BONNAROO 2025 PREVIEW + NEW MUSIC: GIGI PEREZ

**Gigi Perez artist photo by Katlin Rankin**

The 2025 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is set for June 12-15. With over 150 musical acts playing in one weekend, it can be a bit overwhelming. East of 8th is here to help with our new Bonnaroo 2025 artist preview series! Join us as we introduce you to Gigi Perez:

Meet Gigi Perez

Gigi Perez’s music invites listeners into a deeply personal space, one where loss, longing, faith, and self-reflection surface without pretense. Born in New York and raised in Florida, the Cuban-American singer-songwriter and producer has developed a sound that leans into acoustic intimacy while weaving in elements of folk, alt-pop, and indie rock. Her songs often come across like quiet revelations—unfiltered, poetic, and emotionally open without telling the listener exactly how to feel.

Perez’s path hasn’t followed a straight line. After leaving Berklee College of Music during the pandemic, she began sharing original material on TikTok, where her 2021 single “Sometimes (Backwood)” quickly gained traction. That early viral moment—now with more than 145 million streams on Spotify—led to a major label deal and support slots with artists like Coldplay and Noah Cyrus. Her 2023 EP, How to Catch a Falling Knife, expanded her sound and deepened her connection with fans, showcasing her lyrical honesty over understated production.

In 2024, Perez took a sharp turn toward independence, choosing to self-record and self-produce new material. The decision seems to have paid off. Songs like “Normalcy” and “Please Be Rude” continued to build her catalog, but it was the acoustic-driven “Sailor Song” that made a major impact. First teased on TikTok, the track spread quickly, appearing in over 100,000 videos and eventually amassing more than 700 million Spotify streams. It also marked her Billboard Hot 100 debut, where it has held steady for over six months, climbing into the Top 10 of Spotify’s U.S. and Global charts.

Perez isn’t chasing trends or grand narratives. Instead, she’s telling her story on her own terms—one song at a time.

New Single: “Chemistry”

Gigi Perez has kicked off 2025 with a new single, “Chemistry,” released via Island Records. Marking her first new music of the year, the track signals the start of another creative phase for the platinum-certified singer-songwriter and producer.

Built around a softly strummed acoustic guitar, “Chemistry” introduces layers of glitchy textures and restless percussion as it unfolds. Perez’s vocal performance is restrained but emotionally charged, drawing listeners into the inner workings of a relationship kept hidden from the outside world. The lyrics paint a picture of secrecy and tension—”Don’t you know I’ll never tell a soul about our secret life”—before swelling into a final refrain that’s both biting and theatrical: “Poor unfortunate soul. You got yourself involved with someone you really didn’t know.”

The production remains minimalist but deliberate, allowing the storytelling to take the lead. While “Chemistry” doesn’t stray far from the sonic palette Perez has established, it adds a slightly darker, more confrontational edge to her evolving catalog.

Listen to more music from Gigi Perez:

What is the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival?

The Bonnaroo 2025 Music and Arts Festival is poised to return to Manchester Tennessee June 12-15. As always, the fest is set to bring a diverse array of musical talent to the venue known as The Farm. Continuing the festival’s longstanding tradition of genre-spanning lineups, Bonnaroo 2025 will be headlined by Tyler the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, and Luke Combs. The undercard includes names ranging from Avril Lavigne to Insane Clown Posse and from Vampire Weekend to Nelly.

For a few short days, Manchester becomes one of the largest cities in the state as music lovers converge on The Farm. Camping remains a hallmark of the Bonnaroo experience, creating a unique bonding experience both in the crowd and throughout the campgrounds. It also adds convenience to the experience as music on The Farm usually starts around lunchtime and doesn’t end until sunrise the next morning.

To learn more, we suggest you check out our full Bonnaroo 2025 lineup and festival preview. We will continue to update it as the fest reveals more information about special events.

Connect with Gigi Perez: