Festival Review: BST Hyde Park SZA
SZA transforms Hyde Park with a botanical paradise of R&B mastery.
American Express presented the BST Hyde Park festival in grand style, headlined by the incredible American R&B superstar SZA. The multi-award-winning singer turned Hyde Park into her own botanical paradise, offering a modern masterclass that captivated the audience.
With a stunning backdrop of insects and trees, SZA made a dramatic entrance on a podium, surrounded by a troupe of dancers. For the next 90 minutes, she seamlessly switched between tracks from her five-time Grammy-nominated album Ctrl, her richly complex second record SOS, and everything in between. One unforgettable moment saw SZA singing while riding a giant ant, proving that her creativity knows no bounds.
SZA's setlist was a treasure trove of hits, giving the crowd everything they wanted and more. She performed "Love Language", "Broken Clocks", "All the Stars", "Drew Barrymore", "F2F", "Ghost in the Machine", "Blind", "Shirt", her hit collaboration with Doja Cat, "Kiss Me More", a cover of Prince's "Kiss", "I Hate U", "Snooze" and "Kill Bill", wielding a sword in homage to the Quentin Tarantino classic. Amidst her performance, she made a thrilling announcement, teasing an unreleased song and asking the crowd, "New album, you ready?".
SZA concluded her spectacular set with "20 Something" expressing her love and gratitude to the crowd. "Today was my first day performing with the new set. You’re like my second home. I’ll always come back here. You’re the best crowd. I love you. Goodnight!" she said, leaving the audience in awe.
Earlier in the day, the Great Oak Stage was graced by London independent legend Sampha, who showcased his enigmatic albums Process and Lahai. His six-year break only enhanced his legend, reminding everyone of his own wondrous music.
Snoh Aalegra added her class to the lineup of soulful R&B. The Swedish/Iranian Grammy-nominated singer captivated the audience with her songs about every stage of a relationship, from early favorites like "Nothing Burns Like the Cold" featuring Vince Staples to the brutal but melodic "Nothing To Me" and the torch vocal of "DYING 4 YOUR LOVE."
British talent also shone brightly. Oxford artist Elmiene opened the main stage, charming the audience with his searing vocal runs and shimmering songs. "You’re sounding beautiful," he told the audience. "And they say festivals are hard. I don’t know what they’re chatting about. This is the sh*t!" By the time he finished with the laid-back "Someday," he had made thousands of new friends.
Leicester’s Sekou serenaded the sun-kissed crowd on The Rainbow Stage. The ambitious 19-year-old, who grew up singing in church, translated that to a new kind of soul, personified by his breakthrough single "Better Man." "I’m very excited," he admitted. "The lineup is insane!"
Emerging stars No Guidnce headlined The Rainbow Stage, resurrecting the golden age of R&B. London’s newest prodigal boy band released their first EP Is It A Crime? last year after going viral on TikTok and catching the attention of artists like Anderson .Paak and Labrinth.
The day also featured hypnotic vocalist Hope Tala, who started proceedings. "It’s my first time here even though I live 20 minutes away," she said. "Who’s here for SZA? I’m so excited, I’ve never seen her live before. We’re going to warm up together."
Pop-star-in-the-making Fabiana Palladino, soulful storyteller Nia Smith, and “hood folk” artist Jessy Blakemore completed a fantastic day of music, setting the stage for SZA's unforgettable performance.
SZA's appearance at Hyde Park's British Summer Time Festival 2024 was a night to remember, a testament to her enduring talent and the powerful bond she shares with her fans.
