Baala Shakya, Staff Photographer

With fog billowing from the stage and red and blue lights sweeping across the crowd at Toad’s Place, the Spring Fling Committee took to the stage just after midnight Wednesday to announce the long-awaited Spring Fling lineup. 

At 12:05 a.m., as the music died down, a black-and-white film flickered onto the screen on stage. A short clip briefly recapped the Spring Fling concert’s history at Yale before colorizing into a dramatization of the committee’s behind-the-scenes struggles to book artists amid budget constraints. “We are broke,” one committee member said in a scene showcasing a mock emergency meeting. “Inflation is out of control.” The montage that followed showed members scrambling for fundraising ideas before resolving to “go all in.”

At 12:07 a.m., the first artist was revealed: Snakehips, a British electronic music duo. A minute later, the dream-pop band Cults. Then, at 12:09 a.m., the night’s biggest announcement: NLE Choppa, a rapper, as this year’s Spring Fling headliner. 

“I’m so excited, I called [NLE] Choppa at the beginning of the year,” said Abena Reisewitz-Oteng ’28, immediately following the announcement at Woads. “I was like, ‘Guys, wouldn’t it be crazy if it was NLE Choppa,’ and everyone was like ‘Yeah, I guess so.’”

As “Slut Me Out,” one of the rapper’s biggest hits blared over the speakers, the crowd erupted into cheers, singing along. Slides confirming the concert’s return to Old Campus on April 26, an announcement for Battle of the Bands and a “Stay Slutty” slogan flashed across the screen following the announcement.

The excitement spilled onto the dance floor as the Spring Fling Committee, sporting matching “Slut 4 Spring Fling” T-shirts, joined the crowd in celebration.

“Our committee is super excited about this year’s lineup, and I feel we put together a group of musicians that gives Yale students songs they know, love and can dance to,” said Morris Raskin ’26, talent chair of the Spring Fling Committee.

Following the announcement, reactions to the lineup were mixed but largely positive, with many cheering for NLE Choppa, but having more measured responses to the supporting acts.

“I’m personally so excited for this year’s lineup because it’s a precise mix of all my personalities in one lineup,” Nina Allen ’27 said. “It’s like when you hit shuffle on your favorite songs and get to listen to a randomized mix.”

Allen also said that she thinks the committee did a “great job” of catering to different music tastes, which she believes plays a huge role in ensuring “Spring Fling is a fun time for everyone.”

“I appreciate having a mix of multiple artists from different genres,” said Te Maia Wiki ’27. “I am so excited about Cults. I started listening to them in high school. I only know a few of their songs, but out of those I really love them. They have such a distinct, dreamy sound.” 

Following the lineup announcement, Christian Phanhthourath ’28 told the News that he was “pretty hyped” and that he thinks it’s a vibe that Yale is “jumping on the bandwagon” of inviting NLE Choppa, who he noted also played at Emory University and Princeton University in the fall. 

Bryn Erickson ’27 told the News that she thought the lineup and headliner were good overall, even if they were less familiar than some of the artists from last year. While Erickson was familiar with the song “Always Forever” by Cults and a few of NLE Choppa’s viral hits, she said that she did not know who Snakehips was before the announcement.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Birikti Kahsai ’27 said that while she knew about NLE Choppa before the lineup was released, she did not know any of the supporting acts. Kahsai also said she felt like the choices were a “good mix of people” though.

“I was pleasantly surprised since I really liked last year’s setlist, and I think this one has the potential to be just a good or better,” said Will del Hierro ’27. “I think NLE will bring high energy and it will be a lot of fun to be in the crowd.”

Some students, like Kendall Archer ’27, were impressed by the Spring Fling Committee in securing a rapper like NLE Choppa.

“I saw him last year, and I think NLE is a really great performer,” Archer said. “I was hoping for a headliner like Doechii or Kaytranada, but I’m impressed that Yale was able to get NLE.”

Kylee Hamamoto ’28 told the News that she thinks NLE was a “great choice” as he has a lot of “monumental and popular songs” that she believes resonate with the student demographic of Yale.

Other students, however, expressed some disappointment with the supporting acts. “I think Spring Fling should be more financially efficient,” Coby Yang ’26 said. “Splitting our money for two artists that aren’t as widely known seems ‘eh,’ but NLE is such a good choice.”

Although Yang believes that this year’s lineup was “a downgrade from last year overall,” he thinks that NLE was a “good choice” and a “big yes” as a headliner. He also told the News that he believes that “better underground artists” could have been secured for the event.

Daania Sharifi ’27 also praised the reveal process, referencing the committee’s fundraising efforts throughout the semester. 

“They totally had us tricked with the budget PR stunts,” she said. “I think [Spring Fling is] going to be great because the second we heard the G-A-N-G baby background faintly start in the clip at Woads the crowd went crazy. I already know the energy is insane.”

For some, the appeal of Spring Fling was less about the lineup and more about the experience. Kahsai said that she was looking forward to “hanging out with people” most, while Atharv Joshi ’28 said he thinks the “NLE Choppa mosh pit” is going to be the highlight of his Spring Fling experience.

Before the Spring Fling performances from this year’s artists, students will also be able to see performances from three student groups, who are selected as winners of the committee’s “Battle of the Bands.” Performer applications for the competition close on Friday, March 7.

Students can register for and pick up wristbands the week leading up to Spring Fling. Each attendee is allowed to bring one guest to the festival. Tickets are free for all students.

The 2024 Spring Fling lineup featured Swae Lee, Dayglow and Coco & Breezy.

 Elijah Hurewitz-Ravitch contributed reporting