05 July 2023 at 16:54
If you don’t dare, don’t win, Naaz thought when Lana Del Rey announced a surprise concert in the Ziggo Dome last week. The Dutch artist successfully presented himself as a supporting act. “I think it’s brave of myself,” she tells NU.nl.
“I know this is an inappropriate message, but I think it’s more than logical that I do it anyway,” writes Naaz in a message to the director of Ziggo Dome in which she asks him if she can do the supporting act for Del Rey.
Her call can count on a lot of support online. She has to send a video of a performance to Del Rey’s team and receives good news a day in advance.
“I knew: as an independent artist (who is not affiliated with a major record company, ed.) I will not just be offered that performance, so I had to go after it myself. I have always been assertive and I am proud that I made it happen “, she tells NU.nl.
After hearing the good news, Naaz must prepare everything within 24 hours. She just came from the Down The Rabbit Hole festival. An outfit has to be brought from Ede, a set list has to be chosen and rehearsed with her keyboard player. Only the two of them can go on stage, but they don’t want to do an acoustic set. That in turn creates the necessary challenges.
But it does not cause nerves for 25-year-old Naaz. “I know how much blood, sweat and tears it took to get here. I owe it to myself to enjoy most of all.”
Naaz sings in front of a sea of telephone lights during the support act for Lana Del Rey in the Ziggo Dome.Photo: Segraphy
‘Lana Del Rey was very kind to the people around her’
And the audience seems to enjoy her six-song set, in which Naaz sings in Kurdish, English and French. She is treated to a sea of phone lights and her vocal outbursts are met with loud cheers.
“When Willem (the keyboardist, ed.) and I came off the stage, we were especially so proud of each other that it made us emotional.”
At that point, Del Rey’s show itself has yet to begin. “It was euphoric,” says Naaz enthusiastically. “Ten years ago I didn’t leave my room during the summer holidays because of depression and I only listened to her music. Now I’m an adult, cared for and living my own life and singing along to all the songs.”
“She is so authentic as an artist, no one sounds like her. It was moving to see how grateful she was to be here.” Naaz watched Del Rey do her sound check earlier in the day. “She was very sweet to the people around her and not everyone is like that. She took all the time to give some instructions to her band and the cameraman.”
Naaz was so focused during her own sound check that she didn’t even notice Del Rey standing behind her for a while. It has not come from a real meeting, but she is absolutely not disappointed. “I am very grateful for the space that I have been given, but I also know my place. I did not aim for a meeting. That woman has her hands full with these last minute concerts.”
2023-07-05 14:54:33
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