Kehlani Brings Blue Water Road to Bayfront Park
To say Miami was in for a treat would be an absolute understatement, when R&B artist Kehlani took the stage on August 1, 2022. The 27-year-old Oakland native made her third stop here, showing casing songs from her newest studio album “Blue Water Road”.
Kehlani, whose preferred pronouns are she/they, has been in the business since she was a teenager. She appeared on America’s Got Talent at sixteen with the musical group Poplyfe. Since then, they have released numerous successful mixtapes and albums: Cloud 9 in 2014, You Should be Here in 2015, SweetSexySavage in 2017, While We Wait in 2019, and It Was Good Until it Wasnt in 2020. Her third album Blue Water Road released on April 29, 2022, is a project of new sounds displaying her artistry, personal journeys, spirituality, and creative growth.
I got the chance to meet Kehlani and was so delighted by how kind and down-to-earth she was. Giving the impression this was someone you could easily have a cocktail and a conversation with. We chatted about surfing and where the best surf spots were in Florida. As Kehlani had brought her surfboards on the tour bus and was on the lookout for good waves.
The day was hot and humid but cooled off nicely as the sun set along with a breeze from Biscayne Bay. It was a sold-out show of around 3,000, held at the FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park. Interestingly, the distance from the stage to the front-row seats was wider compared to other venues I have been to. To accommodate this space, staff handed out wristbands to all front-row ticket holders, which allowed them to stand up at the barricade.
Singer-Songwriter Destin Conrad, rapper Rico Nasty and DJ Noodles started off an amazing night. Each sharing their own unique artistry and energy with the crowd.
A video played on a backdrop of white curtains as Kehalni epically took the stage. The vocals, stage presence, and choreography were all top-notch. You would not have believed this was their first tour in five years. Accompanied by her all-female band and incredible backup dancers, the atmosphere throughout the night was filled with pure joy and celebration. Playing old hits with new twists and songs from the new album, Kehlani took us all on a musical, spiritual, and healing journey. The playfulness and fun on stage was obvious as they engaged with the crowd throughout the night. You could see the gratitude and happiness on Kehlani’s face when she watched fans sing her lyrics. Kehlani took the time to humbly acknowledge, that the life she has been able to build for herself, and her daughter is only because of the support from her fans; and for that, she could not thank everyone enough. It was a beautiful moment to be a part of and, they truly are a class act. It has been an honor to watch Kehlani evolve over the years as an artist and person, and I look forward to seeing what the future will unfold for her.
