Lauryn Hill turned up two hours late to her concert in Atlanta because she needed to "align her energy".
The 40-year-old singer – who found fame as a member of the Fugees – was performing a solo set at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in the US city on Friday night (06.05.16) and only played for 40 minutes.
The ‘Doo Wop’ hitmaker left fans disappointed and took two days to explain her lack of punctuality, which she said was down to her "artistic process".
In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Sunday (08.05.16), she wrote: "I don’t show up late to shows because I don’t care. And I have nothing but Love and respect for my fans. The challenge is aligning my energy with the time, taking something that isn’t easily classified or contained, and trying to make it available for others. I don’t have an on/off switch. I am at my best when I am open, rested, sensitive and liberated to express myself as truthfully as possible. For every performance that I’ve arrived to late, there have been countless others where I’ve performed in excess of two hours, beyond what I am contracted to do, pouring everything out on the stage.
"Because I care so deeply about the artistic process, I scrutinize, have perfectionist tendencies, and want space made for spontaneity, which is not an easy process, with the many moving parts on the road. Some days we are more successful than others re time. However, the vitality that is infused into the performances is always appreciated by the audiences, who may not know exactly what it took to accomplish. (sic)"
The musician also pointed out it wasn’t taken into account how fans waited around for the chance to meet her and said she plans on making it up to her Atlanta fans, who she believes know that she "respects the art" and cares about them.
She continued: "What hasn’t been touched upon by the media, I’m sure, are the hundreds of people who rushed the stage and stayed in excess of an hour after the show ended last night, just to connect.
"Our challenge is to figure out the best way to accommodate the vitality, spontaneity, and spirit that make the performances worthwhile and special to begin with, while also making that experience available and accessible to others. If I didn’t Love and respect the art, I wouldn’t be doing this. The audience and I should have that in common.
"My true audience knows emphatically that I care. It isn’t possible to affect people in any deep and meaningful way without putting sacrificial time in. I have nothing but Love and appreciation for the fans in Atlanta, and regret not being able to give you a full show. We are figuring out a plan to make it up to you, and will announce details as soon as we have them.
Respectfully, MLH (sic)"
Lauryn Hill blames ‘artistic process’ on late arrival to Atlanta gig
