By Ricardo Lezama 
Ivan Cornejo Brings Chicano Soul to Coachella 2025
Indio, California — Ivan Cornejo, the breakout Chicano artist redefining the sound of regional Mexican music, is set to make his Coachella debut this April, marking a high point in a fast-rising career powered by heartbreak, stripped-down guitar riffs, and Gen Z vulnerability.
Ivan Cornejo, the burgeoning sensation in the regional Mexican music scene, is poised to take the stage at the highly-anticipated Coachella 2025 festival. Scheduled to perform on April 12 and 19, Cornejo joins a star-studded lineup that includes Green Day, Charli XCX, and others. His presence at the festival solidifies his status as one of music’s most promising up-and-comers, thanks to his emotive ballads and burgeoning fan base.
The 20 something year old singer-songwriter, who has made headlines for his deep, emotional performances, attended the recent iHeartRadio Music Awards where he discussed a variety of impactful topics. Notably, Cornejo is also fervently working to raise funds for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, demonstrating his commitment to using his platform for social good.
Past Performances
Cornejo has had a constant buzz for the past couple of years. Ahead of his performance at the Coachella event, he headlined the third night of the Rolling Stone Future of Music showcase during SXSW, where a buzzing crowd at ACL Live at Moody Theater expressed their adoration with fervor.
Cornejo’s official website highlighted his journey, revealing his decision to drop out of high school to pursue his passion for music—a choice that seems to be paying off given his rising popularity. His latest album, ‘Mirada’, showcases a blend of alternative and regional Mexican influences that further expand his artistic scope. In his own words from a Rolling Stone feature, Cornejo shared, “I used to be too shy to sing in public. But my music is my voice and my connection to my fans.”
At just 20 years old, Cornejo is joining the ranks of festival headliners like Green Day, Charli XCX, and Anitta—artists who command global audiences. But Cornejo’s presence at Coachella 2025 signals something deeper: a generational and cultural shift in what American music stages look and sound like.
A Chicano Sound That Cuts Deep
Hailing from Riverside, California, Cornejo identifies as Chicano—an identity long embedded in cultural resistance and artistic reinvention. His music draws heavily from sierreño and sad sierreño styles, minimalist subgenres within regional Mexican music characterized by acoustic guitar and melancholic lyrics.
But Cornejo’s sound is anything but traditional. On his latest album, Mirada, released earlier this year, he blends alt-R&B textures with norteño heartbreak, crafting a distinctly bilingual, bicultural vibe that resonates across lines of identity.
His lyrics, often centered on loss, longing, and emotional self-exposure, strike a chord with a generation growing up amidst digital alienation and cultural hybridity.
“I used to be too shy to sing in public,” Cornejo told Rolling Stone in March. “Now I pour my emotions into my songs, and fans resonate with that.”
SXSW: A Moment of Arrival
Cornejo’s recent performance at the Rolling Stone Future of Music showcase during SXSW 2025 confirmed his rising profile. Fans packed into Austin’s ACL Live at Moody Theater, many wearing red to represent heartbreak—a subtle nod to Cornejo’s lyrical themes and aesthetics.
“People sing the lyrics louder than I do sometimes,” he told press backstage. “It’s surreal.”
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have amplified that emotional resonance. Fan edits and playlists featuring his tracks—like “Aquí Te Espero” and “Tatuajes”—regularly go viral, boosting his streaming numbers and cementing his status as a key figure in the sad boy regional movement.
Not Just Representation—Reclamation
Cornejo’s ascent isn’t just about a young artist going mainstream; it’s about cultural reclamation. As Chicano voices often get folded into pan-ethnic “Latino” categories, Cornejo’s unapologetically local, melancholic storytelling re-centers the Chicano experience on its own terms—rooted in the Inland Empire, shaped by diaspora, and delivered with raw vulnerability.
He’s not just singing in Spanish—he’s singing as a Chicano, and that matters.
What to Expect at Coachella
With a stripped-back setup and emotionally potent delivery, Cornejo’s Coachella set promises to stand out in a lineup dominated by big-budget pop spectacles. Fans expect to hear tracks from Mirada, along with intimate acoustic renditions that mirror the settings where many first heard his music—bedrooms, headphones, and long late-night drives.
For a generation of fans who see their identity reflected in his work, Cornejo’s Coachella moment is more than a career milestone. It’s a cultural one.