In a landmark moment for global music culture, Indo Warehouse became the first-ever South Asian electronic music collective to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The group delivered an electrifying, genre-defying set on Friday, April 11, as they closed out the iconic Gobi Stage—and they are set to do it all again on Friday, April 18, for the second weekend of the festival.
The New York-based collective captivated the Coachella audience with a large-scale audiovisual experience that fused traditional South Asian artistry with contemporary electronic music and cutting-edge production. Their show—staged in partnership with internationally renowned creative studios High Scream (Bad Bunny, Black Coffee, David Guetta) and Frameworx (Lisa, Rosé, Childish Gambino)—marked a cultural milestone, celebrating both heritage and innovation in front of a global crowd.
Co-founded by Armaan “Kahani” Gupta and Kunal Merchant in 2022, Indo Warehouse has quickly emerged as a powerful force in the electronic music scene. The collective is widely credited with pioneering a new subgenre known as “Indo House,” which blends house and techno beats with rich South Asian instrumentation, rhythms, and vocals. In just three years, the group has grown from hosting underground dance events in New York City to performing sold-out shows across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia—garnering fans far beyond the South Asian diaspora.
“Playing Coachella was a cultural milestone for South Asian representation in global music,” said Merchant. “This opportunity shows the world that South Asian stories, sounds, and creativity belong on the biggest stages—not just as guests, but as headliners. We’re grateful for the chance to do it again, and promise the second weekend will be just as powerful.”
Gupta added, “Every Indo Warehouse show is an immersive celebration of culture and community, and we are so proud to have brought all of that to one of the world’s most important music festivals.”
The April 11 performance was a full-scale production featuring more than 25 performers, including two high-energy South Asian folk dance teams—Raas Ruckus and Baaghi Bhangra—as well as the dhol drumline led by Nihal Singh. Live vocals were performed by emerging artists including Anvaya, a duo comprised of singer-songwriter Sonia and producer-instrumentalist Kaushal, alongside HYDR and PDNY.
The set also featured immersive storytelling visuals that reflected themes of identity, unity, and celebration. From sweeping LED backdrops to striking stage design, every detail was crafted to create a multi-sensory experience that bridged past and future, East and West.
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The result was a transformative hour of music, movement, and cultural pride that reimagined what global representation on a stage like Coachella can look like.
For many fans and attendees, the performance felt deeply personal. “It was the first time I saw my culture represented like this at a festival I’ve grown up watching,” said Asha Patel, a festivalgoer from the Bay Area. “It wasn’t just about the music—it was about being seen.”
Indo Warehouse’s rise reflects a broader shift in electronic music toward inclusivity and multicultural storytelling. While major festivals have historically featured predominantly Western and Eurocentric lineups, recent years have seen increased demand for more diverse voices and experiences. With a growing community of artists blending diasporic sounds into club and festival culture, Indo Warehouse is at the forefront of this global wave.
The collective’s Coachella moment is also a win for independent South Asian artists, many of whom have long worked in the margins of mainstream recognition.
“Indo Warehouse isn’t just a label—it’s a platform for artists who have something unique to say,” said Gupta. “We’re building something that’s not only artistically exciting but also meaningful to people who’ve never felt represented before.”
Ahead of their second and final Coachella performance on Friday, April 18 at 10:40 p.m. PT on the Gobi Stage, Indo Warehouse promises even more surprises and immersive elements for weekend two. Fans unable to attend in person can catch highlights across the festival’s official channels and the collective’s fast-growing social platforms.
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Looking ahead, Indo Warehouse plans to continue expanding its global reach, with upcoming international tour dates and new music releases. They also remain committed to supporting South Asian artists and creating spaces—physical and digital—for cultural connection through sound.
