chappell roan — MUSIC — Unclear Magazine

by janae stewart

The 2024 Governors Ball flew by in a whirlwind of music, sunshine, and free stuff. Held over three glorious days at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, Gov Ball boasted an impeccable lineup and an atmosphere that made it a truly unforgettable experience.

The anticipation was palpable as I joined the throngs of festivalgoers, the iconic Unisphere looming majestically in the distance. The sound of pounding amplifiers echoed through the gates, a delicious taste of the musical smorgasbord that awaited us. Conversations crackled with excitement as everyone strategized their must-see sets and the best ways to navigate the festival grounds

Beyond the Music: Interactive Delights

Gov Ball wasn't just about the music; it offered a variety of interactive experiences that added to the overall festival fun. Here are a few highlights that stood out:

The Coke Studio Experience transported attendees to a cool summer cabana with its sleek black and red design. Free Coke was a welcome refreshment, but the real draw was the AI DJ experience. With only our pictures taken, the experience produced an AI-generated music video that made it seem like we were actually singing. We walked away with high-quality hand fans – perfect for beating the heat and showing off our Coke Studio swagger.

M&Ms Sweet Tour: As a self-proclaimed M&M fanatic since my Halloween costume days, this stop was mandatory. The booth offered a chance to snap photos with the colorful characters, indulge in free samples of the surprisingly delicious Peanut Butter M&Ms, and score some cool M&M swag like temporary tattoos and bucket hats.

Dunkin' Donuts Lounge: As an honorary Bostonian, I couldn't resist the Dunkin' experience, especially after a long day on my feet. They offered free iced coffee samples, Munchkins, and festival swag – including fanny packs, bucket hats, and sunglasses. Refueled and rehydrated, I was ready to conquer Day 3.

The American Apparel Tee Lab: Who doesn't love free festival merch, especially when you can customize it? The American Apparel Tee Lab offered a choice of crewnecks, v-necks, and tanks, along with four awesome designs. The best part? They screen-printed the design right on the spot! The line was long, but the wait was totally worth the unique souvenir.

Musical Highlights

Gov Ball's lineup was stellar, and here are some of the performances that stole the show:

FLO

The British girl group FLO has been on my radar since their single "Cardboard Box" went viral. Their stage presence was electrifying, and they delivered a high-energy set filled with their hits and killer covers of iconic girl group anthems like "Don't Let Go" and "Bootylicious." The future is looking bright for these rising stars.

Reneé Rapp

Who knew the voice that captivated audiences on the Jimmy Awards stage would translate so perfectly to the Gov Ball main stage? Reneé Rapp commanded the crowd with her powerful vocals and captivating stage presence, performing hits like "Tummy Hurts" and "Snow Angel." Her effortless transition from theater to mainstream music is sure to inspire aspiring artists everywhere.

Sabrina Carpenter

Though we missed the whimsical pink motel set design from Coachella, Sabrina Carpenter's Gov Ball performance was no less captivating. With her dancers and signature "girl cat from Tom and Jerry" aesthetic, she created a truly immersive experience. The crowd roared for her brand new single "Please, Please, Please," and she closed the show with a powerful rendition of "Nonsense," complete with a festival-appropriate outro change that had everyone cheering. “Do I text him back? It’s such a tough call / That won’t fit inside me, bro, I’m dumb small / People who hate Pride can suck my Gov Balls.”

Chappell Roan

The undisputed queen of the festival circuit, Chappell Roan did not disappoint. Her performance was pure spectacle, from the smoking apple chariot entrance to her iconic Statue of Liberty outfit. She delivered a powerful set filled with fan favorites like "Good Luck, Babe!" and "Femininomenon," and even debuted a brand new song, "The Subway." The crowd erupted when pizza boxes with the phrase "HOT TO GO!" were passed out, leading to a festival-wide dance party that solidified her place as a true festival powerhouse.

Thirteen years in, Governors Ball remains a cornerstone of the summer festival scene. Their dedication to booking incredible artists, creating unforgettable experiences, and offering little extras like freebies and interactive booths makes it a festival you won't want to miss. Here's to many more years of Gov Ball!

INTRO BY KAT VISTI

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Chappell Roan is a 19-year-old singer from Springfield, Missouri. Chappell's music is all about loss, love and heartbreak while she puts her piano skills on display for the world to see. She has the mystique of Sia and the vocals of Lana Del Rey. Chappell recently toured as support for Vance Joy and we did an interview with her to learn more about her debut single Good Hurt and her EP entitled School Nights.

For those who don’t know you yet, what would you tell them about yourself and your music as a bit of an introduction?

CHAPPELL: “I would say, well, my name is Chappell Roan. I’m 19. I’m from Springfield, Missouri and I still live there. And… I would say my music is pop, but it’s got like a darker twist to it and more of a haunting type deal. I don’t know, it’s so hard to explain it ‘cause it’s a lot of different things.”

Recently you released your first single Good Hurt. As a first impression do you personally think the song represents you really well as an artist?

CHAPPELL: “I think it represents a part of me. I don’t think it represents… everything about me. It was a co-write, so… and I don’t really co-write much, so that right there kind of takes half away, since I wrote it with another– with a girl, like her perspective as well. I think it is obviously about my personal problems and like my life and stuff, but I think there are other songs on the EP that better represent me.”

When the video for Good Hurt was released, Troye Sivan posted about it. How did it feel getting so much attention for your first music video?

CHAPPELL: “I mean, Troye Sivan is so sweet. He’s such an amazing person and he’s very inspiring. I really look up to him. He’s helped me out more than once with, like, posting stuff about me. He’s just really, really kind to do that. And it made me feel really good ‘cause his fans are very supportive and loving.”

Your EP School Nights was also released recently. How would you describe the overall vibe of it?

CHAPPELL: “I would say the vibe is… like the beginning and a first glimpse of a story that is yet to come. Like the EP is just the very beginning and a little glimpse of what the album is about.”

What song would you say was the hardest to create on the EP? Or did they all come easily?

CHAPPELL: “I don’t like writing. Like I really don’t like writing music. It’s just very emotional and like ridiculously hard for me. So they were all equally hard. I mean, I think the hardest one emotionally was Meantime because it’s just… you know, like at the time we didn’t know like who I was at all, and I was in this relationship and I felt like I couldn’t give everything to them. So I was basically saying, ‘Can I love you in the meantime while I figure myself out?’ And also, I just like… did not like Good Hurt when we wrote it. I just was like, ‘I don’t think this is good at all.’ And then over time, like it grew on me and obviously I like it now.”

How long did it take you to create your stage name? Was it hard?

CHAPPELL: “Honestly, picking my name was the hardest out of everything because it’s like… you’re stuck with it once you pick it. We went through – I’m not kidding – thousands of names, and I always kept coming back to Chappell because it’s a family name. And I found out I couldn’t just be ‘Chappell,’ ‘cause that’s what I originally had wanted, so I picked Chappell Roan.”

You’re currently on tour as support for Vance Joy. Is this your first tour?

CHAPPELL: “This is my first tour! It’s a whirlwind. It’s crazy, but Vance Joy’s the sweetest person ever, so he makes it seem fun.”

Is it hard to get used to all the traveling?

CHAPPELL: “Yes. I am constantly tired. It’s like gearing up for a family vacation and you’re like so excited, so you pack and everything and you’re so prepared… It’s like that every day. It’s like so tiring, but it’s so fun.”

What’s it like performing for the crowds every night?

CHAPPELL: “It’s incredible. Vance Joy and Amy Shark’s fan bases… they are just so loving and open to my music. You know, ‘cause they didn’t come to see me, they came to see Vance, and they’re so accepting of me and it just makes me feel really loved. So I feel amazing, and after my shows I go out and sign posters for people and that’s my favorite part. Everybody’s just super sweet.”

Once the tour is wrapped up, is there anything that we can expect from you?

CHAPPELL: “So once the tour is done I’m going back to LA to finish up the rest of the album. And we haven’t really decided if we’re releasing a single next or if we’re releasing another EP, if we’re releasing an entire album, so… nothing is like decided, but definitely music will come out soon. Early next year!”

FIND CHAPPELL ONLINE

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