This past weekend, Giveon took the main stage at Coachella 2026 for the sunset slot, bringing out Kehlani for a surprise appearance and stepping out in a custom Balenciaga look by Pierpaolo Piccioli, paired with a vintage fur coat sourced separately.

However, this did not happen overnight. He started making music in his bedroom, uploaded it to SoundCloud, and slowly built something. A Drake feature on “Chicago Freestyle” in 2020 brought him to a wider audience, but it was “Heartbreak Anniversary” that made him a household name. His 2025 Grammy-nominated sophomore album “Beloved” further cemented his place as one of R&B’s most distinctive voices, building from a baritone that belongs to another era. Now, with “Beloved: Act II” dropping May 15, he has been sitting on something worth the wait.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

VMAN sat down with him to get into all of it!

Full BALENCIAGA look by Pierpaolo Piccioli paired with a vintage fur coat sourced separately, Kehlani & Giveon hug at Coachella 2026, photography by Danielle Ernst

VMAN: How did it feel to perform at Coachella again?

GIVEON: It was amazing, especially getting to be on the main stage for the sunset slot. Being able to start while it was still light out meant I could really take in the whole crowd, every face, all the way back. And desert sunsets are just the most beautiful thing, there’s nothing like them. So as the sky started shifting, the performance felt like it was moving with it. When everything finally went dark, it got more intimate, more romantic, and the visuals and stage really got to stand out. It felt like the sky was built right into the show.

VMAN: What are your favorite/most memorable moments from the weekend?

G: Just standing there and seeing how many people were in front of the stage. That will never feel normal. You pour yourself into creating something, and then thousands of people are standing in a desert to hear it and sing along with you. I had to take a few moments to just breathe and take it all in.

Giveon performs at Coachella 2026 Weekend 1

VMAN: What song did the crowd react to the most? How did it make you feel?

G: ‘Heartbreak Anniversary’ is always such a moment live, and Coachella just elevated it in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for. That, and ‘Twenties,’ since Beloved came out, that song has really become a crowd favorite. Feeling both of those songs connect that deeply, in that setting, I just felt so much love. It meant everything.

VMAN: Tell us about the Kehlani surprise performance.

G: I’ve always been a massive fan of Kehlani, her voice is just insane. Having her come out and share that moment with me meant a lot, and there’s more coming from us soon, stay tuned.

Kehlani performs alongside Giveon at Coachella, photography by Danielle Ernst

VMAN: Congrats on the deluxe announcement. What can fans expect?

G: There are a lot of things on there that I’ve been wanting to do for a really long time. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are some unexpected surprises.

VMAN: Tell us about your custom Balenciaga look!

G: Pierpaolo Piccioli has been a long friend, he knows me and understands my style. He was actually the first person to ever invite me to the Met Gala, so we have real history together. To have something custom-made for Coachella and be a part of what he’s creating at Balenciaga is truly an honor.

Full BALENCIAGA look by Pierpaolo Piccioli paired with a vintage fur coat sourced separately, photography by Danielle Ernst

Creative Director Riko Uchida Diaz

Photography Danielle Ernst