Today’s the day SZA will make history with her headline slot at Glastonbury 2024, but some people are still asking: Who is she?
The Snooze hitmaker, 34, will headline the festival on Sunday with Coldplay and Dua Lipa also on the line-up and country legend Shania Twain in the Legends slot. Little Simz, Idles, Avril Lavigne, Jessie Ware, Disclosure, Janelle Monae, Cyndi Lauper, Burna Boy and Camila Cabello are also high on the bill.
While not everyone is thrilled with Dua Lipa and Coldplay, most have at least heard of the pop princess and iconic band. However, the same can’t be said for SZA.
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When the line-up was first announced in March, social media reactions to the announcement have made it clear that SZA’s name is brand new to many, with some even unsure if the three letters refer to a person, a band or a DJ group.
Many X users took to the platform to share their disbelief that an artist they’ve never heard of could have earned the prestigious slot.
@MeesterWormwood wrote: ‘Who on earth is SZA?’
@matt_ta_87 agreed, posting: ‘I don’t know who SZA are but the rest are legit.’
@Liamthebeef was generally disappointed, sharing’ Coldplay AGAIN? Jesus. And, sorry, who is Sza? Genuinely.’
@JoeyO94 couldn’t believe knowledge of an act as big as SZA has passed him by entirely, writing that they had no idea who she is and adding: ‘Have I been living on another planet for these past few years?’
User @glastobation was annoyed with all the discourse, writing: ‘Annual reminder: Nobody cares that you haven’t heard of Sza or don’t like Coldplay or that you’re glad you didn’t get a ticket.’
But SZA, who is among the most listened-to artists globally, has plenty of accolades under her belt to warrant her big font placement on the Glasto poster.
Here is everything you need to know about the singer ahead of her Glastonbury set.
Who is SZA?
SZA, real name Solana Imani Rowe, is a 34-year-old R&B singer-songwriter who has releasedtwo studio albums, three EPs, one live album, and 44 singles (11 of which as a featured artist).
Her stage name is inspired by rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.The last two letters in her name stand for Zig-Zag and Allah (she grew up Muslim), while the S means saviour or sovereign, interchangeably.
And for those who are asking – how do you say SZA? It is pronounced ‘Sizza.’
Her sound is reminiscent of Keyshia Cole orMary J. Blige but it’s unwaveringly fresh, often throwing modern R&B and pop song structure out the window. She raps with acidic precision as easily as she belts a ballad, defining her music with a rare versatility.
Ranking among the most successful independent artists of all time, SZA released two EPs, See.SZA.Run(2012) andS(2013),before signing with Top Dog Entertainment in 2013, the first female artist to join the label. She released her third EP, Z, in 2014 to critical acclaim.
After signing a joint recording contract withRCA Records, SZA’s meteoric rise truly began in 2017 when she released her debut studio album Ctrl.
The album was nominated for four Grammy awards and became the second longest-chartingR&Balbum by a female artist on theBillboard200. It has since been certified triple platinum.
Her sophom*ore album SOS came out in 2022 and topped the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks. The album was a phenomenon and earned the artist her first number one with the song Kill Bill in 2023. She was also named Billboard’s woman of the year in 2023.
SZA’s list of collaborators over the years reads as a who’s who of music, with big names like Justin Timberlake, Drake, Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzo, and Maroon 5 all featuring on the list.
As a songwriter, she has co-written tracks forNicki Minaj,Travis Scott, andRihanna, among others.
Throughout her career so far, SZA has earned four Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, anAmerican Music Award, aGuild of Music Supervisors Award, and twoBillboardWomen in Musicawards (includingwoman of the year). As a songwriter, she has co-written songs forNicki Minaj,Travis Scott, andRihanna, among others.
All of this is to say that if you don’t know who SZA is, you’re missing out.
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