London based photographer Bex Day's new editorial, "Children of COVID," goes straight to the source to get the answers to that question. Through a series of photos, we get a sense of what it was like for these kids when their parents became their teachers, their homes their recess yards, and their cherished routines were taken from them.
Check it out below.
Between Rihanna and A$AP Rocky surprise appearance to the open bars, food trucks, and dance floors, the party was wild. As I arrived at the ranch, I was immediately met with a friend of mine running up to me saying, “Pookie and Jett are here. We NEED to party with them.” We began the hunt after stopping by the Passes.com table for some cotton candy. With a wrist full of stacked bands on one arm and a drink in my other, I hurried past Justin and Hailey Bieber before reaching the packed dance floor. It must’ve been close to sunrise when I finally came to and headed for the exit. Walking out, I ran into my friends who told me they just drove in from LA and NYC just for the party. This being my 10th Coachella, I'd probably stay home next year if it weren’t for this party.
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So, how are you?
I'm good. I'm going to tell you now, I have the worst desert dust cough in the entire world, so I'm going to try and not cough.
That's annoying. Does that happen every time you go to Coachella?
I think I just may have smoked one too many cigarettes, unfortunately.
Oh... I’ve been there. How was the weekend though?
It was a lot, but it was amazing. I'm just happy to be back, but I'm kind of a crazy person, I may be going again tomorrow.
Round 2?
I can't, if I go, I'm only going for a day.
Ok so chill. How old were you at your first Coachella?
I want to say my first Coachella was in 2017 or 2018.... It was either a year or two years before I graduated high school. I'm going to say 2017, I was like 16?
What was the energy like this time compared to then?
Oh my gosh. Very different. It wasn't as packed. It was very mellow, you could walk around and bump into so many people because there weren't that many. You could just see everyone. I feel like the first time I went to Coachella, it was such an intense experience because if you lost any of your friends, it was an immediate freakout, there were just so many people. But also, I feel like when I was 16, I was just such a degenerate. [Laughs]
Have you ever run into an ex, enemy, or crush during Coachella?
Oh my God, I ran into my ex this past weekend. And crushes all the time. Maybe one or two this weekend, nothing too crazy.
That's not too bad. Tell me about the GUESS JEANS compound. What was the vibe?
It was amazing. One of my best friends, Nicolai, just takes care of everyone. He's the most incredible person. There were, of course, a bunch of houses on the compound, but in my house, it was just me and my best friends, which was incredible. And across the street was one of my best friends, Devon, and her sister Sydney and like all of those people so that was really nice. And it was also very tight knit, there wasn't a lot of people, it was just a very buddy vibe, you know?
That sounds ideal. How were the parties?
The parties were pretty amazing. The party on Sunday was Metro Boomin and the whole XO crew and all of that. It's funny. I normally am not a trap scene kind of gal. I just can't get into it some of the time, but I was having the time of my life. It was absolutely amazing. I was on stage with fucking Metro and NAV, dancing and jumping around and moshing like a crazy person. Everyone was dancing on tables. Everyone had a bottle in their hand.
That sounds so fun.
It was 10 out of 10, then we went straight from that party into our house and ended up having a party that was like a full-on rave and our friend Hayes DJ'd, which was awesome.
Any messy moments?
I could tell you there were a few messy moments, but at the end of it, you're also just like, you know what? It's Coachella, it gets messy. But once it's over, all the mess, it's like, Oh, it was just at Coachella. It’s over now.
What happens at Coachella stays at Coachella.
Exactly.
Was there anyone you were looking forward to seeing perform?
This year, all the headliners were super sick, but I didn't really catch any of them. I am like a big techno baddie, so I was in the rave and I mean, it was incredible. There was Gesaffelstein who was amazing and Justice, Peggy Goo, Michael Bibi, Honey Dijon, Green Velvet, like I saw a bunch of people that I just absolutely wanted to see and died.
Then there was Khruangbin. I listen to them all the time in my house 24/7. I watch their live studio recordings and all of it. It was an amazing moment just for me because I've listened to the music for so long, and finally being able to see them on stage and watch their whole set, it was super magical and with all of my friends just right there, and it was an amazing moment.
I was almost going to miss it because I was so defeated. I was like, “I'm leaving Saturday. I can’t do it guys. I have to go. I have to leave.” But all my friends were like, Girl, just go back to sleep. And I went back to sleep and I woke up on Sunday and went straight into Khruangbin and I had the time of my life so it was worth it.
Did you hit up Brutalismus 3000?
No. What is that?
It's this electronic music duo from Berlin that's pretty cool, they started making music in 2020.
Sick. No, I didn't see them, but I'm going to have to check them out. Oh, but I also saw Boy Harsher.
Oh yessss, I love Boy Harsher.
Yeah, that was incredible, 10 out of 10. The speakers were definitely blasting and it was just so awesome. They're husband and wife, they were just on stage ripping together. It was just so cool to see, and they were having so much fun.
Okay so Chella Do's and Don’ts. Hit me with a few.
A do, definitely: bring a fanny pack. If you're carrying a purse at Coachella, you're doing it wrong — or just don't bring anything.
What do you always keep in your fanny?
If you go to Coachella without an ID you're screwed, like you need it to get alcohol. Hand sanitizer. Maybe a fan. Oh, sunglasses, chapstick, hair tie, like all the essentials.
Sahara tent or main stage?
Sahara all the way. Although I don't even think I saw one fucking thing at the Sahara tent, maybe Peggy Goo and that was pretty cool, but I was mostly in Yuma, the outdoor stage or the Quasar stage, which was incredible.
Drink of choice?
Vodka-cranberry. I was getting vodka cranberries every other second or Heinekens, because that's what was there. There was so much, I think they work with Coachella. I had a shit ton, and water babe. You have to stay hydrated. It's so gusty and dry out there.
So do water, don't be dehydrated...
Yeah, do water, don't be dehydrated, do… fucking… sneakers, not heels — actually cowboy boots, do cowboy boots or combat boots, not heels. You're in the trenches out there, you never know what's going to happen. Also don't leave your buddies. Do not leave your buddies. You'll get buried. You need your buddies at all times. It was like me and three to four friends out there which was fun.
Did you have a favorite look you wore?
Ooh, favorite look... either my Friday or Saturday look, I wore cowboy boots the first day and combat boots the second, shorts, a belt and a baggy tee, super shishi and super ravey. But it was so crazy and I was just talking with my friend about this, like when we were walking back to our sprinter to leave, there were girls out here in these teeny, tiny bikini tops and I'm just like, I don't know how you guys do it, but I salute you because it is so cold and so windy. I don't know how these girls are doing it, but they're doing it.
I guess, if you have a vision…
Yeah, if that's is your vision, then complete it, go through with it. No backing down.
What won't you do this weekend if you end up going again?
It's not about fashion this weekend. It's definitely about comfort. I think I'll probably be in sweatpants. I was pretty comfortable last weekend but definitely going in there way more chill. If I go back, I'm going to see the same people, but I just think I need to be a little more present. You know?
So no vodka cranberries is what you're saying?
Well… who knows?... Who knows? We're vodka-cran girls. [Laughs]
