Touring For Her New Album "Do You Still Love Me?": Ella Mai Serenades A Grateful Chicago Crowd

Written by Kiera

Touring for her third studio album, Do You Still Love Me?, Grammy Award-winning artist Ella Mai breezed into Chicago and serenaded an arms-wide-open crowd at The Salt Shed in a night that could’ve gone on forever.

The air was sweet with perfume, heels clicked on the concrete as fans meandered toward the stage. Words cannot adequately capture the styling Chicago’s crowd brought out of the closet for this show. It was the perfect backdrop for easy-listening R&B magic on a warm summer’s evening. The vibes could not have been more immaculate for an Ella Mai show. Mai was positively glowing as she sauntered onto the stage. She was all smiles, with an infectious grin that she could barely subdue while singing.

Mai’s substantial setlist contained every masterpiece from Do You Still Love Me? without skipping over fan-favorite throwbacks like 2016’s “10,000 Hours.” The album contains such a beautiful, diverse, and rich assortment of songs that there was something for everyone at the show, even fans who were not yet intimately familiar with the entirety of the album. It was an extremely balanced and thoughtfully crafted setlist that flowed effortlessly through slow burns and more energetic jams. And don’t just take it from me: thunderous applause and near-deafening screams preceded and followed every song she performed. It was truly a perfect blend of tracks that kept the energy for the evening riding high.

Her minimalist, natural stage design, featuring organic, stepped grassy platforms and a cream-colored chaise, brought a natural warmth to her performance that complemented her energy flawlessly. Paired with expressive and song-matched stage lighting, the audience was pulled deeper into a trance with each passing song.

As the evening progressed, Mai took a period to sing songs like “Bonus” and “Tell Her” from a telephone booth. With an otherwise dark stage, the spotlight shone brightly on Mai; it left just you, Mai, and her buttery-smooth vocals to exist in a perfect little bubble that felt just like listening to the studio versions of the tracks again. Nothing there but you and the beautiful music.

Despite the beauty of the music in its studio element, I’m a firm believer after this evening that Mai’s music is best enjoyed live. Mai is still early into the Do You Still Love Me? Tour, running across the United States through the end of August. Her setlist, stage design, costuming, and unrivaled performance energy were special enough to absolutely make the trip out for a show.