Moving seamlessly through extravagant choreography, Doja Cat captivated the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, skillfully navigating the space between bubblegum rap and darker, rock-infused material. The singer demonstrated complete command throughout her performance.
Since her breakthrough nearly a decade ago, Doja Cat has displayed a consistent musical restlessness. She has transitioned from the pop-rap of her debut album “Amala” to the edgier sound of her 2023 release “Scarlet,” collaborating with artists like SZA before surprisingly covering Hole. On her fifth album, “Vie,” she expertly managed the inherent tension between the pop persona she once dismissed as a “cash grab” and her authentic, boundary-pushing artistic self – a dynamic she executed to perfection during the Glasgow show.
The concert commenced with a dramatic prelude. Doja Cat suspended above the stage, adorned in imposing, Klaus Nomi-esque shoulder pads and a train measuring 20 meters. This spectacle, perhaps a deliberate playful jab at fans who had complained about a perceived lack of costume changes earlier in the tour, set the stage for her arrival. She then reappeared as a vibrant, purple-clad bandleader, launching into a series of 80s-inspired tracks from “Vie” and her 2021 album “Planet Her.”
Leading a 10-piece band, Doja Cat projected an immediate, commanding presence. Clad in pasties, a high-waisted bodysuit, tights, and gloves, her zebra-print microphone perfectly complemented her heels. Her striking appearance evoked a scene-kid Prince, with her signature blonde hair swapped for an acid green wig. The synergy between her and her band was notably reminiscent of the iconic “Purple Rain” or a glam-rock rendition of “Stop Making Sense.” She effortlessly shifted between musical styles and poses, transitioning from the soulful “Make It Up,” which felt more powerful live than on the record, to the confident swagger of “Ain’t Shit” and “Paint the Town Red.”
English Translation:
Doja Cat review – pop superstar or true freak? US iconoclast plays the tension to perfection
OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Moving seamlessly through extravagant choreography, the singer remains in full command, shifting between bubblegum-rap and darker, rockier material.
Since her breakout almost a decade ago, singer and rapper Doja Cat has been musically restless, bouncing between the pop-rap of her first album “Amala” to her darker, toothier 2023 release “Scarlet,” and collaborating with SZA before heel-turning to cover Hole. On last year’s fifth album “Vie,” she negotiated the tension between the pop persona she once denounced as a “cash grab” and her true freak artistic self – a tension she plays to perfection during tonight’s show.
After a prelude where Doja hovers above the stage in Klaus Nomi-esque shoulder pads and a 20-metre long train – perhaps elaborate trolling aimed at fans who complained about her lack of outfit changes earlier in the tour – she arrives fully formed as a purple-clad bandleader for a run of 80s inflected tracks from “Vie” and 2021’s “Planet Her.”
Fronting a 10-person band, she’s an immediately commanding presence, wearing pasties, a high-waisted bodysuit, tights and gloves, her zebra print microphone matching her heels. She has the look of a scene-kid Prince, the blond of recent shows swapped for an acid green wig. Appropriately, the synergy between her and her band is reminiscent of “Purple Rain,” or a glam-rock “Stop Making Sense.” She moves seamlessly between modes and poses, from slow jam “Make It Up” – more muscular live than on record – to the swagger of “Ain’t Shit” and “Paint the Town Red.”