Mahalia at House of Blues.
A relatable queen and rising star of RnB makes her mark on Chicago.
artwork by Tanaya Vohra.
You know that incredible feeling you get when you listen to a song that just perfectly encapsulates your mood? When each lyric feels like it was written for the exact moment in which you are listening to it? When you can’t help but think “damn, this artist just gets me”? Well, welcome to my train of thought while watching upcoming talent and soon-to-be RnB superstar Mahalia perform live at House of Blues.
The 25-year old stepped out on stage in jeans so baggy they must’ve been born in the 90s and a plain white tube top, because comfort really is key when you’re just trying to have a good time. Relatable. Buoyed by the lengthy chorus of cheers that greeted her, Mahalia opened the show by introducing herself (to yet another round of screams) and preemptively apologizing for the slight cold she’d picked up in the Chicago cold. Again, relatable. Although she was on tour promoting her third studio album IRL, Mahalia also shared that one of her biggest pet peeves is when artists perform only their newest releases without delving into their archives for all of the day one fans in the audience. To everyone’s excitement, we were treated to incredible live versions of “17” from her first studio album Diary of Me, as well as hit singles “Do Not Disturb” and “What You Did” from her second, Love and Compromise.
Now imagine coming down from the irresistible high of her hit single “In My Bag” and hearing, all of a sudden, the most friendly Midlands accent say “I feel like I talk a lot…I hope I’m not boring you but I just feel like I’ve got so much to say!” Honestly? Relatable. Between each song, Mahalia gifted us interludes in the form of little anecdotes about where she drew her inspiration from, whether it be her mother’s advice about a childhood crush turned friend with benefits, or her long-held desire to write a song to which someone could have the first dance at their wedding. To me, nothing makes a song more special than knowing how, when, and why it was born, and Mahalia did not hesitate to share it all.
Mahalia’s fast-growing popularity led her to include a number of collabs on IRL with popular names like Jojo who features on “Cheat” and Stormzy who features on “November.” The second of these is an uncharacteristically slow love ballad for both artists, and one that Mahalia felt a special need to perform after a special request from a fan. She took a well deserved break from dancing across the stage to sit down and serenade us, with the singular spotlight overhead aided by the phone flashlights around the room. Eyes closed and swaying with the beat, Mahalia masterfully held the crowd in the palm of her hand as she performed “November”, covering Stormzy’s verse with such grace that you would’ve thought the entire song was her own. When the instrumental finally faded away, she confided in the crowd yet again as if we were old friends: “I just wanted to write a song about love, you know? I mean, who doesn’t love love?” Say it with me: relatable.
In general, I have a great appreciation for artists that choose to support their acts with live bands rather than simply playing the pre-recorded track. Nothing can replace the instrumental ad libs and freestyles that make live performances so special because every track you’re hearing is entirely unique to the show that you’ve attended. The supporting drummer and guitarist brought so much character to her performance and looked like they were having a great time doing it, feeding off Mahalia’s infectious energy and rhythm. Everyone in the room was feeling it too, as she bounced from the undeniably upbeat “Simmer” to certified summer hit “Terms and Conditions.”
As the last stop on the North American leg of the tour, Mahalia’s performance at House of Blues was a time for reflection, as she shared how positively shocked she was at the sheer amount of support she received from this side of the pond. Performing her music for new audiences was both nerve-wracking and exciting, she said, and she was (in her words) “so chuffed” with everything she had achieved. As she should be! Her warm demeanor, energizing stage presence, and impressive vocals left the crowd clamoring for more even after two encore performances of fan favorites “Plastic Plants” and “I Wish I Missed My Ex.” To one last euphoric guitar riff and drumline, Mahalia left us with her final piece of advice: “It doesn’t matter which team you’re part of, big titty or itty bitty – you gotta remember to love yourself because I do!” Literally nothing else to say but…relatable.
edited by Sydney Cook.
artwork by Tanaya Vohra.