Bonnaroo 2021 Artist Spotlight: Kim Petras

As we’ve been doing for the past several years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorites acts from Bonnaroo‘s 2021 lineup. However, to say that this year’s Bonnaroo is a bit of an unconventional one would be an understatement. Postponed from 2020, moved later into the summer, and with a lineup, schedule, and enhanced Covid-19 precautions all only announced and finalized mere weeks from the fest’s Sept. 2-5 weekend, we’re starting our preview coverage later than usual now that we have the full rundown, and will only be highlighting a handful of artists we want to make sure are on your radar this year, reflecting the full gamut of the festival’s days and stages, and even some performers from the plaza lineup. Additionally, look out for our full list-style lineup guides for each day of the fest, with many other artist recommendations, to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s stacked and sprawling 20th-anniversary slate.

Tickets for 2021 sold out in record time, but if you already have yours, or you manage to snag some from a reputable 3rd party, we hope you’ll do everything you can this year to keep yourself and your fellow Bonnaroo attendees safe throughout the fest, and to behave as cautiously as possible after to limit your risk of exposure to others. We’re thrilled to have music back, but, as the Delta variant fuels a rise in Covid cases, if we want it to stay back and stay safe, we all need to take care of one another. That said, we’re hoping this year’s Bonnaroo marks another important milestone on the road to normalcy, and some welcome solace for those in attendance. To help you get ready, read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight.

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Though German-born pop artist Kim Petras started making music as far back as 2008, shortly after becoming the subject of some international press for undergoing gender confirmation surgery in her teens, it wasn’t until years later, after relocating to Los Angeles and establishing her own independent label, BunHead, that Petras truly made the artistic debut of her current musical era, beginning with 2017 introductory single “I Don’t Want It At All.” Performing in English and harboring a clear love for dance pop, EDM, bubblegum pop, and electropop, particularly its late ’90s to mid-’00s heights, Petras channeled pop greats like Britney, Gaga, and Katy Perry with her breakthrough 2019 debut album, Clarity, instantly capturing critical attention and landing the dynamic singer radio and television appearances, and shows with big names like Camila Cabello. Showcasing her range and wide-reaching musical and thematic sensibilities, Kim also released collections of more horror-themed songs across two Octobers, culminating in the 2019 compilation Turn Off the Light, and held us over in 2020 with a pair of strong new singles, “Reminds Me” and “Malibu.” Just last week, though, the true next era of Kim Petras was formally announced, with the release of an incredibly catchy and dance-primed single, “Future Starts Now,” the first single from her forthcoming major label debut LP, due out with her new home of Republic Records. Her blissful, substantive, layered, and polished pop songs would be enough to make Kim a Bonnaroo priority already, but after watching her incredible Lollapalooza live-stream last month, we’re convinced she’s primed to steal the show.

WATCH | “Heart to Break”