R&B princess, Jhené Aiko, has progressed to queen status over the 20+ years she has been on the music scene. Her dreamy and smooth vocals are easily recognizable and her earthy presence has made her somewhat of a modern Gaia in the industry.
When her first tour in over five years, The Magic Hour Tour, stopped at Nationwide Arena, the night was just as the title suggests: magical.
Aiko brought a team of talented women musicians along with her and concertgoers could experience performances from UMI, Kiana Lede, Coi Leray and Tink, along with Aiko.
Maisie Fitzmaurice
As concert attendees arrived at the arena, DJ Starzza, an extremely talented producer and an ultimate girls’ girl, welcomed them with her mixes of popular Top 100s rap and R&B tracks from the past decade or so.
If I had to describe The Magic Hour Tour I would say it was a celebration of all things feminine energy. UMI brought compassion and nurturing, Kiana Lede brought sleek and sexy, Tink brought confidence and power, and Coi Leray brought swagger and sleaze. It was a night that made me proud to be a woman.
DJ Starzza was the perfect entertainer to break up each sets, keeping the mood lifted and sharing positive affirmations and words of unity while bouncing behind her equipment.
“This is a safe space” Starzza would say, and I agreed with her. The stands were almost completely filled with women, many of them emitting positive energy towards the other women around them. It was a matriarchy I never wanted to leave.
Maisie Fitzmaurice
UMI opened up the show with a down-to-earth set. She dressed in casual clothes, sported her natural hair with minimal makeup and had a humble presence. She clutched a microphone stand adorned with vines and flowers.
Her vocals were soft and sweet as she sang passionately and meditatively her lyrics of love for one's self and others. She even treated the audience to Japanese lyrics which was unique and impressive. It was one of the moments that stuck out to me most during the night.
Tink’s performance was a stark comparison to UMI’s but equally impressive and entertaining. Her tracks were upbeat as she promoted her newest album release, Winter’s Diary 5, which hit streaming platforms in July.
Her and a team of dancers quickly strut from one side of the stage to the other during this dynamic performance.
Maisie Fitzmaurice
After what felt like a lifetime of anticipation, Aiko blossomed from a lotus flower daintily. Her voice comes through the speakers like a gentle morning fog. Her aura has been, and always will be, ethereal.
Maisie Fitzmaurice is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at mfitzmaurice@cityscenemediagroup.com.
