- Lorde is intentionally subverting traditional arena show tropes on her UltraSound tour, opting for a raw and unadorned experience.
- In a moment of vulnerability and power, she tapes her chest live on stage during the song “Man of the Year.”
- The tour embraces unfiltered intimacy, from on-stage outfit changes to camera angles that show everything from acne to stage wiring.
- Lorde calls walking through the crowd during her song “David” the “absolute highlight” of her career, citing an “insane amount of trust” with her fans.
A New Era of Authenticity
For the first time in her decade-spanning career, Lorde feels truly at home on stage, and it’s because she’s tearing down the very definition of an arena pop show. On her current UltraSound tour, the 28-year-old star is ditching the polished perfection audiences expect, instead offering a jarringly intimate and transformative experience that has left fans and critics in awe.
“It’s honestly been a completely transformative experience for me,” Lorde told Variety, explaining that the tour is a raw extension of her fourth album, “Virgin.” With minimal production, on-stage outfit changes, and a willingness to let the audience see the metaphorical wires, she’s creating a new kind of connection.
Embracing Radical Vulnerability
The core of the UltraSound tour is a radical commitment to authenticity. An on-the-ground camera crew is instructed to capture everything—even what most pop stars would hide. “It has the same feeling as seeing my acne, to me,” Lorde explained. “This year I was like, they can see exactly as you are, you might as well just lay it all bare and trust that you’re beautiful.”
The Power of Taping Her Chest
Perhaps the most talked-about moment is when Lorde tapes her chest on stage during her performance of “Man of the Year,” mirroring the song’s music video. She described the act as both “incredibly vulnerable” and empowering.
“I feel so bare in front of these people, and there is this sort of intake of breath in the room because it is just such a raw image,” she said. “And that feels like exactly the work that I need to be doing.” The moment has resonated so deeply that fans have begun taping their own chests at shows in solidarity.
A Show Built on Trust
Lorde’s connection with her fans is central to the tour’s design. She strategically places her breakout hit “Royals” early in the setlist, building the show “for the obsessive… for the super fan.” The most profound moment of connection comes when she walks directly through the audience during the song “David.”
“It’s the absolute highlight of my career, to be honest,” she confessed, emphasizing the mutual respect and trust that makes such an intimate moment possible in a massive venue. “They are so just incredible and respectful and I have never felt unsafe in any way. It’s so beautiful.”
What’s Next for Lorde?
While still touring “Virgin,” Lorde assured fans she’s already feeling a creative surge. “I’m feeling kind of insatiable, to be honest,” she revealed, promising that the next album won’t be another four years away.
Image Referance: https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lorde-ultrasound-tour-interview-subverting-arena-show-taping-chest-1236557615/