I like to call myself a Governors Ball truther — a real die-hard, try-hard, Gov Ball fan if you will. Back in 2018, after attending the fest the first time, I came back home to Atlanta, professed to anyone who would listen that I wanted to be a music journalist, blew my entire life up and ran away to build a new one in New York City. Spoiler: it worked out.
You’re probably thinking — wow, that fest must be so glitzy, so fancy, so over the top. But no, no friends, that is not the magic of Gov Ball. Going to this fest after visiting the likes of Coachella takes a recalibration of sorts. Regardless of your access level, we’re all one in the Big Apple, so don’t try to impress anyone with your all-access wristband or your (very cute, might I add) New York City-bred two-piece look you wore to Olivia Rodrigo (thanks to NYC’s own Emerson Isa!). In the city that never sleeps, from artists on stage to teenagers who snuck into VIP, we’re all one.
Even with the downpour that cut the fest short on Saturday (rain is as we know, a Gov Ball tradition), the festival’s energy — the sort of laid back but still getting shit done vibe you catch on a Saturday Manhattan=bound L train was palpable. Acts like The Beaches, Tyla, Conan Gray and Wallows made us eager about the future of music. Hozier performed despite being under the weather. David Byrne got on stage with Olivia Rodrigo. Tyler the Creator reminded us what it means to push the boundaries of music and art.
Somehow in between the stages, hiding from rain and a search for a glizzy I never found (can we please bring back more glizzy stands next year) PAPER got to chat with some of this year’s stars and grab exclusive photos while we were at it. (like Role Model, The Japanese House, Raye, Snow Wife and Glass Animals). Below, check out our shots from Jamie Pearl (who grabbed some goodies of Tyla, Conan Gray, Frost Children and the rest of our interviewees) and get the inside backstage scoop of Governors Ball 2025.
– Erica Campbell, Music Editor
Role Model
What’s the best part of going to music festivals?
Getting to see other concerts for free. You don’t have to pay to see Clairo and I reap the benefits.
Who are you most excited to see for free today?
I want to see Mk.gee but our sets overlap. So I’m going to have to run and we’ll see if I make it.
Who has been your favorite “Sally” so far?
I made the mistake of doing my mom very early on. So now I have to say my mom forever. Renee Rapp was great, but I have to say my mom just to sound like a good person. My mom was the best Sally.
What can fans expect from you next?
Music, at some point. At some point, eventually.
Last summer was Brat Summer, what’s the theme of this summer?
Charli kind of laid it out. It’s Lorde summer, Blood Orange summer. Who else? Turnstile summer. Sabrina, I think, maybe. She just put out a new song. It’s everyone’s summer.
What song are your fans really vibing to live right now?
“Some Protector.” The bridge of that song seems to be a standout.
What’s your favorite fan interaction recently?
Some guy asked me for my phone number in a coffee shop a few days ago and I switched the numbers around. I’m not going to give out my number but I’m too nice to say no, so I just put in a different number.
The Japanese House
You’ve been on tour, what songs are fans having the most fun with live?
The song that, maybe people aren’t having the most fun with, but I’m having the most fun with, is “Boyhood,” because I always like to do a little shoutout to my gays and to my trans fans because I feel like it’s the most important time in the US to speak out about trans rights. I feel like I’ve really made a point of doing that on my tour so hopefully there’s a few trans kids in the audience that feel seen.
Last summer was Brat summer. What’s this summer’s theme for you?
For me, home. I’ve just moved back to London with my new wife. I’m looking forward to being settled. Being in one place for more than two weeks will be really nice.
What are you most excited to share with your fans next?
The thing I’m most excited to share with fans next is my next album. I’m not sure when exactly it will come out, but it’s definitely on the way and it’s been a very interesting album to write. I’m taking my time with it. I’m not going to rush it. But there’s definitely some songs on there that I just feel are so integral to me as for how I want to sound as an artist and the kind of thing that I want to create. It’s interesting exploring happiness. I haven’t really written about that before so it’s going to be an interesting experience to share that and see the response.
Snow Wife
Tell us how the reaction to BODYOLOGY has been and how you are feeling about having it out in the world?
It doesn’t feel real yet. I’m waiting for it to feel real. I think that whenever I’ve been playing these shows, I’m like “Alright, it’s out. It’s out.” But it’s been amazing. I’ve been seeing people dance to it and I’m excited to keep touring it and sharing it with the world and spreading the thesis of Bodyology.
What track are you having the most fun performing right now?
Honestly, “If God is Real, Then Heaven is a Club,” which is really awesome because that is one of my favorite songs. So I’m excited that people are gravitating towards her.
What’s the thesis of Bodyology?
The thesis of Bodyology? It’s a study of pop music through dance. So let’s have a dance-oriented summer.
Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley
What’s been your favorite memory from your current Tour of Earth shows so far?
Oh my god. We have had a lot of absolutely wild shows, playing venues that we never thought we’d play. We did MSG, which is crazy. We did the Forum, that was crazy. We did Red Rocks, that was crazy. We did so many incredible places. My favorite memory? We brought my dog to his first show and that was, sadly, my favorite memory- bringing my dog, Woody, to the London show. He loved it. In London, everything is so cramped. He’d never seen that much open space before.
What’s the sleeper hit or song you’re surprised fans vibed with from I Love You So F***ing Much?
Sleeper hit off of I Love You So Fucking Much? There’s a song that I wasn’t expecting people to like. It’s quite a weird song. It’s called “How I Learned to Love the Bomb.” It’s kind of the rockiest song on there. It’s very guitar-based with a big beat behind it. It’s different than anything we’ve ever done before, but it’s the biggest song we’ve done live.
How do you want people to feel when they leave a Glass Animals show?
I hope people have fun. That’s the main thing. But I think the best thing about music and performing live — and this is going to sound so cheesy — but it’s the togetherness of it. It’s all of these people being on the same wavelength at the same time. It’s a really powerful thing. There’s a lot of love in one room. Everyone loses their ego for a second and I think that’s a very important thing to do sometimes.
Last summer was Brat summer, what’s this year’s theme of the summer for you?
I didn’t even realize it was summer. I’ve been on a tour bus for nine months. The word of the summer? I’m going back to my dog again, Woody. It’s Woody summer. It’s all about you, Woody. I miss you. I haven’t seen him in a long time, I’ve been on tour. I miss that guy.
RAYE
What are you most excited to share next with fans?
I’m excited to share new music, honestly. I’ve spent quite a lot of time chipping away at my attempt at album two. I don’t have an album title yet and it’s stressing me out but I have music that I’ve made that I really love. I feel like I’m 60% there with my demos, but demos mean you chew them, throw them on the floor, look at them in light, cut them up, cuss them out. So anything can happen. But bones are forming and it’s exciting. The bar is high. It’s a lot of pressure. It’s a weird dynamic to navigate because I’ve been able to build a lot of momentum from these amazing opportunities and stages that I’ve been given. But you need the time to let the art form correctly. I’m also so single and so unaffected by any of that. It’s a barren wasteland, there’s nothing to report, romantically, inside me. And that’s quite a big part of what goes into making music. But the absence of that has allowed me to go and create. It’s definitely a journey. But I think I’m trying to do it from the right place. I’m trying not to be intimidated by anything that shouldn’t matter, like numbers and time. But they kind of do matter but they shouldn’t. So, anyway, yeah. Fingers crossed I make a good album. That’s all I really want to do.
We just saw your phenomenal performance, how do you hope fans feel when they walk away from a Raye show?
Performing live, to me, is everything. I literally live to go on a stage and try my best to bring some sort of joy or mutual understanding, a safe space, release, endorphins. I live for that. I’m such a people pleaser as well. The only thing I can hope for is that people go away from my show and they feel good or they feel seen or that they’re coming down from a great feeling. Because that’s how it feels when I leave a stage, especially when it’s a good show and I feel like the audience cares or gives a shit. So yeah, positive feelings.
Photography: Jamie Pearl
