Kanye West Leads An Incredible Easter Service At Coachella
He brought his Sunday morning service to the iconic music festival on Easter Sunday
Coachella never disappoints with its ever-more-star-studded line-up and unforgettable, career-defining performances from the biggest names in the music business. This year was no exception – rapper-producer-designer Kanye West offered an unexpected and unique take on the typical Coachella appearance.
Kanye has been holding weekly Sunday services back home in Calabasas, California, since January, which have traditionally been for the benefit of an exclusive guest list (including the likes of Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom) and only teased to the public via videos on Kim’s Instagram account. Not this this. For one Sunday morning only, 50,000 festival-goers had the opportunity to attend one of Kanye’s famed services, in the heart of the California desert.
“JESUS WALKS” @kanyewest gave a powerful performance to close out #SundayService at #Coachella pic.twitter.com/nTWPaYIYoY
— billboard (@billboard) April 21, 2019
Attendees of all sorts, both Kardashian fans and those genuinely looking for spiritual inspiration, flocked to a custom-built hilltop away from Coachella’s main site early on Sunday morning. The crowd was packed in behind barriers, whilst celebrities and invited guests got an up-close view: the entire Kardashian clan were in attendance, as were Hailey and Justin Bieber, Jaden and Willow Smith, Idris Elba, and members of K-Pop group Blackpink.
A bird's eye view of @kanyewest's #SundayService courtesy of @coachella. pic.twitter.com/4RyMkZjFWB
— HYPEBEAST Music (@hypebeastmusic) April 22, 2019
The service was a grand affair – Kanye was accompanied by a full band, backing singers and an army of dancers. He performed gospel renditions of hits from the ‘Yeezus’ and ‘The Life of Pablo’ albums, aided by the powerful vocals of a gospel choir. He enlisted the help of fellow rappers like Kid Cudi, Ty Dolla Sign and Chance the Rapper, who joined him onstage at various points, whilst also throwing in well-known hits from other artists, such as Stevie Wonder’s ‘As’ and classic gospel song ‘How Excellent’. His service acted as the premiere of a new track, ‘Water’.
You’re the sun in my morning babe #KanyeWest #SundayService #Coachella pic.twitter.com/Sv7aJPpl9L
— REAL 92.3 LA (@Real923LA) April 21, 2019
The sartorial buzzword was ‘lavender’, with Kanye, Kim, Khloe and North donning some interpretation of the purple hue. The rapper-turned-designer was also selling pieces from a clothing line, ‘Church Clothes’, comprising jumpers, socks, tees and ponchos.