Gig Review: Lorde is the Leader of the New Regime

Gig Review: Lorde is the Leader of the New Regime

by Lucy Dover
June 2, 2022
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In 20-degree heat, and fans donned in shorts and crop tops, Lorde made her first live appearance in London after almost five years, showcasing her aptly named new album “Solar Power”, to a small Roundhouse crowd.

It has been a long time coming for Lorde fans, who have patiently waited for years to see their favourite singer in concert once again. Once hailed as the “future of music” by David Bowie, the New Zealand singer had a lot to live up to. Self-reflection and the pressure of the industry were a strong theme throughout the set, and fun lyrics like “If you’re looking for a saviour, that’s not me,” sent fans into a frenzy of excitement and joy, as they pointed at her, shaking their head. For some, she may have been their saviour through trying times.

Lorde’s sophomore album, Melodrama, was critically acclaimed and solidified her as a key part of the music industry scene. Hits like Green Light, and Writer in the Dark (which has recently had a resurgence due to Shush Gate), gained her a whole army of fans. The last line of the album sings out “You’re all going to watch me disappear into the sun,” and she did exactly that for 3 years.

The Solar Power stage was designed like a huge sundial, with a tall ladder being the focal point. Warm psychedelic colours were used throughout the set, and there was minimal choreography, all of which made for a very personal and intimate venue. Lorde confessed that had wanted her shows to be smaller declaring “this show sold out in two minutes, which means that I’m with my real ones tonight”. Her ebbs and flows with fame became more apparent as the show went on. She sang of ageing in the music industry, with the track “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” and admitted that touring made her feel like “reading [her] old diaries every night,”. There was an unusual quirkiness to her stage presence. At times, you felt like you had walked into a TED talk, as Lorde offered advice to her younger audience, on how she found herself and accepted change. At other times, you felt like you were watching your older sister as she self-deprecatorily joked about having a B-12 shot that made her dizzy, and eating a banana onstage.

Lorde’s show reminds us of a different time, a time of confession, togetherness and healing. She even encouraged the crowd to turn to someone they didn’t know and speak to them. Her ability to engage with the audience, and make everyone feel like they belonged created a beautiful sense of community, a rarity in larger concerts today.

The show felt like a tour through Lorde’s life over the past 10 years, looking at both highs and lows. She revisited songs like “Ribs” which she had written at only 15, as well as more up to date songs like “Solar Power”. The honesty in her music was reflected in her speeches, and the intimate, small set. The New Zealand singer reminds us of the power not only within nature, but within ourselves, and left the audience feeling lifted and open.