The former Dazed cover star checked into Guess Jeans’ legendary compound ahead of Coachella weekend one. Here she talks festival essentials, staying up until sunrise, and the artists that would get her running for the stage
Quen Blackwell went hard at Coachella. So much so, that when she answers Dazed’s questions – which you can find below – she apologises for sounding “delirious”. But then, it’s no big surprise that the former Dazed cover star is feeling a bit under the weather: three days of hard partying in the desert, screeching along to acts including Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, and Doja Cat, and dust particles infiltrating orifices including but not limited to your nose and throat, will do that to a girl. “I like to stay out until the sun comes up,” she explains.
The comedian, internet superstar and budding model descended on Indio, California at the invitation of Guess Jeans, which is making a name for itself as one of the hottest hangouts in this already extremely hot part of the US. For ten years the label has been hosting its creative friends across weekend one of Coachella, and this year, under the instruction of Nicolai Marciano, it went bigger than ever.
Forgoing camping on site and instead checking in to a series of chic, minimalist condos were stars like Ice Spice, Luka Sabbat, Devon Lee Carlson, and Rickey Thompson. On offer during their stay? Private chefs, a fully stocked Casamigos cocktail bar, and a wellness centre, where Pilates sessions were lined up alongside a manicure bar, IV drips and B12 shots, for when the hangover got too much to bear. In the background, the sun dipped in and out of the clouds that covered the top of the hazy San Jacinto mountains.
The label also hosted a series of afterparties, first on the Friday night of weekend one with Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak, and closing things out on the Sunday with Metro Boomin. The stars mooching about were stellar: Robert Pattinson revisited his Good Time era with a fresh bleach job alongside girlfriend Suki Waterhouse, who’d been performing at Coachella for the first time, and Justin Bieber and his porno ‘tache made an appearance with wife Hailey Bieber. Blackwell and bestie Billie Eilish, who’d just joined Lana Del Rey onstage for a rendition of “Video Games”, sat on the terrace outside downing tequila. “I can only do a festival if it’s luxe,” Blackwell laughs.
Despite this, she has some pretty watertight tips for the festival season – even for those of us who’ll have to brave the inevitable onslaught of mud and rain at British events this ‘summer’. Below, she talks handbag essentials, the acts that would get her running to the front of the stage, and her unorthodox idea for her own festival.
Hey Quen! Who did you see this year at Coachella?
Quen Blackwell: I saw Tyler, Doja Cat, No Doubt, Jungle, Lil Yachty and Mac DeMarco when Yachty brought him out at his set… I think that’s about it. Headliners with a little sprinkle.
Who’s the best person you ever saw at a festival?
Quen Blackwell: Imma say… I can’t say it’s just one person, but Rosalía, Doja Cat, and Billie Eilish have all given amazing performances at Coachella.
Okay, say you were putting on your own festival – what would it be called and who would headline?
Quen Blackwell: It would be called The World is Ending Let’s Dance on the Ashes Fest, and headlining would be each leader of the world’s largest nations, and whoever could entertain an audience better gets the nuke codes. [laughs]
What are your festival essentials?
Quen Blackwell: A dab pen, a minty lip balm to eat away at the crust that accumulates on my lips, and oil blotting paper.
“Last Coachella I looked up and there was a Blood Moon, so I knew the devil was near” – Quen Blackwell
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you at a festival?
Quen Blackwell: Last Coachella I looked up and there was a blood moon, so I knew the devil was near. That’s probably the biggest horror story. It’s hard to have a horror story because I’m not going to a festival unless it’s luxe [laughs].
What’s your biggest tip for anyone going to a festival?
Quen Blackwell: Wear comfortable shoes. It’s so important.
What’s your go-to Coachella outfit?
Quen Blackwell: Band-Aids and floss!
What would get you running to the front of the stage?
Quen Blackwell: Any Nola Bounce music.
What’s your fave Guess campaign ever?
Quen Blackwell: Naomi Campbell and Anna Nicole Smith.
What creative values do you share with Guess?
Quen Blackwell: To create a fertile environment for creatives to create in. I’m literally Shakespeare when it comes to the wordplay. I’m also so sick right now I’m delirious. If I sound delirious right now, it’s because I’m unwell [laughs].
What’s the funniest thing that happened at the Guess compound? Do you have any gossip?
Quen Blackwell: All the funnest stories… I should probably keep to myself.
Who won biggest party animal? Messiest? Miss Congeniality?
Quen Blackwell: Girl, you’re trying to get me cancelled! You’re trying to get my friendships blocked [laughs]. I’m kidding. Biggest party animal I’d say is me. I like to have a good time, I like to stay out until the sun comes up. The messiest? Again, I’m gonna have to go with me. I didn’t have any time to keep it tidy. Miss Congeniality though I’m going to give to Madeline Argy. She has the greatest spirit of all time. And to add the biggest queen: Miss Leray.