Arriving with a diverse arsenal of hip-hop, soul, rhythm and blues and possibly cookies, Lizzo is set to bring her genre bending and socially charged performance to Madison.
Lizzo is no stranger to the Midwest. Though she grew up in Houston, she based her music career out of Minneapolis. While Lizzo does not see any Midwest cities ever comparing to major hip-hop cities like Atlanta or Los Angeles, she does think the Midwest offers its own unique platform for artists.
“The cool thing about the Midwest is there isn’t a strong industry presence here,” Lizzo said. “So there’s never going to be a norm for artists.”
This bodes well, considering the norm is never on the mind when Lizzo is making or performing her music. When it comes to her sonic output, Lizzo tends not to draw influences from any one facet of life. Rather, she draws from everything around her, be it music, her location or her family.
“We’re like sponges soaking up all these influences,” Lizzo said. “And when it comes out, I’m not really conscious of where it’s coming from.”
This sum of influences gives Lizzo a sound that is hard to pinpoint or box into one genre. On the surface, there are elements of hip-hop, soul and R&B — but as one becomes increasingly familiar with her music, Lizzo appears to dabble with alternative genres.
This musical diversity has landed her on tours with bands such as Sleater-Kinney and Chvrches. Tour pairings like these may seem unorthodox at first glance, but Lizzo never feels hindered by genre labels when performing.
“The output we have on stage is energy-based, not genre-based,” Lizzo said. “With the Internet connecting each other in so many ways, I feel like genre is not even going to be a thing anymore.”
Genre, however, is not the only label that Lizzo aims to do away with. She hopes to redefine social stereotypes with her messages of body positivity and feminism in her music and performances.
During her shows, these messages manifest themselves through both lyrics and choreography.
“I have two women on stage with me,” Lizzo said. “They’re big girls, and they are beautiful dancers. People say that big people can’t move or big people can’t do choreography like small people, but to see big people on stage who love themselves so much and move so confidently and beautifully — that is an extension of my songs like ‘My Skin’ or ‘En Love,’ because people actually see it coming to life.”
When Lizzo comes through Madison Feb. 19, it won’t be the first time. She’s played here in the past at Yum Yum Fest and the High Noon Saloon. But this will be the first time the Madtown crowd will have the chance to hear tracks off of her most recent album, Big GRRRL Small World.
Returning fans can expect Lizzo will bring new music, new energy and new choreography — and potentially cookies — to the Majestic. Whichever city sells out first between Madison and Milwaukee will have fresh baked cookies served at the merchandise stand.
