Tyler, The Creator
Hip Hop

Tyler, The Creator Wants Coachella Fans to Ditch Phones, Embrace the Moment

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Ahead of his headlining set at Coachella this weekend, genre-bending artist Tyler, The Creator has a special message for his fans: ditch the phones and experience the music live.

The Grammy Award winner is one of three headliners for the massive music and arts festival in Indio, California, sharing the top billing with Lana Del Rey and Doja Cat. Tyler is slated to close out the main stage on Saturday, April 13th.

Driving into Palm Springs, festival goers might spot a unique billboard amidst the usual Coachella hype. This one belongs to Tyler, and it carries a simple yet powerful message: “I would love to see y’all faces and not your phone lights.” A smiley face completes the message, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Tyler has a long history of prioritizing artistic expression and audience engagement. In a 2022 interview with Converse’s All Star Series (a frequent collaborator with Tyler’s own brand, Golf Wang), he expressed his skepticism towards the NFT craze. “What the f*ck is an NFT, bro, if I’m really outside?” he quipped. “Being present in the real world matters. I just bought a car to explore and enjoy the outdoors. NFTs? Not my thing.”

Beyond the Coachella message, Tyler recently collaborated with luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton on a capsule collection. Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, spoke excitedly about the partnership. “Tyler’s been a close friend and collaborator for years,” Pharrell shared via email. “We connect through music and design. This collection is special because it embodies the LVMH philosophy of working with incredible artists. The pieces are infused with Tyler’s unique style, and it’s been inspiring to collaborate with him on this Spring collection.”

For those unable to attend Coachella in person, a full breakdown of set times and livestream information can be found here: link to Coachella set times and livestream. However, based on Tyler’s message, the most rewarding experience might be putting down the phone and soaking in the live music.