Q&A: Alemeda Reclaims Rage and Rocks Lollapalooza
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
RISING ALT-POP PROVOCATEUR — Alemeda made her long-awaited Lollapalooza debut on Friday, August 1—and she didn’t just take the stage, she owned it. The Sudanese-Ethiopian artist, who’s been catching fire across social media with her viral anthems and rebellious, confessional songwriting, delivered a performance that felt less like a set and more like a call to arms.
Alemeda is no stranger to standing out. Blending elements of alt-rock, punk, soul, and pure pop, her sound refuses to be boxed in, and neither does she. With a commanding presence and visuals as bold as her lyrics, she’s rewriting the rules of what it means to be a modern rock star, especially one who represents an unapologetically feminine, rage-fueled perspective.
This era for Alemeda looks like reclaiming the energy and power behind rage and doing so fiercely by making music for listeners that they can scream to, be angry to, let steam off to.
That fire translated directly into her Lolla set, where fans sang along to every word. With her signature bite and high-voltage energy, she created a space that felt cathartic and communal, where fury was not only welcome but celebrated.
“I feel like women, especially Black women, have to be very chill or else people would make them out to be angry,” she said. “I’m here to just be angry and stand on it.”
Following her fiery Lollapalooza debut, Alemeda sat down with Luna for an exclusive backstage interview. She reflected on the one-year anniversary of her breakout EP FK IT. Alemeda shared how she prepares for major performances by grounding herself in intention and connection, and opened up about reclaiming rage, particularly as a Black woman, as a powerful and unapologetic force in her music.
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar with you yet, what inspires the atmosphere or sonic world you aim to create for your listeners?
ALEMEDA: Definitely hateful but a cute rage. I feel like women, especially Black women, have to be very chill or else people would make them out to be angry. I'm here to just be angry and stand on it.
LUNA: You released the FK IT EP last year. How do you feel you’ve matured as artists and storytellers since the release of this record?
ALEMEDA: I feel like I had so many life experiences. That project is music from years prior. I was 21 when I wrote those and I'm 25 now, so lots of growth and brain development has happened since then. I’m more mature now and can look back on those experiences and stories and see how much I’ve matured.
LUNA: Looking back at FK IT a year later, how do you feel about the album and its impact?
ALEMEDA: When I was putting out the songs, I didn't think people would relate to it, but when I did my tour for FK IT, I was seeing everybody scream those songs.
LUNA: In what ways has your sound evolved since FK IT? Are there new directions or elements you’re exploring in your current work?
ALEMEDA: The same world, but more experimental and more expansive because I don’t want to stay the same.
LUNA: Can you describe the atmosphere and energy you’ve felt from the Lolla crowd? Was it what you expected?
ALEMEDA: No, I thought I was going to be putting on a show to people who didn't know me at all. The whole Alemeda army was there. It was a great atmosphere and I loved seeing the crowd sing my lyrics back to me. It was a fun surprise.
LUNA: Do you have any specific pre-show rituals or post-show regimens that help ground you or boost your performance on stage?
ALEMEDA: I love doing my glam, it’s really calming.
LUNA: How did you prepare for your Lolla set? From building the setlist to rehearsals to mentally getting ready—what’s gone into making this moment feel truly yours?
ALEMEDA: This is our first real festival, like a big festival, because the first one we did was a week ago, and it was a very small festival. We were very much preparing our most upbeat songs, like songs to really get people energized since it’s a daytime set, and everybody has the most energy they're gonna have for the rest of the day.
LUNA: What’s fueling your fire right now—musically or personally—that’s pushing you into this next chapter?
ALEMEDA: The same exact thing as it was before and that’s just pissing people off and getting that rage out.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would like to share with Luna?
ALEMEDA: I feel amazing, and the rest of the year looks like a new EP. We're going to do a Europe festival tour that's going to be amazing and fun. Hopefully, performing my ass off and being able to connect with my fans.
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
