Wilder Music

By Theresa Galavics.

Photo Credit: Sam Penn.

For the past 12 years, Lorde has provided the coming-of-age soundtrack for her listeners. In her music, she beautifully captures the fragile, electric moments that define growing up: heartbreak, the ache of wanting to belong and the thrill of carving out your own identity. Her songwriting blends introspective lyrics with emotional precision, earning her a devoted following. So it is no surprise that, since the long awaited announcement of her comeback with ‘What Was That’, the lead single of her fourth album ‘Virgin’ this April, fans have been aching for her return. Earlier this month, the wait finally ended for her fans in Munich, as she brought her ‘Ultrasound Tour’ to the sold-out Zenith.

The night opened with ‘The Japanese House’, the music project of Amber Bain. Her sound is best described as indie-pop with strong electro-pop influences, features layered vocals, soft synths and introspective songwriting. She often reflects on themes of love, self-discovery and queer identity. Midway through her set, she introduced the song ‘Boyhood’, speaking candidly about growing up gay and how frightening yet beautiful it can be to finally find people who make you feel seen. Flashlights swayed gently across the room as she sang. Onstage, she was joined by a four-piece band, including a saxophonist, who added even more depth to her sound. She closed her set with ‘Sunshine Baby’, leaving the crowd dancing, energised and ready for what was to come. As someone who already loves her music, it felt like the perfect beginning to the night.

As soon as the lights went dark, the atmosphere shifted. Lorde walked onstage through strobes and a low rumble. She opened with ‘Hammer’, the first song on her new album ‘Virgin’, released in June 2025. Immediately afterward, she sang her breakout hit ‘Royals’ and the crowd sang every word. While she performed the entirety of her new album, she also left room for classics and fan favourites during her 23 song set.

One undeniable fan favourite is ‘Supercut’, which she prefaced with: “Sometimes I get a feeling, I’m stuck in a memory, like I can’t get out. Sometimes I think it’s like a supercut”, prompting the audience to erupt with loud cheers as the first note hits. Throughout the song she incorporated striking visual symbolism: as she repeated the lines ‘Cause in my head, In my head, I do everything right, when you call, I’ll forgive and not fight, all the moments I play in the dark wild and fluorescent come home to my heart’ she stepped onto a treadmill, first walking, then running as the energy built. The imagery of the treadmill, trying to move forward while being trapped in the same place, beautifully captures the feeling of believing you’re taking steps to fix something, yet ultimately being stuck until you distance yourself from your own thoughts.

The emotional high point of the evening came when she addressed the audience before her song ‘Liability’, from her second album ‘Melodrama’. Sitting onstage, she spoke over the soft intro, reflecting on the deep, reciprocal bond she has shared with her fans as they’ve grown up together. “We’ve seen each other through so much […] It’s so indescribably beautiful what we have,” she said. She talked about stepping away from the spotlight to rediscover herself and return with honesty. Emphasising authenticity and vulnerability, she expressed gratitude for 12 years of shared experiences and encouraged fans to embrace their individuality. The audience cheered throughout her speech, with occasional “We love you” chants leaving her visibly moved as she paused to take it all in. “Now let’s pour one out and sing this song about being way too much for the rest of the world, ok?”  she concluded her speech and the crowd roared as she began the song. It was one of the quietest, most intimate moments of the night, no theatrics, just Lorde sitting among her fans, singing with soft instrumentals in the background. As ‘Liability’ is one of my favourite songs of hers, it felt like a genuinely intimate moment I’ll treasure. Right after ‘Liability’ she performed ‘Man of the Year’, one of the album’s early releases, exploring themes of gender identity and how it appears in her life. As the song ended, confetti burst from the ceiling showering the crowd.

Another standout moment came with ‘Ribs’ during the encore: a song that has become an anthem for her fans, perfectly capturing the bittersweet ache of growing up and the nostalgia that accompanies it. Singing from the B-Stage within the crowd, dancing and jumping alongside us, she elevated the sense of connection, making it feel as though she were simply one of our friends singing along to “you’re the only friend I need”. It was cathartic, leaving everyone buzzing as we spilled back into the Munich night.

Though the stage design was minimal, aside from the occasional intentional props used to enhance the storytelling, she was joined for most songs by two dancers, whose movements were not synchronised pop choreography, but more like theatrical movements, perfectly fitting her style. At times, it even felt like she wasn’t performing for us, but rather dancing in her room, allowing us to witness not only her music but also the emotions behind it. Through both her music and stage presence, she offered the audience an introspective look into her life and experiences. Her commitment to artistry and storytelling was clear throughout the entire night. 

I have listened to ‘Lorde’ since my early teens, so finally attending one of her concerts felt like reaching a long awaited chapter in a good book. It was a raw and intimate performance, the kind that instantly pulls you into her world. Every moment felt carefully crafted yet emotionally spontaneous, as if she were letting the audience read pages from her diary. She had a clear vision for what this show should be and brought it to life with remarkable precision.

SETLIST:

1. Hammer
2. Royals
3. Broken Glass
4. Buzzcut Season
5. Favourite Daughter
6. Perfect Places
7. Shapeshifters
8. Current Affairs
9. Supercut
10. GRWM
11. 400 Lux
12. The Louvre
13. Oceanic Feeling
14. Big Star
15. Liability
16. Clearblue
17. Man of The Year
18. if She Could See Me Now
19. Team
20. What Was That
21. Green Light
22. David
23. Ribs