“Sad Girlz Luv Money” and “Angels in Tibet” fame Amaarae performed at LA’s Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, Dec. 4 as a part of her ‘The Black Star Experience Tour’.
The dress code was “All Black,” and fans understood the assignment. The audience lined up wearing different forms of fashion — nets, laces, skirts and leather — all in black.
The opening set was by DJ Cquestt (Courtney Hollinquest). A woman with heritage from Black, Mexican and Puerto Rican backgrounds, she has played for Amaarae in other events as well.
After a long wait, Amaarae finally entered the stage. As everyone cheered, she looked straight at the audience for at least two minutes before demonstrating her vocal expertise. The Accra, Atlanta and New Jersey-raised singer asserted her presence.
Amaarae hyping up the crowd as she took to the stage. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
She immediately demanded the audience’s full attention with her song “ms60.” Everyone started dancing and screaming out the lyrics in unison.
She promoted her album “Black Star” inspired by the star on Ghana’s national flag, calling herself the “Black Star.” On the album cover, she placed herself in a shiny black suit, in the space of the star in Ghana’s flag.
Amaarae used pop production and intimate lyricism to claim space for a diasporic Black femininity that is glamorous, queer-affirming and unapologetically Ghanaian.
DuJuan Anthony (right) with their partner. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
“I love that she represents Black queer people in such an amazing light, and her music is amazing,” Long Beach resident DuJuan Anthony said.
“Black Star” is a celebration of Black diasporic dance music, where Amaarae weaved together club music, West African rhythms and global Black popular forms. The album reads as both a party record and a cultural statement.
Amaarae commanding the stage. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
In the middle of her performance, Amaarae paused to share something personal. Her stepmother passed away recently and she requested everyone to pray for her soul. She wished she could have made more time to visit and spend time with her stepmother, but touring and work had caught up with her. She said she missed her stepmother everyday and hoped her soul found peace.
After some soft vocals, she moved from the front stage to a stage in the center of the crowd.
Amaarae appearing at the center stage. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
She performed some rap and unplugged versions of her songs, too, like her most popular song, “Sad Girlz Luv Money.”
Even though Amaarae’s work brings light to feminine rage, she professed love multiple times throughout the show, as she kept asking people about their views on love. Her lyrics celebrated bodies of all types, female pleasure and desire.
As she started singing her romantic Afropop song “She is My Drug,” which is sampled from Cher’s cult classic song “Believe,” the audience moved with the music.
She ended the concert with the song “Fineshyt.”
“I need at least ten fine sh*ts for this song,” Amaarae said, as she scouted fans from the crowd to come up onstage with her.
Everyone dancing to “Fineshyt” as Amaarae sings onstage. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
Production choices like the Ghanaian bounce, zouk and highlife melodic traces, amapiano, plus electronic club textures signal that she positioned Ghanaian and wider African rhythms at the center of pop culture, setting the stage for a global platform.
British-Nigerian rapper Sixsaidit (Emetekoro Omene), said, “She literally epitomizes everything that means a Black star — a powerful Black woman who is able to champion her charisma, her creativity, her musicality. I am so proud to see her, as a Black woman myself.”
Sixsaidit with her friends, Oge Ogbechie and Bessem Takang. (Photo by Avidha Raha)
Omene added, “It was powerful to see her command the stage like that, with this type of audience that are coming from all different backgrounds. It literally exemplifies everything that a Black star is.”