Top 3 artists we’re most excited to see at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017

Mitski photographed by Ebru Yildiz

WORDS BY MERCY XIONG, STAFF WRITER

Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Chicago this weekend with hip-hop icons, rising indie rockers and experimental/avant-garde artists. Honoring their 12th year, the festival brings electric-rock legends LCD Soundsystem, hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and R&B sensation Solange to headline the weekend. With over 40 acts, Pitchfork outstandingly executes their mission to bring the best in new and emerging music. Here are some of the acts that we are most excited to see:

Mitski

It’s rare to come across an Asian American in indie rock, let alone in the music industry. Since Mitski’s debut in 2012, she has been on the rise. Her music is painfully truthful and touches on her growth, identity as an Asian American and longing for happiness in adulthood. Mitski takes a break from her current tour to bring Pitchfork her raw and poetic lyrics, fusion of folk and rock music and haunting yet mesmerizing vocals.

Jamila Woods

If you don’t know of Jamila Woods, you probably heard her melodious vocals on Chance the Rapper’s “Sunday Candy” and “Blessings.” This Chicago native highlights life as an African American woman in Chicago on her well-received debut album, HEAVN. The topics she sings about ranges from the thousands of missing black girls and systematic violence towards blacks to her journey of self-love and affirmation. While these lyrics are quite heavy, Woods masks it with her soft and soulful vocals. We hope to catch her spread strong messages of hope and healing on Sunday.

Solange

Following her critically-acclaimed release of A Seat at the Table, Solange Knowles made it clear she planned to only play at art museums and music festivals. She keeps this promise by gracing the Green Stage on the third night of Pitchfork Music Festival. Her powerful yet calming dance numbers along with soothing R&B vocals makes her the perfect choice to close out the festival.

In addition to her performance this year, the festival will feature a special collaboration with Saint Heron, an innovative art and performance platform founded by Knowles.