Lorde pays homage to her Croatian roots during first ever concerts in Croatia

by croatiaweek
June 21, 2022
in News

Lorde performing in Šibenik (Photo: Sonja Yelich)

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde has just completed two sold-out concerts in Croatia, the country where her mother’s roots are from.

Lorde’s parents were in the crowd at St. Michael’s Fortress in Šibenik to watch their daughter perform for the first time in front of a Croatian crowd during her Solar Power Tour.

Lorde’s parents in the crowd at her Šibenik concert (Photo: Sonja Yelich)

During the show, the 25-year-old paid homage to her mother, Sonja, and her Croatian roots.

“My parents are here tonight, my mum and dad. My mum is the Croatian one in our family,” Lorde told the crowd, who then started chanting her mum’s name.

“My mum is really the reason that I am sitting here in front of you right now. She is the reason I picked up a book instead of playing a sport, she is the reason I want to look at art when I am stressed out and not a TV show. She is the reason I want to walk for hours at sunset, she is the reason I am passionate, sometimes too passionate. But I really think without her being Croatian so much of these qualities that make me who I am, that make me the person who is sitting here in front of you tonight, would not be present,“ Lorde said on stage, before continuing.

“Your passion, your creativity, your grace, these are the qualities I have inherited from you Croatia,” she said to a loud roar from the crowd.

Lorde in Šibenik Photo: Sonja Yelich)

(Photo: Sonja Yelich)

Born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor in New Zealand, Lorde has both Croatian and New Zealand citizenship. Her mum, Sonja, says it was a proud moment to see her daughter perform in the country of her ancestors.

(Photo: Sonja Yelich)

“Incredible to see Lorde in Croatia, my heart has waited a long time for this. This is our second time to Croatia. So many gorgeous, warm and friendly Croatian kids at the shows. I loved talking to some of them. Thank you Croatia,” Sonja said, who is now traveling around Croatia with her husband.

Sonja in Šibenik ahead of the concert (Private album)

Lorde, who is a multiple Grammy winner and one of the youngest performers to top international charts selling over 12 million albums worldwide, is now in Germany on her Solar Power Tour.