BINI has made history. The group just became the first all-Filipino act to perform at Coachella, taking the Mojave stage on April 11 at 7:15 a.m. Philippine time. Sharing the same stage bill as Central Cee, Ethel Cain, and Blood Orange, the moment places BINI in a wider global context, one that tests how their sound and performance translate to the eclectic, musically diverse Coachella crowd.
As the BINI logo lights up the stage, the group enters in gold outfits paired with salakot, an entrance that’s cheesily theatrical, even if the prop is quickly tossed aside. Opening their set with “Shagidi,” the group wastes no time setting the tone. BINI leans into a high-energy start that’s already calibrated for a memorable first impression. From here, their set becomes a real-time gauge of how they can command a festival crowd, transitioning from signature songs to dance breaks, even as the scale of the moment gradually shows that their unique brand of P-pop is now being platformed in one of the biggest music festivals in the world.
Setlist Highlights
By the second track, “Zero Pressure,” the group shifts gears, ripping off their gold dresses to reveal turquoise blue outfits. The transition into “Out of My Head” lands smoothly, with the band locking into the group’s pacing. Throughout their performance, the setlist was sequenced with an alternate structure showcasing a good balance of their English and Filipino songs. Onstage, there are moments where nerves show, with some members fumbling lines, though they powered through with their charm as a group. “Being with all of you has always been the sweetest cherry on top,” Maloi tells the crowd. While segments like the “eyy!” hand gestures were cute for some and tacky for others, that moment was immediately eclipsed by the live performances themselves.
After their first spiel, BINI moves into a run of Filipino tracks, starting with “Karera” before going straight into their breakout hit “Salamin, Salamin.” The latter features a reworked instrumental that adds more synth layers, with a kudyapi texture surfacing in the dance breakdown. “Blink Twice” featured a career highlight in terms of group chemistry, while “Cherry on Top” and its vocal performances showcase the group’s impressive range. Toward the latter stretch, “Pantropiko” is introduced through kulintang-driven percussion, setting up the song’s opening melody that’s heard across the world as the P-pop group closes their debut Coachella stage.
For a first Coachella set, the group pulled off a historic feat. As there are songs in the setlist that could’ve made it to the cut, the final selection of their older and new material has already won casual fans all over the world. It can’t be helped that there are stumbles here and there; it’s perhaps one of the biggest steps in showcasing Filipino pop music to a worldwide audience.
