12 FYF Fest Artists That Will Leave You Saying F**k Yeah!

Article by: Chris Hong|@thelivebite

Tue August 04, 2015 | 00:00 AM


FYF Fest occurs at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and Exposition Park in a little over two weeks, and we can hardly contain our excitement. The once boutique festival now attracts over 40,000 people over two days and stacks top-notch artists from all realms of music on its bill. To celebrate its 12th year, we’re sharing 12 artists that will leave you saying “F**k Yeah!”

Belle & Sebastian

The indie legends are back. The nine-member band formed in Glasgow in January 1996, Belle & Sebastian recently released their 9th studio album, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, and it’s chalk-full of summer anthems that will get you boogieing. From “Party Line” to “Nobody’s Empire” and “Allie” to “Perfect Couples,” Belle & Sebastian is a must-see addition to the festival lineup and we can’t wait to soak them up.

Chet Faker

The multi-talented Chet Faker succeeds in fusing his soulful voice with bright synths and downtempo beats. Listen to his jazz cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and you’ll agree. When he’s not singing laidback hymns, he’s spinning uptempo electronica, especially at larger festivals. And if you’re lucky, he’ll break away from the turntables to sing his hit single “Talk is Cheap” off of his 2014 debut album Built on Glass.

D’Angelo and the Vanguard

In a string of festival appearances this summer season, including Bonnaroo, Netherland’s North Sea Jazz Festival, and Outside Lands, D’Angelo and the Vanguard brings to FYF Fest a fresh mix of jazz and soul. After a 14-year hiatus, he finally released his new album Black Messiah, which debuted at number one on the U.S. Top R&B/hip hop charts and number five on the U.S. Billboard chart. “Really Love,” “Sugah Daddy,” and “Ain’t That Easy” have gained millions plays on YouTube and Spotify, so we’re definitely expecting quite the stage rush at the festival.

FKA Twigs

Twigs is no stranger to music festivals, having already performed at biggies like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Primavera Sound this year. Her distinctive musical style incorporates wispy melodies with rolling beats, giving listeners a séance-like experience. And her music videos are just as menacingly artistic and often feel like performance art feats that challenge your imagination. FKA Twig’s latest album LP1will most likely be the focus of her FYF performance, with fan favorites “Two Weeks,” “Video Girl,” and “Pendulum” on the docket.

Flume

Flume has dominated the electronic music scene ever since his remix of Lorde’s “Tennis Court.” Now out with his self-titled debut album, Flume has become one of the most-talked-about DJs in the industry, with Outside Lands, EDC Las Vegas, and Ultra Music Festival on his festival resume. His experimental instrumentation is matched with complementary vocals from a handful of collaborators, including Andrew Wyatt, George Maple, and fellow FYF artist Chet Faker. Will we see a live performance of “Left Alone” at the festival? Fingers crossed.

Frank Ocean

Headlining the first night at FYF, Frank Ocean has caused commotion amongst his fans the past few years. In 2013, Ocean confirmed that he was working on his second studio album, rumored to be titled Boys Don’t Cry, which still has yet to hit the stores (many media outlets are saying it's imminent). But Frank Ocean is worth being patient for. He has developed a huge following with his idiosyncratic music: a diverse collection of synthesized beats, well-versed raps, and eclectic R&B and hip-hop rhythms. From his “Memrise” tease and single release of “Hero” with Diplo, Mick Jones, and Paul Simonon to popular ORANGE hits like “Thinking Of You” and “Lost,” Frank Ocean has a solid set list to close out Friday night. And who knows, FYF fest-goers may just experience several new songs off of his highly anticipated LP.

Morrissey

British singer and lyricist, rock legend Morrissey will make his second and final U.S. festival appearance at FYF, and his only Los Angeles show during his 2015 tour circuit. FYF attendees can expect several Smiths classics, like “Meat Is Murder,” but also “Kiss Me A Lot,” which he released a new music video back in April, “Suedehead” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” as well as his 1988 classics from his debut solo album Viva Hate, which he performed at Firefly Music Festival this past June. Morrissey’s headlining performance on the last night of FYF Fest, before leaving for his European tour, will be extremely buzzed about.

Purity Ring

There couldn’t have been a more perfect complement to the lineup than the addition of Canadian electronic duo Purity Ring, with Megan James on vocals and Corin Roddick on instrumentals. James’ airy vocals pair beautifully with the synthpop grooves and youthful chords Roddick creates. Take “Begin Again” off of their newest album Another Eternity, a song that combines a friendly rhythm with catchy lyrics and powerful bridges, and you'll understand why this indie duo is a critical fave.

Run the Jewels

A music festival embracing musical diversity needs to incorporate hip-hop – and great hip-hop, at that. That’s where Run the Jewels comes in. The American hip-hop duo Killer Mike and El-P, who've performed at this year’s Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Pitchfork Music Festival (and Austin City Limits still to come), have turned up the festival scene with their aggressive, straight-up lyricism, spitting the sickest rhymes on top songs like “Close Your Eyes (And Count to F**k),” “Blockbuster Night Part 1,” and “Pew Pew Pew.”

Solange

R&B songstress Solange makes bold statements with her music, thanks to tracks like “Losing You” and “Lovers in the Parking Lot.” Her elegant style is a mix of intoxicating vocals and disco synths married with lively saxophone and trumpet accompaniments – a combo that will surely have everyone in the audience grooving. In May 2015 at a Los Angeles show, Solange debuted a new song titled “Rise,” which she wrote in tribute to the events in Baltimore and Ferguson; we hope to hear this song among other hits from her previous three albums when she performs on Sunday.

Toro Y Moi

F**k yeah! to FYF for bringing Toro Y Moi back to the festival after his amazing 2013 set. His chill, good-vibes-all-around sounds are tailor-made for the summer; they’re easy to dance to and perfect to listen to while lounging towards the back of the crowd. This time around, Toro Y Moi will sing hot tracks like “Empty Nesters,” “Buffalo,” and “Lilly” off of his 2015 album What For?, his fourth studio album.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) has received plenty of critical acclaim for its unique psychedelic pop and rock sound. After much success with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, its self-titled debut, and sophomore album II, UMO released an equally successful third album Multi-Love this past May. Popular tracks “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” and “Multi-Love” are testaments to Ruban Neilsen’s vocal talent. We can't wait to hear Neilsen’s ethereal falsettos in a live setting.

Who are you excited to see at FYF 2015?