Ella Mai at Varsity Theater

Ella Mai, I'm trip-trippin' on you. 

By Madison Amland

With just an EP, Ella Mai was last seen in Minneapolis as the opener for the 2018 University of Minnesota Spring Jam concert. Now in 2019, she has a new album and is headlining her very first tour. The British R&B singer gave her sold-out crowd a night to remember at the Varsity Theater on Feb. 28. 

With a full 15 song set, Mai flooded the packed room with her refreshing voice, bubbly smile, and fluorescent yellow tracksuit. Her catchy lyrics about romance, heartbreak, and self-confidence provided the audience with something to relate to.

About halfway through, Mai performed “Boo’d Up”—the song that “changed her life.” The 24-year-old artist gratefully said to her crowd, “It’s pretty crazy… I went to the Grammys two weeks ago, and I won one.” Mai won the award for Best R&B Song and was nominated for Song of the Year, along with some of music’s biggest names, including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Drake, and Lady Gaga.

Mai showed off her range of talent by performing a mix of her slower, dreamy ballads like “Naked” and her groovier tracks like “Sauce” and “Whatchamacallit.” The crowd knew every word, acting as her back-up vocals all night long. 

Ending the concert with her chart-rising hit “Trip,” an energetic R&B track, she left the crowd wanting more. Ella Mai, the Grammy winner with the girl-next-door vibe, is undoubtedly a rising star to keep your eyes on.