The weather could not have been better for day one of the 2019 BUKU Music + Art Project, which boasted a sold-out attendance and its signature delivery of hip-hop, electronica, dubstep, pop and more. On Friday, March 22, fans were treated to performances from Lana Del Rey, Kevin Gates, Toro Y Moi, Playboi Carti, Denzel Curry and many more. Stay tuned here as we update commentary and photos!

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The funky alternative singer, Toro Y Moi, took the stage as one of BUKU Music + Art Project’s first performers on Friday, March 23 at 4:15 p.m. and was far from a let down. The sun was shining, fans were cheering, and the music was the perfect beginning to a long day of jams.

Chaz Bear, also known as Toro Y Moi, smoothly grooved on stage as he sang along to hit after hit of his new record. The 32 year old singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer encompassed the true nature of live performing by knocking out his vocals and stage presence. The singer’s live talent is incomparable to what a record can contain onto a track, making it an even better experience to see him on stage.

Toro Y Moi’s performance was a little early for the crowds of thousands and thousands to push and shove to the front of the stage, but he did capture an audience who loved his music and was eager to sing along. With the sun high in the sky and the Mississippi Bridge in the background, the atmosphere of Toro Y Moi’s performance was exactly the chill and fun energy BUKU Music + Art Project creates.

Toro Y Moi mainly played songs from his new album, Outer Peace, throughout the hour-long set. With songs like “Fading,” “High Living,” “Girl Like You,” “Who Am I” and more, the singer made everyone in the crowd want to get up and dance. The sound Toro Y Moi produced was a combination of chillwave electronic music and funk with smooth jazzy undertones. With a group of people backing him up on the drums, guitar, and keyboard, the stage looked to be a group of collective creators that love to create unique music.

– Lucy Foreman

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Switchyard Stage at Buku Music + Art Project was a small space with a mighty force performing as Dounia hit it at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, March 22. The fierce singer, songwriter, model, and activist got crowds cheering for her the moment she stepped onto the stage.

The Queens, New York performer began her set with a strong, clear confidence flying from her bright red hair. Dounia rapped like a queen and sang like an angel, both talents exceeding limitations on what it means to be a female artists in the music industry. With her strong messages about feminine power, body positivity and love, Dounia is more than just a girl who has strong vocals. The artist captured fans and taught them a lesson with each song while also having fun and laughing through it.

With a small crowd of 60 to 70 people, Dounia spoke directly towards fans and enjoyed their fun. A connection was formed between the crowd and Dounia almost from the jump, both building off one another and maintaining the same love and support for each other. With cheering, jumping around, screaming and some crying, Dounia’s fans were loyal and real lovers of her messages in her music.

Dounia began her set with song “King of Queens (Intro)” and followed with songs “Avant Garde,” “Royal,” “Rich Girl Mood,” “Lowkey Girl,” “How I See It,” “Hard Candy,” “If U Wanna” and a few more. As she performed, the talented artist jammed around the stage with her fans in a sexy yet playful way. Dounia was an inspiration to watch perform and sent confidence through the crowds with every song. The genuine performer took BUKU Music + Art Project by storm and created an environment with no judgement- just dancing, love, and having a good time!

– Lucy Foreman

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Kevin Gates has the distinct talent to move a little and say a lot. As he stood in an open white button down revealing a torso of tattoos, a house taking up most of his stomach, Gates did not jump around the stage. Rather, he is an artist put in full effect by the video screen, the confident energy of each lyric palpable in his eyes and moving out to cover the stage and into the audience from there.

Throughout his set, Gates assumed a novice position, though as a platinum-certified artist performing in his home state, he is far from one. He repeatedly spoke to “the new people,” teaching them his lyrics and explaining why he wrote them. Based off of the audience reaction, drawing huge cheers for songs like “2 phones,” “I Don’t Get Tired (#IDGT)” and “Please You,” most of the sizable crowd at the 8 p.m. set did not seem like “new.” Gates stayed playfully risky, unbuttoning his Louis Vuitton belt before launching into “D U Down.” He ended the show by bringing his young song and daughter on stage. His son drew cheers for “flossing,” a popular dance, as fast as he could.

– Emily Carmichael

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A Lana Del Rey performance sends those bearing witness into the stratosphere of femininity. From the ether of her artistry, she takes traditionally minimized tropes of womanhood —dramatic emotionality, whimsical sensuality—and renders them full-bodied, intelligent complexity. Her performance is proof of the power in the feminine, shows emotions are worth revering. That being said, the audience seemed more sure of Del Rey than she seemed of herself.

She came on ten minutes late to a crowd chanting her name. Del Rey appeared rushed, discombobulated. She repeatedly turned her mic to the audience to sing as she took what seemed like a moment to gather herself. The audience mumbled of sound issues. Del Rey did not seem to find her stride until the later half of the set, falling into her close-eyed, iconic allure with hits like “High By the Beach” and “Video Games.” The crowd though, despite any possible technological slip ups, remained convinced they were having a singular experience the entire time, especially when she got on the swing. Del Rey gave notable focus to her fans, waving at familiar faces, taking off her ear piece to talk to an audience member.

-Emily Carmichael

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This is your hype show. Though he came out 22 minutes late, Playboi Carti kept energy high and the crowd moving throughout his late-night set closing out the first day of BUKU. It’s not that he had a lot of convincing to do. Just the suggestion of a Carti performance, especially while the audience waited for him to go on, had people dancing. The show played like a tweet storm. Using the sound of bullet fire as a transition, he swung from one song to the next, playing hits like “Long Time” and “Shoota” without finishing a single one.

Carti is known for his hooks and he stuck to them. He matched his songs to single color schemes, use lighting to dye the darkened Ballroom stage red and blue as if applying a filter to a photo. Instead of video projection of his performance (those in the back could not see Carti), he utilized looping videos of things like dogs, lightening and tombstones, all color coordinated with the lighting. It created intensity, and Carti knew it. He rarely paused to speak, but he did stop to say, “If you’re scared, get the f*ck out.” Nobody left.

-Emily Carmichael

All photos by Laiken Joy