Backdropped by Palm Springs’ distinguishing palm trees, snow-capped mountain peaks, and basking in the warm California sun, Coachella, now in its 24th iteration, looms as one of the biggest, flashiest live music events in North America. For many musicians, there simply isn’t anything like a performance at Coachella – and Belgain-born musician Angèle can attest to this fact herself. The 27-year-old performed during both weekends, and for the musician, it not only marked a career highlight of sorts but also kicked off her own summer tour circuit. It was a breathtaking set of performances that saw Angèle singing popular tracks (“Bruxelles je t’aime,” “Libre,” “Démons”) from her most recent album, Nonante-Cinq La Suite (Deluxe), as well as “Fever,” her cosmic collaboration with Dua Lipa. And as she brought us through her whole discography last week, the crowd went wild, welcoming her performance with open arms and hearts. If you couldn’t catch her at Coachella last weekend, you can still get tickets to her show in NYC next Thursday. For more information, click here.

Ahead of her Coachella debut, we sat down with the musician and collected her thoughts on this monumental moment. 

V MAGAZINE: We’re sitting down with you at a time that’s so exciting–you’re set to perform at Coachella this weekend. So I have to ask, how are you feeling?

ANGÈLE: I think it might have been one of the most exciting, stressful, and crazy experiences of my career so far.

V: How have you been preparing for this iconic set in Palm Springs?

A: I want to stay focused but not stressed. So I did some meditation to make sure I was aligned and peaceful in my body and mind. I am a very stressed and anxious person and getting the chance to sing at Coachella as a Belgian French-speaking artist is something I didn’t expect when I started a few years ago. Now I have to be on point, but I also need to enjoy the moment. In the end, the only thing I can really work on is my mood because the rest is already done. We have worked on it for months, and we know the show, so the only thing that matters is being in the moment.

V: Yeah, totally. And how would you describe the energy of your Weekend 1 performance?

A: Crazy [laughs]. We had to adjust to being on stage because festivals can put us in vulnerable places because we have no time to see the stage before the show. The floor was very slippery because of the sand and the wind, and I had no idea what to expect from the crowd. It was also streamed live, which really gave me even more stress. In the end, I enjoyed it so much. I am so lucky to be here, to perform here. I can’t control everything, and I need to let it go. 

V: I also loved your outfit last week, it was so fun! How did you go about curating your outfits for these Coachella performances? 

A: I wanted to work with an artist I feel close to. Ludovic de Saint Sernin is a French designer– born in Belgium. He was recently appointed art director for Ann Demeulemeester, and I have been following his work for a few years. I wanted us to imagine an outfit that would shine and resonate with the image I had of Coachella.

V: That’s so special! What makes a good tour outfit for Angèle?

A: A good tour outfit for me is an outfit in which I feel good dancing, moving, and performing in. 

V: Yeah, I feel like comfort is super important. Do you have any pre-show rituals to get ready for your performance?

A: I meditate, I do my scales and my vocal warm-ups, dance a bit, and I listen to Justin Timberlake a lot [laughs]. 

V: We love JT, too! What’s your earliest memory of performing? When do you remember falling in love with it?

A: I remember my first piano concert as a child. Every year with the music school, I had to play in front of the parents and students. For some students, it was a stressful and unpleasant moment, while for me, it was one of my favorite moments of the year. I finally had the chance to express myself and show my work to others. 

V: And you released a deluxe album, Nonante-Cinq La Suite, last year, which you performed at Coachella. How do you think you’ve grown since the release?

A: With the job I do, I grow and learn on the job. It’s not a job you can learn in advance, at least not in my case. I learn by doing, and I realize my mistakes as people watch me. This is sometimes terribly vulnerable, but it’s also a very good way to move forward and bounce back quickly.

V: I love that. I feel like that’s a good lesson for everyone to learn from. And after Coachella, what’s next for you? Do you have any plans for the rest of the summer?

A: After Coachella, I’m heading to NYC for some studio time, then to Canada for live shows. I’ll end my North American tour at the start of May with three shows in NYC at Terminal 5. For the summer, it will mainly be my festivals!