day. In the Yuma Tent, where in previous years artists like Peggy Gou, Annie Mac, Duke Dumont, Jamie XX and others have enhanced the stage, Mendoza served up a sentimental '90s Latin house and disco set, spinning tracks like "Let The Music Play" by Shannon and a remix of "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe. A few dozen festival-goers remained in the camping tent delighting in the air-conditioned dance floor and tunes as disco balls produced a fun lighting result above.

The set was eclectic and enjoyable, making anybody who dropped in and didn't necessarily understand Mendoza sway their hips from side to side, something Mendoza stated she was hoping that fans would do when capturing her set.

Prior to each program, Mendoza notes she likes to set an intention, stating that it's important to her to never simply go out there cold. Instead, she beings in gratitude and offers the audience something in specific through her sets.

" My intention for today was to have everybody in the crowd get in touch with their origins, to simply launch and let go," she said with a smile. "I simply wanted everybody to connect with their inner kid, so they can dance, play and just enjoy.".

When inquired about her objective for her 2nd weekend performance on Friday, April 21, she stated that it's never the very same nor is the music she plays.

" Every efficiency is a little bit of a different style, that's the charm of it," she says. I'm not sure what that intention will be for weekend 2 of Coachella next week up until I get here and then I'll understand.
When: 12 p.m. April 21-23.

Where: Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio.

Tickets: Weekend two passes are $549 for three-day general admission; $1,069 for three-day VIP admission. All admission, parking and on-site camping choices are available at coachella.com.

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