In the final hour of their last rehearsal, the crew of Isis Destiny's Lover Girls Tour gathers once more, their smoke break over, and stories of arduous first days of school spill into the room like ancient rivers finding their due course. Band mates Jasmin Blue and Bella Sera, their voices braided with memories, recount the bewildering school bus rides where stops were missed and directions lost. Amira, who on stage becomes Isis Destiny, and her choreographer Epiphany, share tales of middle school trials—Amira’s face once marked by the painful kiss of a door's metal divider. The room thrums with a familial energy so palpable, so deeply rooted, that I too find myself confessing my own tears from the first day of middle school at the hands of bullying. This atmosphere, this warm embrace, is not mere happenstance. There is an intentionality behind its cultivation. Room 25 at SPACE Menchaca becomes a sacred space where I witness not just the birth of a tour, but the weaving together of a family.
To speak of the Herculean challenge of planning and executing a tour is to acknowledge the enormity of the endeavor. Even artists surrounded by teams of workers often struggle with the weight of it all: securing venues, scheduling dates, assembling a band, organizing rehearsals, crafting promotional materials and merchandise, booking opening acts, managing travel and accommodations, ensuring the availability of gear and equipment, and maintaining an intricate web of communication and organization...
The thought of undertaking this colossal mission solo, without prior experience, for a debut tour, defies belief. Yet, as I watch Isis Destiny orchestrate the final details of her Lover Girls Tour across central Texas with aplomb, I am not bewildered. It feels as though she has been preparing for this her entire life.
In truth, the weight of this tour is but a feather compared to the burdens she has borne: a mother imprisoned, laboring full time at the age sixteen to pay her father's rent, the loss of loved ones, the scars left by abuse. These lived experiences flow through her performances, transforming her set into a powerful testimony of survival and resilience.
Her setlist—a three-part journey seamlessly woven together by the artistry of her collaborator Dupre, who also bookends the performance. Songs from her albums "Scorpio Rising" and the forthcoming "Count Your Lucky Stars," interwoven with covers of her inspirations, Kali Uchis and Erykah Badu, form the beating heart of the show. These performances, enriched by Jasmin on the keys, sax, and supporting vocals, and Bella on the drums, possess a certain je ne sais quoi that only live instruments can provide.
Beginning with "Scorpio Rising," the songs mirror the journey of womanhood. "Pink n Blu" delves into first love and the struggle to escape toxic relationships, always clinging to the hope of finding true love. "Trouble," written at eighteen, plunges into the darkness of an abusive relationship and addiction, with the chorus, "tienes la llave abre la puerta" (you have the key, open the door), serving as a beacon of her power to transform her reality.
The journey continues with the title track "Scorpio Rising," a song that speaks to the necessity of authenticity in relationships. Once the door of truth is opened, there is no turning back. "I Wanna Go Faster" embodies the desire for growth, its melancholy slow burn accentuated by the movements of dancers Berenice and Christina, who add a graceful visual to the story of yearning and transformation.
The final segment of the set introduces songs from her new album, composed in her adolescence. "4 Scarlett" is a heartfelt ode to her sister performed alongside her brother Mista Reece, while "Yellow Brick Road" charts the course of following one's destiny, culminating in a collaborative piece about the trials and triumphs of life on the road and the pursuit of dreams.
As I watch, I am filled with a profound sense of witnessing destiny unfold. Through her music and her journey, Isis Destiny constructs more than just a tour, she gives us a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the creation of a chosen family.
follow the crew of the Texas Lover Girls Tour:
@Isisxdestiny
@rydupre
@jasminorblu
@b_the_drummer
@bereniceuvade
@skyunknown_
@piffmitch
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