Head in the Clouds Festival makes its Brooklyn debut at Under the K Bridge

The Head in the Clouds Festival returned to New York on Sept. 20, marking the festival’s third year in the city. Under The K Bridge in Brooklyn served as home to the festival’s stacked lineup of EDM, hip-hop, K-pop and alternative acts. Spanning two stages, fans enjoyed the shaded venue and pan-Asian food and drinks from local favorites like Mao Bao and Rokstar Chicken, and global sensations from the likes of Xing Fu Tang, Afuri, and more.

We had the pleasure of speaking to a handful of artists at the festival from across the globe, some with careers spanning the past decade, and some only a few months. All had one thing in common: buzzing excitement to be taking the stage and celebrating their success alongside other Asian hitmakers.

These interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

Nick Cheo: From bedroom to booming crowd work

We began our day with Nick Cheo, Ohio bedroom-DJ-turned-viral-icon, known for mixing songs you’d never think would go together and turning them into a tune you can't get out of your head. His YouTube account paints a more personal picture, featuring Cheo at home, hyping up crowds, and vlogs of his everyday life. We got to know him a bit more in our conversation before his set.

Bri Ng Schwartz: You've done so much in the past year. You had your Elevator Music set, your Apple Store set, and a handful of other live appearances. How do you think you've grown as an artist this past year?
Nick Cheo: Playing in so many different environments, I've been able to just curate different sets for different vibes. The Apple Store set was super crazy. They told me I couldn’t play any songs with bad words in them, and I still got the crowd bumping without any bad words. So it was a great time.

BNS: And it was family friendly!
NC: Everybody was lit. I love playing live and to be able to better myself through more live sets is amazing.

BNS: You go between a lot of genres in your sets, which I respect. Where do you think your diverse music taste comes from?
NC: It definitely comes from my dad. When I was growing up, he showed me hip-hop, so when I started DJing I played mostly hip-hop and dance music. From shadowing other artists that I admire, I've just been learning so many different types of music. 

BNS: Your YouTube account features your sets at home, your live sets, and vlogs. Do you have any other online social media aspirations to connect to your fans?
NC: I just created a Finsta. It takes the pressure off of the main Instagram. I just post some fit pics there and remixes that I do. I like to use my YouTube as a more creative outlet to explore other parts of my artistry rather than just the music.

No sad faces in sight for no na

Next up was no na, the Indonesian girl group four months out from their debut. The group consists of Christy, Esther, Baila and Shaz. Their Indonesian fans showed up for the performance, waving flags and beaming with pride at the mention of Indonesia. We caught them fresh off of their mainstage performance. 

BNS: It’s been four months since your debut. What have been some highlights in the last couple months?
Baila: I think for me, releasing “sad face :(” is one of my favorite parts of this month.

Esther: Today's performance is a huge highlight for me. I love being in New York together. It’s our first time being here as a group.

BNS: How did this performance compare to Head in the Clouds LA?
Shaz: We had a great time in LA, but I think this one was more casual and carefree.

E: It was so fun getting to see our New Yorchids. They came ready with the Indonesian flags and everything. They're so sweet and they memorized the lyrics and the dances. It was so fun. 

BNS: What has been your favorite song to perform live?
S: “sad face :(”

Christy: I can't decide! “Superstitious” or “sad face :(”

E: I think “superstitious” too. It's so fun starting the set with “superstitious.”

B: “Back off” or “sad face :(.” “Back off” is so fun. 

S: Every one of them are really fun to perform.

BNS: What can fans expect from no na next?
S: We can say that something exciting is coming. Very new and exciting.

E: You can actually catch a little bit of spoilers from set earlier, but shhhhhhh!

KUN’s rock and roll riot

KUN joined us backstage leading up to his performance. His rock- and doo-wop-inspired soundscape, accompanied by his booming theatrical voice, took the 88Rising Stage by storm. The festival was dominated by his Chinese fanbase, many flashing their passports at check-in, proving the dedication of his international fanbase. 

BNS: You performed at Head in the Clouds Los Angeles at the beginning of the summer. What is different for you about New York versus LA?
KUN: We only played two songs as a special guest in LA, but this time we're playing the whole set, so it is going to be different. Every time I come to New York, I get a lot of inspiration. This city inspires me.

BNS: This time last year you were at Milan Fashion Week. Do you have any plans to return to the fashion space in the near future?
K: We're going to the Paris Fashion Week for Mugler this year.

BNS: The music video for your song “Jasmine” is such a tribute to New York City. Do you have a favorite filming location?
K: Honestly, I like a lot of them. I like the subway shot. It was crazy. I think the rooftop is beautiful, getting the chance to see the New York City skyline. I want to stay there forever.

BNS: Can New York’s audiences expect any surprises from your set?
K: I'm playing a new song that I have never played before that will never be released. It's a special gift only for here, and it’s called “Plastic Angels.”

GEMINI packs a vocal punch

GEMINI continued the party late into the evening on the Double Happiness Stage with his smooth vocals, backing DJ and hyped-up fanbase. We could feel the ground beneath us vibrating with the audience moving along to the base blasting from the speakers. He joined us to talk about the past year, other artistic endeavors and what makes Head in the Clouds special.

BNS: This time last year, you were kickstarting your North American tour. What else have you been up to in the past year?
GEMINI: After wrapping up my tour, I’ve been doing a lot more shows, and I’ve continued making music nonstop. Now the new album is finally starting to take shape, and I’m in the final stages of finishing it up.

BNS: What’s it like being here with your producers, GroovyRoom?
G: It’s been years since I last shared the same stage with GroovyRoom. Performing together again makes Head in the Clouds feel even more special.

BNS: You’ve made the crossover into fashion, with Calvin Klein and AMIRI. What do experiences like this outside of music play in your artistry?
G: To me, music is fashion too. I feel like what you wear and what you listen to are very similar. Music and fashion are inseparable.

BNS: Why do you think Asian-dominated festivals like Head in the Clouds are important for the culture?
G: What makes HITC feel special to me is that it’s a festival where Asian artists really get the spotlight. It feels rooted in Asian culture, and that makes this stage even more meaningful. I hope there will be more festivals like this and more platforms that celebrate Asian culture.

Creating a GroovyRoom under a bridge

Putting a nightcap on the Double Happiness Stage was GroovyRoom, the DJ-and-producer duo consisting of Park Gyu-jeong and Lee Hwi-min. With their technological setup spanning the entire length of the stage, the two meant business with their beloved hip-hop beats and experimental soundscapes. Using this set as the introduction to a rebrand, we caught up with the duo leading to their closing set.

BNS: What do you value most in your collaboration with one another, and what do you look for when identifying potential collaborators?
Park Gyu-jeong: For us, what matters most is the overall vision—how we can present this “picture” to the audience or listeners in the most powerful way. That synergy is what we value the most.

When an artist collaborates with us, we always ask ourselves, “What kind of sound would come out of this, and how can we deliver our intention clearly through the music?” It’s not just about how talented or trendy someone is, we care more about whether there’s a deeper connection in terms of vibe and creative direction.

BNS: Do you have any pre-show rituals or things you do to get hyped up before a set?
Lee Hwi-min: We always drink Hennessy before a show—always.

BNS: What message do you have for the Head in the Clouds audience tonight?
PG: We’re actually preparing a rebranding starting with this performance. We’ve got a new album coming next year, and this show really captures the opening vibe of that project. We’ve been preparing by remaking old tracks and creating new ones, developing new sounds as well. 

LH: As we each work on our solo projects, this performance is also a chance for us to show what it’s like when we come together again, what kind of new energy and mood emerges from that.