Giselle Woo and the Night Owls
from left to right - Christian Colin - Lead Guitar, Giselle Woo- Frontwoman, Marco Murrieta- Bass, Jose Ceja- Drums

It’s that time of year again! When thousands of fans flock to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California for two weekends of musical performances spanning multiple stages, art installations, and a variety of experiences that keep the festival rocking from day to night. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is organized by Goldenvoice and features a wide range of musicians from emerging artists to established musicians and reunited groups. After being postponed for two years, Coachella has finally returned with an epic lineup including headliners Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Ye, along with a local artist, that we are particularly excited to see on the list this year - Giselle Woo and the Nightowls an eclectic Spanish Rock Band based out of the Coachella Valley. Giselle Woo was a member of the F10 family for a number of years working at Birba and we’ve watched her musical journey from both near and far as they’ve scooped up numerous accolades including being crowned the winners of the 2018 Desert Sun’s Tachevah Music Showcase and the 2019 Coachella Valley Music Award for Best Rock Band. We chatted with Giselle and the band about their musical upbringing and what we can expect from GW&TNO as they gear up for their first performance at Coachella in a few short weeks. You can catch them and their eclectic desert rock at the Sonora Tent on Friday, April 15th and April 22nd!

F10 - Where you are from and how did you start playing music?

GW - I am a daughter of immigrants, and my amazing parents just so happen to be musicians. I am from Palm Springs, CA and my upbringing was joyful, my parents have always been so encouraging and loving towards me and my siblings, I learned music from them, self-taught... I’m Spanish and people say, “tiene buen oído” which translates to “she has a good ‘ear.,’ for music.

F10 - Tell us a little bit about your history working with F10, what are some moments that stick out to you?

GW - I admire Tara so much. Working at Birba was a nice experience, the team was solid. The thing that was the most impactful was the way Tara would call us in for a meeting and directly talk to us, she showed that she appreciated us by gifting us a cruiser bike for Christmas, and then for Easter, she gifted us a Beats Bluetooth speaker... that was very impactful to me. It motivates me to dream about how I will treat my staff when I’m a businesswoman, with respect and appreciation. She’s a great boss. I will never forget how special and cool I felt working for F10. And then coming back to perform, just feels comfortable and fun.

F10 - How do you think COVID has impacted the local arts scene in the Coachella Valley over the last few years?

GW - It definitely hindered it, at first, then musicians started getting creative with jumping on online performances, but all in all, it sucked. I feel like before the pandemic I had my eye on a few bands, and now it’s hard to think of who is still rocking... it has definitely slowed down.

F10 - What does it mean for local musicians and artists that Coachella has finally returned to the desert after a 2-year hiatus?

GW - I think it means the same it always has meant, this time topped with a pandemic. But at the same time, it shows perseverance and passion, for music, for the arts.

F10 - What was the experience like being asked to play at Coachella?

GW - The experience was reassuring.. I’ve been manifesting and working towards attaining this goal for a decade, so when I received the email in 2019, I clenched my fist and said to myself, “f yes!” I don’t know how, but we had been on their radar since 2019 Chella which took place at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, opening for Mon Laferte and Los Tucanes de Tijuana. They saw what we could do, and I think that’s what helped clinch a seat at the table.

F10 - How do you describe the genre and sound of Giselle Woo and the Night Owls?

GW - The genre is eclectic, just like our taste in music, my favorite song to play has been ¿Que Haras? We love to see people dance and sing along to this song. It’s a cumbia, with hints of rock and Latin tones.

F10 - What is your favorite venue you’ve performed at or performance you’ve had?

GW - My favorite performance so far has been CHELLA, I just remember listening back to what people recorded on their phone and feeling blown away by my vocals, lol. We’ve had fun performing at the Date Shed in the past, but still chasing that favorite venue experience!

Giselle Woo of Giselle Woo and the Night Owls

F10 - Are there any other events happening during the Coachella weekends you think people should know about to hear local talent?

GW - The band and I will be hanging out at The Vault in Cathedral City, it’s a dispensary and lounge, on 4/20, the Wednesday between the festivals, come by and say hi. We’ll be selling merch and the new album ‘Everything’.

F10 - What does it mean for you and your band to be playing at Coachella?

GW - It means that we will keep going until the font size of our band name gets bigger and bigger on that line up poster... it’s a huge deal for us getting to where we are by just being ourselves. It’s encouraging and we are very proud.

F10 - Are there any other local artists performing at Coachella that you are aware of? Do you think Coachella sources enough local talent or has that changed over the years?

GW - Well, I believe there should be more local music talent featured at the festival, the local artist opportunity has been something that has been increasing, but I would like that to be the same for music.

F10 - What day, time, and stage are you performing at?

GW - We play on the Friday’s - 4/15 & 4/22 in the Sonora Tent, we haven’t been given a time yet.

F10 - Who are you looking forward to seeing at Coachella this year?

GW - Doja Cat, Grupo Firme, Raveena, Billie Eilish, too many to list.

F10 - Are there any surprises we should be on the lookout for during your Coachella performance?

GW - Janine Rivera will be singing back up vocals with me and rocking the güira. Can’t wait!