Emily Kokal (Warpaint)

Emily Kokal is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as a founding member of the acclaimed Los Angeles band Warpaint. For more than two decades, her unmistakable voice, expressive guitar work, and deeply intuitive songwriting have helped define the band's hypnotic blend of dream pop, post-punk, psychedelia, and rock. Across Warpaint's celebrated catalog—including The Fool, Warpaint, Heads Up, and Radiate Like This—Kokal has earned a reputation for crafting emotionally resonant music that is both ethereal and fiercely intimate.

In her solo performances, Kokal offers a glimpse into the heart of her songwriting, presenting stripped-back arrangements that foreground her evocative vocals and intricate guitar playing. Moving between deeply personal new compositions, reimagined songs and unreleased material…. The result is an immersive, intimate experience that highlights one of contemporary indie music's most distinctive voices.

Beyond her primary role in Warpaint, Kokal has contributed to a variety of musical projects, including the early 2000s group the Little Two’s. She has frequently collaborated with other artists, lending guest vocals to tracks by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Saul Williams, and Paul Bergmann. In 2017, her technical skill was recognized when she and bandmate Wayman were voted among the best alternative guitarists by readers of MusicRadar and Total Guitar.