Coachella Q&A: POND
Party people of the desert rejoice! We're merely one day away from Coachella 2017 but let's party like it's 1999 back when Beck was headlining, parking was free, and tickets were a cool $50, yeah? As veterans of this festival, allow us to share a few survival tips to help any newbie festivalgoers. Tips #1-4: Remember to drink a bottle of water between every beer, don’t smoke mystery items with strangers, don’t feed the celebrities, and try not to yell mean things at the frat bros.
To start (if you haven't already) familiarize yourself with this year's lineup, and prioritize those bands you must see. For us, one of those bands is Perth psychedelic rockers POND. Lucky for us, when had the opportunity to host a Q&A with member Jay Watson leading up to their performance on Sunday and covered everything from what's in his desert survival bag, which fellow performers he's most excited about seeing, and more! Check it out:
When the Coachella lineup was announced, what's the best reaction you received from a fan, friend, or family member?
Nothing extraordinary unfortunately, just a lot of general excitement for the scale of the lineup, something for everyone!
Are you a Coachella newbie? If so, what are you most excited or most nervous about? If you're a veteran, what's the one story that encapsulates your most memorable Coachella experience?
I’ve played three times with Tame Impala,2011,2013 and 2015. My personal highlight was meeting Danny Devito in 2013 after he watched us. Made my life. My personal lowlight was staying after everyone else had left and wandering around fruitlessly with a bottle of vodka trying to find my friend Andrew from MGMT’s DJ set out in the camping area, so I could get a lift home and not have to spend the night curled up on the lawn at the festival. It all worked out in the end though!
What's in your Coachella survival bag and does that bag include any extra special add-ons for your set that we can look forward to?
To be honest I try and bring as little as possible and try and get as much free stuff as possible, Ray Ban’s, Kiehl’s, boxed water - whatever I can pull off. Load me up baby!!!
Describe how you envision the day of your performance to go:
9AM: Wake up, shower, drink 1 litre of that nasty yet satisfyingly weak and morish USA filter coffee
11AM: Check my emails, not reply to any of them
1PM: Do a few interviews with publications/blogs who hopefully know who the hell we are
3PM: Try and absorb aforementioned free stuff
5PM: We’re probably playing around now?
7PM: Or maybe now? I’m not sure of our slot yet
9PM: Get drunk, try and watch someone else
11PM: Get drunker
If you could have any celebrity front row during your show who would it be?
Danny Devito
Out of all of your fellow Coachella artists performing, whose show are you most looking forward to watching?
Travis Scott, Thundercat, Radiohead
What was the last song you listened to on repeat?
Garren, There She Go
If you could partner with any brand, who would it be and why?
Fender. Free guitars.
Post-Coachella, anything exciting on the horizon we should know about and share with the universe?
Our record comes out on May 5th, it’s called ‘The Weather’ and we’re very proud of it.
Describe yourself with three emojis.
🤡🤥🤤