The immense production on Lorde’s hit album Pure Heroine features layers of vocal tracks, which were delivered Monday night via pre-recorded backing tracks instead of using live singers. It was a move that put every bit of focus on the 17-year-old New Zealander and served as something of a template for the whole of the 70-minute show the singer writhing and occasionally convulsing in time with the punishing beats of her gothic pop songs, her startling voice buffeted by rounds of backup vocals to make every moment as impactful as possible.Īs her star has risen thanks to the worldwide success of the hit single “Royals,” Lorde has been described as a new breed of pop star with an edge and fully realized artistic vision that’s something like what’d result if PJ Harvey was cloned and re-engineered to appeal to the Stephenie Meyer/ Twilight set.Įven as a young woman the singer is clearly comfortable and in control onstage and when a black curtain behind her dropped to reveal her only two band members – on drums and keyboards – the picture of Lorde as a performer became even clearer. Go behind Lorde’s Rolling Stone cover shoot : exclusive photos With only a solitary microphone at center stage of the sold-out Austin Music Hall, the pop sensation slinked out front while funereal synth tones set the mood before the opening lines of “Glory and Gore.” Lorde began the opening night of her first full-fledged U.S.