It’s often said that there is no place like home, and for arguably the most famous international musician to come out of New Zealand, Auckland turned up the volume to welcome Lorde back to her home town.
Three years since she last took to local stages, Lorde has returned with her Ultrasound World Tour with sellout performances in Auckland and Christchurch.
A packed arena full of die-hard fans crammed into Spark Arena, singing every word as loudly as they could.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since she burst onto the music scene with hits such as “Royals”, “Tennis Courts”, and “Bravado”. Watching her show unfold and how her artistry has developed over the years was a proud moment for all of her Kiwi fans. No matter how many accolades she wins or how far she reaches in the industry, Lorde will always be ours.
From the moment that the lights went down, it was obvious that this was going to be more than just a concert. It was going to be an event.
“We’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” she said to the audience, just a few minutes into her set.
Her most recent album, Virgin, has spent the last seven months in New Zealand’s top 40 charts for international artists. A personal, sophisticated album, the audience felt every message when hearing it live, especially after she declared that she was lost as to what to do with her career next.
With ripped jeans and an Auckland Blues t-shirt, the night was all about the music.
The show was fast, engaging, emotional and sombre. From stripping to a pair of Calvin Klein underwear to singing while running on a treadmill, there was nothing left on stage that would surprise the audience next.
That was until the end, when she made her way through the crowd for her last song, singing from a small platform at the back of the arena.
It was an extraordinary experience to feel like you were part of her creative process, and even though there were times when the mood went down, it still felt like you were connected to the music.
It was refreshing to watch a concert where it wasn’t all about the special effects, but instead to focus on the music loved globally, delivered by New Zealand’s very own.
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