After putting on a polished show of dynamic dancing, angelic vocals and charming stage presence on day two of the Forever Mine Festival, Mya called on Chicagoans to help her with a very special task.
“I’m searching tonight for a vegan deep dish spot,” the singer said backstage at the event, which was held at Union Park in West Loop. “I’ve been craving it all week.”
Mya’s appreciation for Chicago runs deep. Beyond name-dropping other local favorites like Garrett Popcorn, she also expressed her admiration of the iconic Chosen Few Picnic and House Music Festival, which she has hosted in the past. She praised the city’s house DJs for inspiring her; hometown hero DJ Terry Hunter has even remixed one of her songs.
“I love this city,” she said. “Not so much in the winter, but the summer has always been the season for me here. And just the spirit of Chicago in general.”
Chicago loves her back. The crowd warmly received her as she dazzled in a sparkling, frilly silver dress and boots.
Decades before pop and R&B performers like Tate McRae, Normani and Victoria Monét took the stage, Mya was bringing classic choreography to our TV screens. Millennials will remember the D.C. native’s exciting music video moments, from dancing on a xylophone during “Take Me There,” dancing with a cane during “Case of the Ex” and tapping in “My Love is Like Wo.”
Those memories came flooding back as the singer executed choreography that included hip-hop dance breaks, salsa dancing, voguing and even a Michael Jackson tribute, fedora and all.
“I just love the freedom and joy,” she said, of incorporating dance into her shows. “And people seem to love it. But I do, too, because I just don’t do it every day, and so when I get a chance to do it, it just lightens the mood. Because sometimes as adults we take ourselves too seriously.”
In addition to playing her classic hits, she performed “ASAP,” a single from her new album “Retrospective,” which pays homage to the music of the ‘70s and ‘80. She also peppered in snippets of classic hits from Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Mint Condition and Tevin Campbell.
All in all, like the Forever Mine festival itself, it was a love letter to R&B.
“R&B gives you the feels,” she said. “Just real soul and depth. Even the chord changes come from gospel music, and so it hits you in the gut and it takes you on a journey.”