It’s been a bumpy month for Iggy Azalea, but the artist is now looking forward to her upcoming Great Escape arena tour under the creative guidance of her new production designer — Baz Halpin — who’s seasoning the show with a post-apocalyptic vibe.
“It’s going to be maybe a bit like Blade Runner, full of dark and ’80s ridiculous fare but not in a cliché way,” Azalea told Billboard at the iHeartRadio Awards on Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
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Azalea parted ways with former tour producer AEG Live over creative differences earlier this month and postponed her first arena dates. Halpin staged Katy Perry‘s Super Bowl show and has created mega-spectacles for artists including Taylor Swift and Pink. He also designed the Piece of Me Las Vegas residency for Britney Spears, whose lead single “Pretty Girls” from her ninth studio album due in May features Azalea.
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“It’s been great working with a new person who really understands my vision,” Azalea said of Halpin, who fashioned the set for her performance of “Trouble” with Jennifer Hudson both at the iHeartRadio Awards and Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday. “It’s taken some of the workload off me that he’s able to understand what I’m trying to achieve instead of battling it, or it being lost in translation.”
Azalea will now hit the road in the fall. Original opening acts Nick Jonas and Tinashe are no longer on the bill, with Tinashe jumping on Nicki Minaj‘s tour instead. Azalea is expected to announce her new opening act soon. “Some things just work,” Azalea says. “With Baz, I really don’t have to say it; he’s thinking what I’m thinking, and it’s great. I’m super-excited about the tour.”