In the first of two headline slots this weekend, SZA graced the stage of BST Hyde Park on Saturday night, ahead of her Glastonbury Festival set the following evening. Alongside Dua Lipa, the two women were set to be part of the festival’s first-ever double female headlined edition since its inception. Before this historical event, though, SZA stormed through an impressive tour de force of a set in London that merged her wide range of musical talents with her electric stage presence.
The excitement was palpable as SZA, pronounced “sizza,” inspired by Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA and as a reference to Zig-Zag and Allah, the Supreme Alphabet, kicked off this year’s festival on its opening weekend with “PSA,” a head-bopping, catchy belter that matched the singer’s impressive vocals. It was followed by the popular “Love Galore” and “Go Gina,” which set the tone for an evening of ethereal alternative R&B music.
Born Solána Imani Rowe, the 34-year-old singer, a former gymnast turned today’s alternative R&B queen, left an unforgettable mark on the festival while showcasing her remarkable journey from her debut album, Ctrl, to her latest single release, “Satur.”
The nature-themed stage design with giant ants and a fallen tree complemented the picturesque setting, colorful lighting effects, and larger-than-life screens. All the elements added a visual dimension, enhancing the musical experience and showcasing her creative and imaginative mind. The visual spectacle accompanying the music was equally impressive and felt like an Upside Down-esque dream that transported the audience to another universe.
The crowd welcomed her performance of “Kill Bill” accompanied by a sword—a direct reference to the Quentin Tarantino film of the same name—with big cheers and high energy, a reminder of the song’s popularity. “Drew Barrymore, another pop culture nod, this time to the emblematic actress of the 2000s, also went down a treat.
The tracks “F2F”, led by electric guitar riffs and major rock influences, and “Ghost In the Machine,” a slower, gentler song recorded with singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, highlighted SZA’s versatility when it comes to exploring music genres. Her rendition of “Kiss Me More,” which she recorded with Doja Cat, was also a good reminder that the singer could do significant pop hits. The performance began and ended with snippets of” Kiss” by Prince, which the older crowd members sang passionately.
During “Low,” the Grammy-award-winning artist also showed the audience her gymnastic skills, performing the splits in front of 65,000 people, proving her prowess as a multitalented performer.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly “Rich Baby Daddy,” a Drake song on which SZA features. This sent the crowd into a frenzy as soon as the first notes hit, everyone singing the lyrics as loud as they could.
Throughout her performance, the singer was well-engaged with the audience and continuously acknowledged her fans, smiling and calling the London crowd her “second home.” She closed the show with “20 Something” shortly after teasing new music by announcing “New album, you ready?”, the perfect ending to the night.
SZA’s nature-themed set, engaging stage presence, and epic visuals made for a beautiful evening on the first night of BST Hyde Park’s festival. She delivered on all points, and undoubtedly, all in attendance are excited to see her make history at the Glastonbury Festival this weekend.
Photo courtesy of Mr Not Blue and Cassidy Meyers.