Coachella Q&A: Naomi Wild

If you don't already know Naomi Wild's name, you will. Last year, after she penned a song called "Higher Ground," it landed in the hands of electronic duo Odesza who together went on to earn a GRAMMY nomination. The song has already racked up over 30 million streams, proof Odesza isn't the only one falling for this Cali-native's honeyed vocals and lyricism. Coachella-goers, get excited because a certain someone will be making a cameo during another certain someone's set.

Today, Naomi releases a new single, "Howlin'" that deserves a hundred full moons and neck bites from the whole Twilight cast. It's the opposite of being “too cool to care,” instead,  it gives listeners that needed nudge out of the nest and is there to catch you if needed. Check it out along with our Coachella Q&A with Naomi, below!

Where were you when you first heard you'll be playing Coachella?

Man, I remember it being up in the air for a bit and trying not to get my hopes up, but then waking up one morning and the guys had posted the flier. I jumped out of bed half asleep and started screaming and running around my house. It was so surreal. 

When the Coachella lineup was announced, what's the best reaction you received from a fan, friend, or family member?

I had a couple friends call me up and they were just like, "dude... you did it, you literally swore on this and you did it" it was so cool to hear that coming from people who have been with me since i started, even some who were with me when i first saw ODESZA there at the DoLab in what... 2013? I wasn't even making music yet.

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'm a newbie as a performer (so crazy to say that??) but I've been a few times. It got harder to go these things once I started making music cause i just wanted to play so badly. I'm genuinely not nervous in the slightest- I'm so ready. I always told myself I'd perform barefoot so i could feel the stage and be reminded that my feet are on the ground haha- so I'm excited for that. It's really going to be a full circle moment. 

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? 

Gotta have chapstick, lots of water, a bandana, a camera (except i'm the worst at this, i always forget to take photos because i'm running all over the place). In terms of special add-ons I'm just waiting to see if i cry or not haha

Describe how you envision the day of your performance to go:

9AM: i will likely be awake at 7am being that i won't be able to sleep, which means I'll be waking up all my friends jumping on their beds as well (I'm sorry in advance)
11AM: I'm assuming a soundcheck will happen sometime between here, but i'll probably be trying to hydrate, probably lay in the sun for a bit and eat something, stretch, get glammed-up and take a moment to breathe everything in. I just made that sound really chill but i'll be blasting music starting at 7am.
1PM: I'm assuming I'll be back from soundcheck much earlier than this but probably meeting up with friends and management to go over the plan for the day- i'd like to do an actual sit-down breakfast with everyone but someone usually comes back with a giant bag of breakfast sammies and that's that haha. 
3PM: Def want to be catching some of the earlier sets so I'll be there probably scoping it out!! Probably grab a beer and chill, get settled in etc
5PM: This is around the time where my adrenaline really starts kicking. On tour i would literally just pace around the arenas for a couple hours- make my rounds of saying hey to everyone haha. I'm really stoked to see the artist section that's always been a little dream of mine. 
7PM: Ok here is where I'm probably going to try and force down a slice of pizza or something, then probably back to watching a few other sets. And probably another beer/redbull. I'll have to be careful with all of the dust and heat I'm sure isn't great for my voice but I can't keep my mouth shut.
9PM: Now I usually start getting in the zone; I like to be by myself for about a half hour before I go on just to collect my thoughts and stretch- the ODL (ODESZA drumline) are always in such positive spirits before shows so i'll hang with them around this time too- they're usually warming up, getting hype- I'm usually on my 10th bottle of water or something haha.
11PM: By now i will have played and probably be in shock a little bit- i don't even know what i'll do here haha

If you could have any celebrity front row during your show who would it be?

Wow what? Um, probably definitely Billie Eilish because I want to be her best friend and I know she'd be going harder than anyone else.

Out of all of your fellow Coachella artists performing, whose show are you most looking forward to watching?

VINCE STAPLES!!!!!! Brockhampton, THEY, Marian Hill, obviously Cardi B I can't pick one there's no way.

What was the last song you listened to on repeat?

SOFITUKKER - Fuck They (love you guys)

If you could partner with any brand, who would it be and why?

I'd partner with Doc Marten because I've worn my one pair of black docs since i was waiting tables in Santa Barbara until now. They've been on every stage with me and it reminds me of how far i've come- they don't even have insoles anymore. gross but you get it.

Post-Coachella, anything exciting on the horizon we should know about and share with the universe?

I got lots of new music on the way that I'm really proud of- most tracks i co-produced and engineered my vocals so it's a project very close to my heart.

Describe yourself with three emojis.

🔥 🐆 ❤️