Alex Cooper x Youtube Presents: BTS of Headlining Coachella (ft. KAROL G) - Part 2

In Part 2 of this special Coachella episode, Alex Cooper sits down with KAROL G (born Carolina) first in a studio setting and then backstage on the day of her historic Coachella headline performance. The episode picks up where Part 1 left off, shifting focus from KAROL G's personal backstory to the creative and emotional process behind her Coachella set.

KAROL G describes the moment she learned she would headline Coachella — her sister and manager called her with the news, and rather than screaming as she normally would, she went completely silent from shock. She was particularly moved by the historical weight of the moment: she would be the first Latina woman singing in Spanish to headline the festival, specifically closing Sunday night. She immediately paused plans for a tour to dedicate full focus to this opportunity.

The conversation dives deep into the creative development of the Coachella set. KAROL G explains that the show went through five to six entirely different concepts before landing on the final vision. Her central inspirations were twofold: representing her Latino community and speaking up for women. She drew heavily from a book she read seven years ago — 'Women Who Run With the Wolves' — which explored how women in pre-colonial Latin America held positions of power and leadership, and how societal systems gradually stripped that power away. This idea of reclaiming feminine wildness, strength, and sensuality became the conceptual foundation for the show's design, which featured four distinct stages representing an idealized world of female freedom.

KAROL G also speaks about her emotional nature, acknowledging she cries easily but has learned to be more selective about when she shows vulnerability in public. She credits her album 'Mañana Será Bonito' as a turning point — it was created during a deeply painful period and became a vehicle for honest emotional expression that resonated deeply with fans.

The discussion of her hair color eras reveals a deeply personal symbolic system. Her blue hair during COVID represented feeling sad and introspective; red represented a rebellious, fiery phase of healing; and pink represented the lighter, more peaceful stage of having come through pain. Her fans have mirrored each color change so intensely that they joke their hair is falling out from the constant dyeing.

On the topic of Coachella guests, KAROL G reveals she brought four guests onstage, chosen not for spectacle but because they were genuine collaborators on songs she planned to perform. She also expresses a desire to attend Justin Timberlake's and Sabrina Carpenter's sets during Weekend 2, framing it as wanting audiences to feel that 2025 is a collective moment for all the artists.

KAROL G speaks passionately about Colombia, describing it as a country of extraordinary biodiversity and resilient, warm-spirited people who maintain optimism even in the hardest circumstances. She also discusses her foundation, Concorda, based in Medellín, which works to create educational opportunities and support systems for underserved communities, and notes that her fans are indirectly part of that mission.

Backstage on the day of the show, KAROL G reveals she arrived at 11:30 AM for a 9:55 PM performance, having already trained and completed two and a half hours of vocal coaching that morning. She describes her pre-show ritual as gathering the entire 500-person team — dancers, musicians, production crew — to connect as a group before going on. She frames the performance as representing the hard work of everyone involved, not just herself.

The episode ends with KAROL G taking the stage, introducing herself as Carolina from Colombia, delivering an emotional speech about Latino unity, resilience, and the importance of welcoming others into the culture rather than excluding anyone. She encourages the crowd to raise their flags and stand proud.