ST Diplo Defends Justin Bieber’s Divisive Coachella Headline Set and Says It’s ‘Like Being at a Party with Him’

As reactions flood in following Justin Bieber’s headlining Coachella set, Diplo is sharing his two cents.

Bieber’s 90-minute set — which spanned hits from SWAG and SWAG II and featured multiple surprise guests, including Wizkid, Tems, the Kid LAROI, Dijon and Mk.gee — was “awesome,” Diplo tells PEOPLE, as he shares his take on the spectacle.

“I was surprised he even went [back] to the classics, but the way he played it was amazing,” the DJ says at Maison Martell’s Toast to Afrobeats brunch before day 3 of the festival in Indio, Calif., referring to the middle of Bieber’s set, when he went through his discography on YouTube and played snippets of some of his oldest hits, including “That Should Me,” “Baby” and “Favorite Girl.”

“Nobody [else] could go to Coachella and just sit on his laptop and play off YouTube because that’s like — that’s legendary,” Diplo, 47, says. “And he gave you a little bit. He was like, ‘I got so many hits, here, you get this.’ “

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Bieber, 32, also pulled up some funny videos on YouTube in the middle of the set, including footage of his younger self running into a glass door in 2010, as well as his viral “standing on business” confrontation with a paparazzi from last year. He revisited two of his most iconic covers, too, “So Sick” and “With You,” and sang over old YouTube clips of his pre-fame self.

Diplo says the way Bieber structured his set was very true to who he is. “It was like being at a party with him,” the DJ says.

The annual music festival’s lineup is “very diverse,” Diplo says, which is part of why he loves attending every year.

“They have everybody from Davido to hardcore techno. Nine Inch Noize was awesome last night,” he says. “It’s a little bit of everything for anyone, and you can learn a lot about music.”

Bieber’s headlining set has been met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, as many have drawn comparisons between the spectacle of Sabrina Carpenter’s elaborate set on Friday night versus the “Daisies” singer’s more laid-back performance.

Several artists have also weighed in, including Labrinth, who wrote on his Instagram Stories, “JUstin.. I see what your [sic] doing and I love it.. Be true! F— what anyone else thinks.”

Lizzo was also full of praise, as she said that she saw Bieber “fully transcend into his artistry” during the performance. “I watched someone who gave us his all, his whole life.. finally nourish hisself [sic]. I have no pictures or videos because I was fully present in the moment,” she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.

“Justin invited us and whoever chose to come with him was blessed with a beautiful ride. When you use your gift for God, it will make people uncomfortable. But that’s OK because the ones who stick beside you will feel the love.”

Hailey Bieber shared some love in the comments section of Lizzo’s post, writing, “😢🥹🥹🥹❤️❤️❤️.” Justin’s longtime friend Alfredo Flores also weighed in with “🥺🫶🏽,” and SZA echoed Lizzo’s praise, writing, “Yeaaaa!!!!!”

A Bieber source told PEOPLE Monday that the singer was “happy” with his performance and “not focused” on Internet scuttlebutt.

“He felt great about the set. He was excited to reconnect with fans in a way that felt true to where he is now,” said the source. “He’s not focused on how it’s being labeled. He wanted to show up and do it his way. And that’s exactly what he did. He’s happy with how it turned out.”