The buzz around SZA has grown to a deafening roar over the past six months. Yes, artists like Beyoncé, Little Dragon, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna recognized her prowess, but the release of her debut album, Ctrl thrust her further into the spotlight. The artist’s third release was originally titled A (to follow up her 2013 EP S and her 2014 EP Z), but was renamed. The album, which picked up five Grammy nominations, was met with critical acclaim and fans are paying upwards of $200 per ticket to see SZA perform it live. Tickets to forty plus Ctrl the Tour dates sold out in an instant. In New York a couple of months back, the NYPD forced SZA to cancel her second show at The Box because fans flooding the lower east side caused traffic delays.
SZA
SZA
SZA
SZA
Those that were fortunate enough to snag a ticket to one of two New York dates at Brooklyn Steel and Irving Plaza this December witnessed a passionate performance about revenge, celebration and self-reflection. Large “C T R L” letters lit the stage as the crackly radio sounds layered with a woman lamenting “That is my greatest fear/ that if, if I lost control/ or did not have control, things would just, you know/ I would be…fatal” introduced SZA. Solána Imani Rowe, better known as SZA, appeared in a hot pink puffer jacket in an answer to thunderous screams from the crowd.
SZA
SZA
SZA
SZA
Cell phones shot in the air to capture SZA singing opening track “Supermodel.” After the song SZA was joined on stage by a choir. The choir added a punctuated layer to her alt-R&B and hip hop style. During each song you could hear how SZA’s stream-of-consciousness translates into lyrics. In songs like “Normal Girl” and “Broken Clocks” she lays out her analytical and meditative styling to make you feel like she’s sharing her secrets with you as a friend. The intimacy that SZA creates during her shows is one of the many reasons why fans keep trying to see her live. SZA is making final tour stops in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Louisville and St. Louis.
SZA
SZA
SZA
Article: Alx Bear
