Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, better known as her stage name, Lorde, held a surprise concert two days prior to her sub headlining show at Coachella on Sunday, April 16, 2017. The now internationally known star from New Zealand has rid herself of her long curly locks since her last gig over two years ago and is now rocking a short, simple, yet powerful hairstyle in a long sleeved chain linked dress. At this intimate southern California show held for three-hundred lucky fans at Pappy & Harriet’s nightclub, she played a set list of nine songs, including crowd favorites, and some of my personal favorites, like Team and Tennis Court. Alongside these crowd pleasers, Lorde debuted two songs, “Sober” and what fans are naming, “Perfect Places”. The latter of the two is an eerie, upbeat, and violin- filled tune which repeatedly mentions the title of Lorde’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Melodrama, a record which the artist herself states is about "all of the ups and downs of being twenty-something."
It was no surprise that Lorde played the exact set list as her surprise pre-Coachella show at the actual event, the only difference being this show was broadcast live worldwide on Youtube. This time she appeared in a metallic and nude high-neck top paired with dark silver, shimmery wide leg pants. The star promised to bring surprises to Coachella and she delivered! Lorde not only played her two new songs previously debuted at Pappy & Harriets, but she premiered a brand new song entitled, “Homemade Dynamite,” another poppy track with hints of electronica dance infused into it. This set list incorporated stage banter and an eclectic mix of new and old and slow and upbeat songs was accompanied by extraordinary production, outweighing anything Lorde has ever done in the past. The stage consisted of an overhead glass box filled with dancers who performed different scenes that seemed to match the stories the artist described in her own songs. It wasn’t until “Ribs,” a song about a house party at Lorde’s home while her parents are away, takes a turn for the worst and results in a fear of growing up, that the artist interacts with the dancers, who gradually vacate the glass structure leaving her alone.
These new developments in Lorde’s stage production, sound, and charisma are what makes her fans, myself included, even more excited for what is in store, and what the future of Melodrama holds. Not only am I excited for the album’s release on June 16th, but for her to play the Governor’s Ball festival on June 2nd, one installment of a series of festivals Lorde will be playing this summer, that I managed to score tickets to! Stay tuned for a review of both the show and the album!
