If you were my age in NZ, you would constantly hear about three girls: Malala Yousafzai, Lydia Ko, and Ella Yelich-O’Connor (aka Lorde). Lorde, our very own pop sensation, was inescapable in 2012-2014, especially with her breakout hit Royals. Lorde and I are the same age, and we also share the star sign Scorpio. Maybe that’s why I don’t see Lorde as a celebrity; I wouldn’t call myself a fan as I am not constantly thinking: “What is Lorde doing?” I instead see her as a friend, like the one you occasionally look at their Insta stories and know they are doing well, and you think, “good for you, girl.”

Following Lorde in the early days was interesting because it seemed like she had beef with everyone. She would just say what was on her mind, like she said David Guetta was creepy in a Times interview, and Taylor Swift was unrelatable. The list went on and on. Clevver News made a video with like 20 celebrities Lorde had dissed. Now she isn’t that forthcoming, but she isn’t 16 either. In the latest deep pop culture lore involving Lorde is the infamous PowerPoint on Google Drive in 2018, where someone analysed the album Melodrama as a secret message from Lorde to Jack Antonoff. It is very unhinged. Then there was the supposed beef between her and Charli XCX that gave us two bangers because Girl, so confusing.

Music-wise, I wasn’t a big fan of Pure Heroine; I wouldn’t skip Tennis Court or Royals, but I wouldn’t seek them out either. I think Yellow Flicker Beat and the album Melodrama were more my vibe. After Melodrama, I felt like, “ok, Lorde, I am listening.” Listen, I did: Solar Power, I listened to as soon as it came out, and the Te Reo Māori version. Thought it was super cool she did that. Solar Power to me is the music you listen to when you are lying on a beach, and as I listen to music when I am doing stuff, I haven’t revisited it really.

How did I get here?

I knew Lorde had a new album out, but I hadn’t listened to it when she announced her Ultrasound World Tour. At first, we were publicly outraged that there were no NZ dates. Then they were released, so no love lost. What happened was my friend and her friends wanted to go, they asked me if I wanted to join, and I agreed. That was like the longest-term plan I made at the time. We got tickets, and it was sorted.

New Album

It was after buying the tickets that I listened to the album, and I liked it. It was a bit more mature and similar to Melodrama; for example, I feel like What was That reminds me of Greenlight. The album is 20 minutes long, and I haven’t listened to it enough to pick a favourite or rank them, but I like What was That, Hammer, Favourite Daughter, GRWM, Broken Glass,and Current Affairs. Maybe I like the whole album, don’t judge me. I was well-prepared and really looking forward to hearing Broken Glass live.

Concert Day

I am based in Wellington, so getting to the Lorde concert was a bit more involved than I would have liked, but everything was smooth sailing. We got there as the Opening Act started. The first thing I noticed was that the crowd was around my age, so it seems to me that Lorde has not been attracting a younger fanbase as some artists do.

Opening Act: Kevin Abstract

I will be honest, I wasn’t a fan of the Opening Act. Kevin Abstract seemed like an odd choice both thematically, and I don’t know how his fanbase aligns with Lorde’s. Like, we were trying to be enthusiastic because he seemed like a nice guy, but I don’t get it. The truth is that his rap style isn’t something I would listen to. He seemed nervous because he used to be in the rap group Brockhampton and is new to performing alone. I wish him the best, although I don’t think I will be diving deeper into his music.

Lorde

The main event started an hour in, right on time. Lorde came out, like I expected, in a t-shirt and jeans. We began with Hammer, and the crowd immediately matched her energy. There was no point at which I thought people were getting bored or tired, or that the show was dragging. The setlist was pretty good; it had a mix of old favourites thrown into the new album, so there was at least something you would know.

The show was a bit weird, but they used the stage well, and Lorde sang energetically throughout. She kept mentioning how hot she felt, while I regretted not bringing a jacket. I am not going to go performance by performance, but some incredible moments were during Broken Glass, when she channelled the pressure to look a certain way by tightening her belt before taking it off. During Greenlight, the entire concert was lit green. There were some weird moments when she stripped to a silver bra, and the screen focused on her torso as streaks of silver mimicked rivulets, as if she were in a shower. She also walked across the crowd wearing a reflective jacket. My favourite moments were when she sang Ocean Feeling in Te Reo Māori. I spent my time vibing, singing along and enjoying myself. Liability was another one that got very emotional.

I think concerts give us a glimpse of the performer and let us learn something new about them. Lorde was no exception; we learned that after Solar Power, she thought she wasn’t going to make music anymore. She ended up on a journey of self-discovery, feeling she didn’t know who she was deep down. So, this album was inspired by her being reborn in a way. It turned into a motivational speech halfway through. At that point, it was something I needed to hear, but I can’t remember what that thing was right now.

Conclusion

Lorde was amazing, and I am glad I got to see her live. It was a lot of fun, and I am grateful to have gone with my friend who is a rib. Hope she continues to make music, because I know I will want to listen. If you can see her live, then please do.