SZA, the Grammy-winning R&B powerhouse, has never been one to hold back when it comes to the trials and tribulations of her emotional journey, a lesson we know all too well based on her tour-life confessions with Kendrick Lamar. For an interview with Chappell Roan in Interview magazine, SZA pulled back the curtain on her painful battles with anxiety and self-doubt during the Grand National Tour, a massive tour during which she doubted if she was there for the audience or if the audience was there for her or just for Kendrick.
I’d have full-on panic attacks,” she said, speaking of the suffocating rush of nerves ahead of stepping out on stage or standing on the red carpet. It’s easy to forget that someone as sure of her artistry as SZA would struggle with such fear, but SZA’s candor is a reminder that even the brightest stars grapple with self-doubt. “Every time I had to go on stage, every time I had to get on a carpet, I’d be like, ‘I don’t want to do it,’” Walter said.
The worst part about it was sharing the stage with someone of Kendrick Lamar’s magnitude. SZA said she couldn’t shake the feeling that the other concertgoers were coming only to see Kendrick: “Do I have anything to show these people that’s exciting and new? That’s a difficult position for any creator — in the spotlight but feeling like your audience’s attention belongs elsewhere.
But here’s the meat of the story: SZA’s state of mind changed, and it’s all about leaning into uncertainty. Instead of escaping that fear, she confronted it head-on, thinking, “F### it. I want to walk through them. I want to see what takes place in the unknown. That’s the true magic.” And that courageous stance of leaping into the unknown, despite having defeated confidence, was something many artists and people can identify with.
And the journey continues. A few days ago, SZA posted an emotional video montage to Instagram after wrapping the initial leg of the Grand National Tour (June 17). In addition to the visual, she shared a behind-the-scenes look while teasing a “wild documentary” she and her collaborator @notmrblue have spent the day building. She was grateful: “THANK YOU FOR HAVING US!”
But the fun doesn’t end there; the second leg of the Grand National Tour begins on July 2, 2025, in Cologne, Germany, and with SZA’s newfound fearless approach, expect an even more energetic and confident performance from fans’ favorite R&B MVP.
SZA’s openness about anxiety and self-doubt is a valuable reminder that vulnerability is a cornerstone of honest-to-goodness artistry. Her story is not only one of music and touring with a legend like Kendrick Lamar; it is also a story of confronting fears, learning in moments of uncertainty, and finding magic where you least expect it.
She’s not only inspiring her fans with her sharing but also offering an open door to an honest conversation about mental health in the music world. And honestly, that may be the single most thrilling new thing she is bringing to the stage.
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