SZA was “scared” during Glastonbury set
A headline slot at Glastonbury Festival represents a level of success and acclaim within the music industry that very few figures will ever get to experience. Playing on the biggest stage at the world’s most prestigious music festival is very special, but it can also be incredibly daunting for artists. This year, SZA took to the stage on Sunday night, but her set was plagued by technical difficulties and a small crowd, which left the musician “scared” and “freaked out”.
Attendees at the festival, as well as those watching on television, were shocked to see such low crowd numbers for SZA’s headline slot. Her set clashed with various other artists at the festival, including The National, James Blake, and London Grammar, and, to make matters worse, technical issues left her voice muffled for a considerable portion of the performance.
SZA had never played at Glastonbury prior to her headline set, and even before she took to the stage, many were questioning her validity as a headliner. On top of that, she was being hailed as the second-ever Black woman to headline the event in a solo capacity, after Beyoncé in 2011. As you can imagine, SZA was feeling pressured.
Reflecting on her Glastonbury experience to Vogue, the singer shared, “I just felt like nothing I could do would be enough for Glastonbury, no matter what I did.” SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, also added that performing at the festival “scared” her, “I was like, well, I wish I wasn’t doing it, but I couldn’t walk away from it.”
“It’s such a tall order,” she continued. “It’s like, no matter what you do here, you will be subject to criticism because of who you are,” adding, “But that’s life. That’s life, you know?” Her comments certainly ring true, especially given that SZA was the subject of lengthy criticism and questions almost as soon as she was announced as the festival’s Sunday headliner.
The ‘Kill Bill’ singer also noted that it was difficult to see the audience from her position on stage, which led her to feel “freaked out”, as though she was”failing,” and that she was “drowning on stage.”
Despite all the criticism that surrounded SZA’s performance at Glastonbury, those who tuned in to watch the set were pleasantly surprised. Generally, the performance was well-received by fans of the singer, and the theatrics involved in the performance helped to elevate it to a level that Glastonbury attendees have come to expect for their headliners.