Next week, the Olivia Rodrigo-spearheaded music festival Daisy Chain Fields is set to bring a slew of female artists and female-fronted businesses to Irvine on Saturday. While many of the performers are well-known, including the likes of Chappell Roan, Stevie Nicks, and Mitski, there are also a few newer acts who may be less established. Here’s a guide to three of those acts and why their sets are worth catching.
Quiet Light
Riya Mahesh—aka Quiet Light—first emerged independently with a blend of shoegaze, lo-fi pop, and Midwest emo, wrapping her voice in vocal processing and ambient sound. Over the past few years, she has refined her sound, culminating in her recent mixtape, Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2. New listeners should start there to explore Mahesh’s brand of melancholic folk-pop and lyricism, which draws from her personal experience juggling music and med school.
Online videos of Quiet Light’s live performances also prove that behind the processing, Mahesh has a great voice and a warm stage presence, often visibly smiling as she sings. Whether she’s strumming guitar-backed by a band or moving around the stage as a one-woman act, Quiet Light is sure to captivate festival goers. She is scheduled to perform at 11:20 a.m. on the Marigold Stage.
Eli
Eli’s combo of synth-fueled guitar pop and 2000s-influenced R&B is built for dance floors, which makes her an interesting choice to follow up Quiet Light at Daisy Chain Fields. Her lyrics primarily deal with themes of self-identity and growing up, drawing from her personal journey coming out as a transgender woman. This is most evident on her debut album Stage Girl, which released last Halloween and is a great entry point to her music.
Eli’s energy during live shows is infectious, moving in tune with the melody and engaging with the crowd. Her on-stage persona also remains down-to-earth, and she is scheduled to perform at 11:55 a.m. on the Dandelion Stage.
Die Spitz
Much like the previous two artists, Die Spitz have only been performing together for a few years, but they sound like seasoned musicians with a penchant for epic punk rock. Hearing guitarist Ava Schrobilgen growl on the mic or drummer Chloe de St. Aubin slam on the snares and cymbals will have new listeners pumped up. These aspects amplify the group’s lyrics on their debut album Something to Consume, which focus on love, obsession, and the insidiousness of the music industry.
Despite their darker-sounding music, the members of Die Spitz are upbeat when performing live. Guitarist Ellie Livingston is playful and outspoken, while bassist Kate Halter stands out with her high-energy stage presence. Daisy Chain Fields attendees have a lot to look forward to with their upcoming set at 1:40 p.m. on the Marigold Stage.