Music
Review
Four ways that Lorde’s Ultrasound arena tour creates new levels of fan intimacy
For all the huge arenas on the tour, fans still felt a close connection to the alt-pop star
New Zealand alt-pop icon Lorde returned earlier this year with her stellar fourth album, Virgin. The thrilling follow-up to 2021’s comparatively-reserved Solar Power is not only packed with electronic experimentation but her most personal collection to date. To celebrate its release, the Ultrasound Tour has been lighting up arenas around the world – a soul-bearing yet frequently ravey, audio-visual spectacle that feels beamed in from the future while also full of intimate moments.
The countless cameras
The concept of surveillance has weaved its way into a number of pop shows in recent years: from Olivia Rodrigo crawling across a mirror runway, to Charli XCX being followed around by a videographer. But Lorde’s reckoning is the most innovative and multi-dimensional yet. There are many examples throughout the Ultrasound show. During ‘Supercut’, she paces with intent on a treadmill filled with cameras, meaning the audience sees several different viewpoints of her actions. It’s incredibly clever. Elsewhere, her dancers routinely follow one another with video recorders. But there’s one moment that stands out the most.
The up-close angles
Having started writing the song ‘GRWM’ while in the shower, Lorde fittingly pours water over herself before her camera-wielding dancer starts filming. With her stomach and the top of her Calvin Klein boxers visible on the main screens, the rapid cuts and black and white transitions are effectively provocative. Considering that Lorde has spoken openly about her body image struggles, the fact she is now confident enough to reveal so much of hers, while remaining in total control, has an empowering impact. It’s sure to resonate with anyone who has gone through a similar journey.
Walking through the crowd during ‘David’
Wearing a fluorescent cube jacket, Lorde begins ‘David’ – a highlight from recent album Virgin – on the main stage. The moment she starts walking down the steps, the room erupts. Thanks to the many viral clips on social media, everyone knows that she’s about to make her way through the crowd. While many artists of her level have gone down this route recently, most notably Drake, none have allowed their fans to get as close as Lorde does. Seeing the smiles on their faces on the big screen is heartwarming too.
The cathartic ‘Ribs’ rave with her fans
After arriving at the designated B-stage, Lorde stands tall, towering over thousands from the front of the lighting desk. “Can you handle one more song?” she teases, “deep breaths, because this is the oldest and most precious song we have.” Of course, everyone knows which hit she is referring to: ‘Ribs’, one of the breakout singles, alongside ‘Royals’, from her 2013 debut album Pure Heroine. Gradually building the sparse track up, it doesn’t take long until the arena is transformed into a club. Though it’s the kind of set up that is usually reserved for DJs and producers like Fred again.., it works just as effectively in Lorde’s hands. With a single neon blue laser light beaming between her and the main stage screen which reveals a thin line of clouds, her arms reach upwards like she’s touching the sky. As ‘Ribs’ ascends to its cathartic peak, there’s barely a foot left on the floor; instead, Lorde and her word-perfect legion jump together like it’s their last night on Earth.
