Every year, Coachella takes over the Empire Polo Field in sunny Indio, Calif., in April and nearly every year, the festival gets bigger and more awe inspiring with must-see reunions, big-name acts, rock juggernauts, indie darlings and internationally sought after DJs. But while we're oogling the lineup wide-eyed, we're also combing through the artists in the fine print, underneath the bolded headliners. To be perfectly honest, we don't recognize all the names and aren't familiar with more than a few. We've put our ear to the Internet, did some highly scientific research and are highlighting nine Coachella acts you may not know -- just yet.
- Banks: Even without a full-length album to her name, this sultry, wounded-voiced singer is on the rise. Last year, BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe discovered her ambient, hazy, electro music on SoundCloud and played one of her songs on his show. Since then, she’s taken off: Her EP London was released to nearly unanimous acclaim, she had her song "Waiting Game" featured in a Victoria’s Secret commercial and toured with the Weeknd.
- Crosses: Consisting of Chino Moreno (frontman of the alt-metal group the Deftones) and Shaun Lopez (of the band Far), the group plays minimal, moody music approaching a more intense version of dream-wave with breathy, raspy vocals only Moreno can deliver.
- Disclosure: This dance duo seemingly came out of nowhere last year. Hailing from Surrey, England, Disclosure have actually been on the rise since 2012, when their "Tender/Flow" single took off across the pond. Their ’13 debut album, Settle, ended up on more than a few best-of year-end lists last month and has been nominated for a 2014 Grammy award for Best Dance Album. More important, they'll be featured on SoundDiego TV this week. Be sure to tune in.
- The Internet: Consisting of members of Odd Future, this neo-soul group brings the grooves hard on their 2013 sophomore LP, Feel Good. The relaxed, smooth vocals of Syd tha Kid paired with the funky jazz stylings of producer Matt Martians are perfect for fans of Erykah Badu, Maxwell or D’Angelo.
- The Magician: This DJ/producer recently released his debut EP, When the Night Is Over, and is still riding a wave of momentum from his remix of Lykke Li’s "I Follow Rivers," which has more than 36 million streams on YouTube. With Daft Punk, Justice or Diplo not on the lineup, check him out for your EDM fix.
- Ratking: A hip-hop group hailing from NYC, they spit grimey, gritty rhymes over menacing, frenetic beats and are akin to Death Grips, among others. Their label, XL Recordings, said they exist "as New York’s next great band. Like the Beastie Boys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs" – we’re not sure about that, but. based on their new EP, Wiki93, Ratking might just have what it takes.
- Temples: During the past year, this British quartet has quietly (or maybe not so quietly) become the UK’s next It band. It doesn’t hurt that the psychedelic rock group has been chosen by Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Johnny Marr (the Smiths) as the best new band in Britain. If you like last year’s critical darlings, Tame Impala, look no further.
- Tom Odell: Yet another British artist on this list, Odell was discovered by Lily Allen and signed to a record deal in 2012. He released his debut that year, and after winning the BRITs’ Critics’ Choice Award (previously won by Adele and Florence & the Machine), his latest release, Long Way Down, came out last June. A passionate, piano-playing singer/songwriter with pop songs in the vein of Keane or Coldplay, he’s primed for a breakout in the States.
- White Lies: An English post-punk band that sounds like a mix of Ian Curtis or David Gahan on vocals with moody electro/alt-rock instrumentation similar to Echo & the Bunnymen, Editors or the Killers -- if any of that sounds good to you, they might just be your cup of tea.
