The Carefree Renaissance

we're baaaack to life!

Jan 29, 2024

*sliiiides back into your inbox like I never left*

Hey y’all,

And just like that, Carefree is back!

My mind is oscillating between the craziness that it is January of the year 2024 on Earth, and the fact that January has already chucked up the deuces only to drag in February by her box braids on its way out.

One of my favorite creators, Australian-based agent of chaos Flex Mami, shared her list of ins & outs for the new year and I was nodding to every single one. Since I last saw y’all in 2023 and it’s technically still the new year, can we talk about what the girls left behind in 2023 and what we should be on in 2024 from my perspective?

ins

valuing platonic friendship just as much as romantic
hobbies that don’t involve technology
solo dates
journaling raw thoughts like no one will ever read it
creating a budget! (bonus points for sticking to it)

outs

the fear of being seen/perceived
parasocial relationships
looking to celebrities for their “response” to issues that matter
judging people by their zodiac sign
labeling opinions as facts and not checking media sources

I think this is going to be a feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway type of year. I can feel it. So much is happening in the world and it’s time to shake shit up.

Did you shout YASSS to any of these, or are we now beefing? Let me know in the comments by sharing some of your ins and outs for 2024.

This Week’s Story

One thing we’re definitely bringing into the new year is the spirit of revival and unbridled fun that we conjured up from Beyonce’s Renaissance. This week’s essay highlights an epic feat: attending not one, but FIVE Renaissance shows! Written by my friend Rachael Hawk, this essay is such a pure testament to how music and artistry can not only heal but transform. I’m excited for all of you to read it!

Enjoy,

Anayo Awuzie
EIC of Carefree

PS - Next week, we’re rolling out the first of our new themed story months with February’s theme, How To Love. We’ll also be hosting a few Black History Month giveaways right here in the newsletter so get readyyy. Chat soon xo

I went to five Renaissance shows. It was worth every penny.

by Rachael Hawk

This summer, I embarked on a journey that transcended mere concert attendance. I went to five Renaissance shows that became more than just performances—they were an investment in an energy deposit that I believe will resonate within me for years to come. Yes, it might have cost as much as a down payment for a house, but I consider it an investment in the currency of my spirit—mind your business.

THE SET UP

Plotting and planning for the shows with my friends felt like a group project that we all opted in for and willingly participated in. I remember practicing spelling Renaissance with my friend and fellow Hive member Jawondolyn. We broke it down to Rena-Issa-ance, which became easy thanks to its phonetic resemblance to Issa Rae.

The ticket release day was a symphony of chaos, with 5 am FaceTime sessions, group chats, and a meticulous inventory of credit cards with presale access. We discussed which cities we were willing to travel to, even considering international tour stops. Having been through multiple Ivy Park drops on the Adidas app together, we are seasoned. We were ready.

Ready to do anything to get tickets, I saw my friend Jasmine post a note on Instagram with a bee emoji. That could only mean one thing—she secured Renaissance tickets. I quickly reached out to her, knowing that each person could only buy four tickets. I hoped she didn’t buy up to four. When I asked, she said she had only bought two! We added Jawondolyn on three-way and, through fast talking and excited squeals, Jasmine secured our tickets. The thrill felt like a mix of a drug deal and landing a cool new job offer. Teamwork makes the dream work!

THE SHOWS

Show 1: Toronto, Canada

The Renaissance shows were more than concerts; they were reunions with old friends. I reunited with a friend I met in 2013 while living in Charlotte at the first show in Toronto. She, a fashion industry veteran, was the orchestrator behind all five of my Renaissance tour looks. I’m so proud and happy that we’ve remained close.

On show day for my first tour stop, it felt like getting dressed for prom. We carefully laid our clothes out on the beds at the hotel while bumping Beyonce’s Homecoming album as we got ready—slathering glitter and adorning silver stars and ornaments on our faces to shine like how we felt in our spirits.

Seated in the coveted Club Renaissance, we met so many Hive members, and our group even led a pre-show scratch before the show. I danced so hard I broke my bedazzled bra.

After the show, we explored Toronto and I visited two Black-owned businesses from the BeyGOOD Black Parade route: A Different Booklist bookstore & Moffee Ethiopian Coffee shop. I felt so connected to the historic Black community in the area, thanks to the recommendations from BeyGOOD. The magic of Renaissance!

Show 2: Tampa, Florida

I bought these tickets solo because I had already planned to be in Florida for one of my friend’s weddings. But a beautiful blessing happened in that some of my good friends from high school were also attending and they picked me up for the show! We had a time parking and walking into the stadium together. The energy was tangible.

Even though I was sitting solo, I had faith that I would meet a kindred spirit and feel safe, and the universe met my intention. I met a random Hive member who truly matched my energy and we sang and danced the night away.

Show 3: The Bay

My hometown show! The show was over an hour away from where I live in Oakland, but my friend Jawondolyn (who attended this show with me as well) scored tickets for a special Amtrak train ride going straight from the Oakland station to Levi’s Stadium. Traffic who?!

The station buzzed with excitement as groups of women, spanning generations, boarded with their best silvery fashions. I could envision my future self, 30 years from now, attending concerts with my girls. The magic of Renaissance was alive and thriving.

Show 4: Los Angeles, CA

We had made it to LA. The first show I hustled to book with Jawondolyn and Jasmine, and it was the best Beyonce show I’ll ever attend in my life. Period.

The LA performance also held special significance because it was both Beyonce's and Jawondolyn’s birthdays. After waking up at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, a makeup artist came to our room and got our faces together. Then, we had a lovely brunch on the rooftop with the LA skyline in the backdrop.

This show was also significant because I met Ivy McGregor, BeyGOOD’s executive director. As soon as I walked into the BeyHive section at the show, I spotted her immediately and tried to play it cool. After waiting patiently, we chatted for a bit. I manifested this moment as this woman was on my vision board in 2020. A dream encounter.

Show 5: New Orleans, Lousiana

A little over three weeks later, I touched down in New Orleans for the finale show. The grand finale in New Orleans went beyond the stage, morphing into a celebration of music and community. After a jazz show, chatting with the drummer revealed a serendipitous opportunity—the chance to attend a jazz jam session with Beyoncé's saxophonist and the Renaissance band. The magic of Renaissance continued to weave its threads.

THE LESSON

Defined as "a revival of or renewed interest in something," Renaissance encapsulated the essence of the concerts for me—I felt revived.

I grew up in the church (a Church Girl). I know more than anyone that attending church multiple times a week can be exhausting. People get physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually tired. To circumvent this, at random times throughout the year, due to a call from the Spirit, churches in my community would throw a “revival” service. At revival, all bets are off. If you think of church like a TV show, then Revival is part mashup episode, part hour-long series finale (because of course the second coming could happen any moment). It is a super-sized church service where pastors and nearby churches would visit the host church bringing their choirs and dance teams with them. Everyone prayed for a revival and renewal of spirit.

The energy of the concerts was like revival service. People wearing their best, crying out & shouting, singing along to every song with hands raised, just like church. But in this case, Beyonce was encouraging us to praise ourselves. Renaissance encourages us to love ourselves and be so proud of every part of ourselves that we sing our highest praises about how unique and special we are.

Hope

These concerts came at a perfect time, providing a personal revival in a challenging season. I went through a series of dramatic life changes, and Renaissance was the backdrop to my evolution.

I experienced a dramatic shift in roles at work. I was working in my life’s passion of service to my community as a DE&I marketer, but after widespread tech layoffs, my role changed involuntarily. The transition resulted in a lack of motivation and eventually burnout.

My friends and I kicked off a weekly book club for the book Calling in "The One": 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life by Katherine Woodward Thomas. The weekly exercises required deep introspection and honesty. Our weekly book club sessions required vulnerability and openness. We followed the process with faith and between the Toronto and Tampa shows, I met my current partner.

I’ve also dealt with grief. I lost my 32-year-old cousin in May 2023 and my 76-year-old grandmother, my last grandparent, in August 2023. These losses have changed my family dynamic forever.

Having the opportunity to attend Renaissance shows gave me some hope in the midst of depression. My therapist helped me understand that the concerts were an opportunity to practice being present in my body—feel the vibrations of the speakers, the temperature, and connect with the Hive around me. And for those who are skeptical of that, God can deliver solutions and answers to us in any form They please. If this is the way my Creator knew light would enter my darkness, so be it. Ashe and amen! As the saying goes, Any way you bless me… I’ll be satisfied.

Disco

When you look at a disco ball, it seems like a distorted view, like you can’t see yourself clearly. Look closer. Did you know another word for disco ball is mirror ball? It’s just multiple views of yourself. Different perspectives that are new to you.

In the Renaissance Concert Film, Beyonce spoke about having to create multiple versions of herself, a nurturing wife and mother, a leader in the style of her father Matthew Knowles, and the ultra-confident Sasha Fierce on stage, to name a few.

As I attended the Renaissance shows, light of disco balls bouncing off me, around me, and through me, I was introduced to new versions of myself. I danced with myself, sang with myself, stomped and cried with my own reflection. I grew in self-awareness and familiarity with my energy.

I saw myself as a friend. I saw myself as a traveler. I saw myself as a fan of the greatest entertainer ever. I saw myself as a concert-goer and music lover. I saw myself as stylish! I saw myself as a manifestor. I saw myself at my best: proud, beautiful, bold, and fun!

The magic of Renaissance wasn't confined to the stage; it became a transformative journey, a mirror reflecting the diverse perspectives and renewed spirits of those who attended. The disco lights may have dimmed, but the echoes of those five nights will resonate within me, ensuring that the energy deposit made was indeed worth every penny.

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