Kiwi pop star Lorde’s social-media blackout

In this episode of Good Weekend Talks, we look at Lorde – a globally successful pop star at 16, who’s since taught the masters of the music business how to do things differently.

Now 24, the Kiwi pop sensation is about to release a new album after an interesting few years in which she swore off social media and travelled widely, but stayed living in her native New Zealand. Good Weekend senior writer Amanda Hooton profiled the young singer for our cover story this week: “Lorde knows: how a much-loved dog, a boat trip to Antarctica and a social media blackout helped a Kiwi pop sensation let the sun shine in”.

Amanda is joined on the podcast by Nathanael Cooper, a senior writer with The Sydney Morning Herald and host of our sister podcast, Please Explain, with moderation from Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.

They chat about everything from Lorde’s decision to celebrate nature rather than preach about climate change, to the friendships and lifestyle choices that sustain her, to precisely how a young artist who doesn’t play any instruments writes music with global appeal. Not to mention, how similar (or not) she is to her friend and fellow singer songwriter, Taylor Swift.

Good Weekend Talks offers readers the chance to delve even deeper each week into Good Weekend’s most intriguing stories, with lively insight from writers, editors and experts. Listen to more episodes by subscribing to Good Weekend Talks wherever you get your podcasts.

For the full feature story, see Saturday’s Good Weekend, or visit The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

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