Head In The Clouds Shines Once Again in New York
Photos by Jean Libert
88rising once again brought the famed Head In The Clouds festival to New York they returned with an exhilarating lineup of some of the biggest Asian artists on the scene.
For the first time since kicking off Head In The Clouds in 2018, the festival hosted all their artists on their 88rising mainstage for a jam packed weekend. With such an eclectic lineup of artists sharing one stage, it would be nearly impossible to leave without falling in love with at least one new artist and possibly making friends along the way.
DAY ONE
The sun was shining down on New York City and day one of the festival featured a lineup of diverse artists making waves in the hip-hop, K-Pop, and indie scenes.
Kicking off the show was Chinese singer Wang OK playing her first HITC festival and captivating the audience as she did so.
Following was another first timer on the HITC stage, YOUNG POSSE. Debuting this previous October, the members were ready to show what makes them ones to watch. Commencing their set with drill inspired hit “POSSE UP!,” they had the audience moving along with the girls. Highlights of their setlist included performing their debut track “MACARONI CHEESE,” with an audience chanting the lyrics alongside them, “Scars,” and recent hit “XXL.”
Coming to the stage next was dynamic group Balming Tiger, known for their unique sound and drawing stage presence. Performing several tracks from their January Never Dies album, “Armadillo,” and 2022 hit “SEXY NUKIM,” the group created a captivating setlist the audience couldn’t help but groove to.
After two very exciting sets, pop singer Juliet Ivy took the stage to bring a refreshing breath of air to the venue. Singing tracks such as “breakfast song,” “lug,” “bestfriend,” and “boytoy” to a captivated audience.
Artist thuy was next to the stage. Her vocals filled the venue and the roar of the crowd singing along with her was a spectacle to witness in person. Highlights of her set featured hits such as “universe,” new single “cloud 11,” and of course she closed out with her mega hit “girls like me don't cry.”
The smooth vocals of Dhruv were next to serenade the venue and the crowd was singing and swinging along, truly enjoying the moment.
The festival had seen its fair share of exciting sets throughout the day, but ILLENIUM B2B DABIN came to elevate the definition of excitement. From fireworks to flames to smoke and fog, their set was an experience in itself. The moment the bass hit the speakers and reverberated around the venue, you could feel the energy pulsing through the crowd. People were headbanging and dancing, and even a mosh pit formed during one track. If you were not already abuzz, their set got you there and was the perfect lead-in for the closer of the night.
Closing out day one was the supergroup (G)I-DLE, with members clad in fierce attire, ready to take the stage by storm. Without a shadow of a doubt, the crowd for the girls could have been heard from miles away. The second their VCR came on, the audience erupted into screams and chants that overpowered the speakers. They began their set with their latest release, “Super Lady,” before going directly into “I Want That.”
The girls briefly spoke with the audience—once again met with ear-ringing cheers—to introduce themselves and ask if they were ready for the next tracks. They continued with “LION,” “LATATA,” and their English single “Allergy.” As they began the track “Wife,” speckles of turquoise could be seen bouncing around the audience as many attendees dressed up like the girls from the video.
The next tracks of the night were “Never Stop Me,” “Queencard” (it was nearly impossible to find someone not doing the choreography along with the girls), “The Baddest,” and “POP/STARS.” Unfortunately, the group's time on the HITC stage would soon be coming to a close, but not before performing killer tracks “MY BAG” and “TOMBOY” with intense dance breaks and slightly remixed versions. Their last song of the night was “I DO” before bidding farewell to the audience.
The sun had set on the first night of the festival, but tomorrow would bring more exciting performances.
DAY TWO
Rain or shine, fans were determined to show out for the second and last day of the festival. The weather was much warmer despite the sprinkles of rain that showed themselves in the morning and it was clear people were ready to soak in the sun.
The vibes for today were more upbeat and the lineup reflected that shift. Opening the second day is rapper Spence Lee, who previously dominated on the Double Happiness stage. His set featured his signature upbeats tracks and a surprise appearance by rapper Slim Jxmmi.
Performer Warren Hue was the second act to kick off the show and he was already starting it on a 100. Warren has a way of energizing the crowd and his tracks aided in getting the crowd all around the venue on their feet. Setting into “SPLIT,” “DEMOSTAR BEENLIT,” and “candy choppa” to name a few.
The lineup continued with Japanese hip-hop artist AWICH, singers Deb Never, Lyn Lapid and Eyedress. The ability to go from insanely hype tracks to vocals that fill your soul is a huge draw to HITC.
Upcoming was a set that had people talking before they even hit the stage: ATARASHII GAKKO!. A veteran on the HITC stage and a crowd favorite, the group is one set you do not want to miss. Their stage presence is unbeatable as they performed tracks such as “Toryanse,” “OTANABLUE,” and “Tokyo Calling.”
Next was BIBI, who brought her fiery energy to the stage. One thing about BIBI—she always puts on a memorable performance, giving the fans what they want and more. She opened with “Step?,” and performed hits such as “BAD SAD AND MAD,” “The Weekend,” and “KAZINO” in the first half of her set, all while interacting with fans. The latter half of her performance featured singles “Sugar Rush,” “BIBI Vengeance,” and “Bam Yang Gang.”
The final act of the fun-filled weekend was Joji. Closing out a festival is no easy feat, and Joji made sure to put on a performance that would satisfy fans and leave them excited for the next show. His set was a mixture of his recent releases and his OG 88rising tracks. He began with “Sanctuary,” followed by a quick introduction before launching into “YEAH RIGHT” and “NIGHT RIDER.” After a fun segment introducing his band, the chords of “Will He” filled the venue as the audience swayed and sang along. The rest of his set took the audience on a journey through Joji's hits, including “YUKON,” “worldstar money,” “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK,” and his finale, “Glimpse of Us.”
If you missed HITC this year, no need to worry as they still have their West Coast show in LA later this year! And if you can’t make that show either, simply stay tuned as Head In The Clouds will be back with bigger artists and better stages in the future.
