Magnetic Music: Erykah Badu and the Power of Spiritual Singing

Last Saturday I went to see Erykah Badu in Manchester. She turned up late, had no shoes on, but still performed one of the most powerful sets I’ve seen from a live singer in my life. 

I’ve never been a fan of choreographed performances, I find them to be a bit unoriginal and often the meaning behind them falls a bit flat. Instead, I’ve found that the most captivating performances come from someone who is not interested in the appearance, knowing that the music is the reason why people are there to listen. Although incredibly eye-catching, Badu prioritised comfort through her outfit with a large, decorative hat (an accessory lost halfway through the set), a silver beaded poncho and black baggy trousers. The fluidity of her outfit allowed Badu to spin, fall over, reach her arms up to the sky - the lack of restricting material giving her room to comfortably and authentically perform. 

As a singer myself, I have always been drawn to the more emotional and raw musical performances over the calculated and manufactured sets. Badu included, female singers who successfully curate a following for themselves without needing a strong aesthetic are inspiring. As a personal preference, my favourite live singers never turn up on stage with a particular routine or rigid structure in place. They know that they can deliver good music either way. Especially for female singers, the pressure to perform to an incredible high standard is almost commonplace, encouraging competition and comparison due to the fear of being supposedly “lost” within the music sphere. Badu’s performance therefore proves that female singers are more than capable of performing without a “performance”, the experience instead comes from her simply authentic self being comfortable on stage. The lack of distractions created a richer and more intimate atmosphere where I felt like I could fully relate to her lyrics. I felt like crying when she did, and almost screamed when she did too. 

As a registered Reiki instructor and Doula for almost three decades, Badu relies heavily on her spirituality to journey through life. For Vogue, 2017, Badu mentioned that vibrations are the most important thing for her energy, it’s not what she's saying, but how she's vibrating. Badu’s performances are more intense because she incorporates these spiritual elements into her singing. These include: cleansing the stage with sage before performances (and making sure her crew carries incense with them at all times), having blue on stage to assist in opening her throat chakra, and carrying crystals to allow the minerals in them to absorb into her skin. It might sound silly or even unrealistic, but I feel so inspired knowing the dedication Badu puts into her music and how it connects so closely with her spirituality. She has always said that every living thing has been attracted to her, stemming from this close relationship with her non-physical environment. The concert solidified this belief for me, I felt like I had a magnet pulling me towards her stage, and not just from her painfully beautiful music. Badu’s stage was completely fitting to her musical personality, she is unashamedly herself and entirely confident in her singing which is a trait I continue to admire in her. 

After seeing that concert, I am not sure if I can ever go back to the concerts of non-spiritual singers. Previously seeing Green Tea Peng, who also incensed the stage before coming on, and now seeing Erykah Badu, the power of these singers are truly and powerfully magnetic. The relationship between authenticity, spirituality, and music successfully create a deep and soulful atmosphere that I ultimately  don’t think anything else could possibly challenge.