When a huge multi-platinum performing artist is about to hit Australian shores, it seems like there is a huge amount to co-ordinate. Talking from Malibu, California, the rap/RnB/pop sensation Nicki Minaj spoke about what she’ll be bringing with her Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour –
‘We are bringing a bigger production, a way bigger production, it will be very stimulating and exciting and we’ve added a few more songs, we’ve added lots of changes and overall it just seems such a richer show.’
For fans that will be hitting her concerts for the first time, the star promises a huge experience, ‘It’s really personal and diverse. I go from one end of the spectrum to the next. There will be pop and some hip hop and some RnB for my fans that like that, so we’ve done an really good job of playing everything everyone likes and keeping it intimate and exciting at the same time.’
Reminiscing on the positive feedback she received from her last Australian tour, Minaj chatted with excitement about hitting New Zealand for the first time as part of the tour, ‘the NZ show is sold out! I can’t believe that. I’m really excited about that because that is going to be a brand new experience. I have no idea what to expect, so I just can’t wait.’
The star was completely unaware of the extent of her Australian fan base until she visited in May this year, ‘When I got to the airport I didn’t expect the response’.
Rising to superstardom in late 2010, the female rapper is known for her characters, outrageous sense of style, adopted accents and vast array of wigs, despite all this the seemingly eccentric star referred to herself as more of an introvert, ‘I’m not a real outgoing type of person’. Minaj doesn’t consider the extent of her fame, and attributes staying grounded to tunnel vision and hard work –
‘I guess I don’t see myself like that, I don’t see myself as a really famous person, so maybe that’s kind of why I have tunnel vision on getting my work done and stuff. I just do what I have to do then kind of stick to myself and my inner circle.’
Known for developing a cockney accent whilst touring the UK, Minaj laughed off questions about developing an Australian accent for the tour, ‘No because you guys have a much more difficult accent!’
Although meet and greet isn’t on the cards for the Australian/NZ tour, the songstress did contemplate visiting gay fans in popular gay nightclubs. ‘What would you recommend? ARQ? Connections in Perth?’, she asked.
When told that the popular Perth venue Connections had recently done a Nicki Minaj Drag tribute show, the singer gasped – ‘Oh my! Now that is something I would love to see’.
Another opportunity to potentially meet the star will be on November 29th at Myer in Sydney, the first 180 fans to hop online and buy her up and coming fragrance Pink Friday will earn VIP passes to the event, that evening the star will be featuring at the 2012 ARIA awards.
The mass of hairstyles and crazy sense of style will be following Minaj to Australia, when asked how she handles all her different wigs, Minaj promises it is all in the trusting hands of her hairdresser – ‘he brings a few humongous duffle bags and he has a special way that he packs them and in the morning he’ll bring them to my room and set them up and after the show he takes them back. I never really have time to bond with them!’
According to Minaj, a sneak peek into the outrageous live outfits includes lots of denim, short shorts, lots of sparkly stuff and rhinestones.
Nicki Minaj will be kick starting her Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour in Auckland, New Zealand on November 24, before heading to Adelaide on November 27 (wwwticketek.com.au), Sydney on November 30 (ticketmaster.com.au), Brisbane December 3 and Melbourne on December 5 (ticketek.com.au).
Nadine Walker
