Clouds of smoke filled the stage of the Youtube Theater in Inglewood, CA on June 4th as Iranian-born Swedish-raised singer Snoh Aalegra transported us through a sultry night of emotional feels. The show was in support of her third studio album Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, released last year via ARTium and Roc Nation. The album successfully earned a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
The night began with the contemporary, hip-hop-influenced track “Situationship.” Dressed in a white glittering ensemble and hair slicked back into a waist-long ponytail, Aalegra let her stunning vocals steal the night. She didn’t rely on intricate choreography, flashy graphics nor backup singers, it felt like an intimate affair with only Aalegra and her band onstage. The smoke gave the show a flair of mystery, only her powerhouse vocals and music heard through the venue. Aalegra would often peek out through the smoke to connect with us by dancing and singing to each side of the stage.
Snoh Aalegra’s combination of mellow melodies with vulnerable, relatable, and often cheeky songwriting is a true crowd-pleaser. In case you didn’t know, the singer was mentored by the late icon, Prince, and her music style hints at that influence – alongside a few others including Mariah Carey and Lauryn Hill. Alegra delighted us with a perfect mix of all her hits including “LOST YOU,” “We Don’t Have to Talk About It,” and the crooning “Fool for You,” as well as two tracks that feature frequent collaborator Tyler, the Creator, “Neon Peach” and “In the Moment.” Mostly focusing on the music, Aalegra did take breaks to thank the audience and looked back at her upbringing. Before performing “VIOLET SKIES” she recounted her musical struggles, noting “I say this every show, not to sound cliche or cheesy, but it’s important for me to say this. This music journey of mine has not been an easy journey at all. I've been making music for half of my life and I just want to encourage anybody in here that has a dream and a vision to really go for that shit. This next song is a letter to myself, a thank you for not giving up on this journey.”
Aalegra ended the night with a big celebratory encore, inviting a chorus of performers dressed in black on stage for the tracks “Find Someone Like You” and “I Want You Around.”
For more on Snoh Aalegra, visit snohaalegra.com.
