Lorde reappears in a rare social media presence years after her disappearance
It’s been a long four years since the world-conquering New Zealand singer last released an album. She has been almost invisible in public since – until now.
Lorde made a rare appearance on social media this week, having been practically invisible to fans since wrapping up promotional duties for her previous album many years ago.
Between musical ventures, the 24-year-old New Zealand singer withdraws from the public eye and does not maintain an active public social media presence.
In June, it will be four years after the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album Melodrama – so fans wondering where the Green Light singer has gone will be delighted to hear she appears to be happy and safe in her native country.
Lorde – real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor – was photographed celebrating her birthday with martinis at an Auckland restaurant by her friend, New Zealand food writer Albert Cho.
Lorde hasn’t updated on her personal Instagram account in three years. She is more prolific on her secret Instagram site, “onionringsworldwide,” where she scores onion rings she comes across while traveling.
That account was dead for several years after astute fans deduced Lorde’s identity – but she revived it in December last year and has been happily rating New Zealand’s onion rings ever since:
Lorde clarified her decision to withdraw from social media – and thus from the public eye – in a rare print interview given to friend Cazzie Davis last November.
“Apart from feeling like I was losing my free will, part of what drove me to vent on social media was the huge amounts of stress I was experiencing about our world, structural racism, and police brutality in this country,” she explained.
“[It] obliterates the portion of my brain that is capable of function… How do you strike a balance between having to keep your eye on the pulse and not going insane?”
Lorde at 16, a teenage singing sensation. 
On stage in January 2018.
Following this new surprise appearance on her friend’s Instagram account, Lorde fans immediately bombarded Chu with requests for the singer to release some (non-onion-ring-related) material.
“TELL HER TO PROVIDE US WITH NEW MUSIC!” exclaimed one fan.
“Leak her album,” one suggested.
“OMG, Lorde has returned from the sun?” exclaimed another.
Lorde rose to popularity as a teenager with her self-penned global smash Royals, a US number one that sold ten million copies. Since then, she’s released two albums, received two Grammy Awards, and toured the globe – but has been relocating to New Zealand following the end of the Melodrama world tour in 2018.
In May of last year, she shocked fans with an email newsletter telling them that she was working on a new album with collaborator Jack Antonoff: “Your work is incredible, my friend. I’m ecstatic for you to hear it.”
There is no burden on you, Lorde, but… we are waiting!
