You have to feel for Kehlani. Last night was supposed to be a victory lap for 2024’s Crash; a moody, prowling genre grab-bag of an album which drew from trap, heavy metal, and country. Their headline show at The O2 represented a huge personal milestone, and the biggest gig of their entire career. Instead, the Oakland singer-songwriter could barely speak for most of the day after being struck down by a particularly potent strain of flu, caught earlier on tour in Amsterdam, but back again with vengeance.
Just a couple of hours before showtime, they resorted to a steroid shot in a last bid to avoid cancelling. Nobody would’ve blamed them for reluctantly throwing in the towel – Kehlani’s speaking voice was strained and incredibly croaky in the Instagram stories they posted earlier on – but they were clearly determined to press on anyway.
