If you’ve seen Naomi Scott starring as the pop star Skye Riley in Smile 2 – the 2024 horror film about a cursed singer haunted by hallucinations – you already know she has the stage presence of a superstar. During Day Three of Lollapalooza, held in Chicago on Aug. 2, Scott performed a set full of new music, chill vibes, and throwback favorites.
Performing on the tree-lined stage at The Grove, the English singer and actress curated a sophisticated and smooth setlist dominated by new material.
“I’m Naomi. I’m gonna sing some new songs for you today. Is that alright,” she said near the beginning of the performance to a large, cheering crowd.
Early in her set, the new material had a mellow groove, almost Sade-like, and her latest single “Rhythm” explored the chemistry that can emerge on the dance floor. With it’s driving bass, it had everyone entranced and Scott surprised festival-goers by bringing out Johnny Yukon – who appears on the studio version – as a special guest.
“If you are not already familiar, get familiar, because Johnny Yukon is so fire, yeah. He’s amazing. I’m such a fan,” said Scott. “I love you, Johnny. Thank you for coming.”
One of the biggest fan responses of the show – which also featured guitarist Izzy and bassist Leanne – came when Scott shared “She’s So Gone,” the single made famous from the 2011 film Lemonade Mouth. Cellphones went up in the air and it seemed like every fan knew every word to the point that Scott became a bit emotional experiencing the mass sing-along.
Despite her talents commanding this type of response, Scott was completely humble and relatable throughout her the entire performance. She danced, exuded happiness having fun with the infectious beats and even kicked her shoes off, creating an even more comfortable atmosphere. From the stage to the back of the crowd, everyone had the time of their lives during the set.
“Thank you so much for coming, guys,” said Scott. “I really appreciate you coming and listening to some of my new music. I legit like for real, for real was not expecting it. So this is crazy. I really, really appreciate it.”
Stay tuned for more new music releases from Naomi Scott and click here for more information about Lollapalooza.
