Since her international breakthrough with "Royals", New Zealand singer Lorde has been one of the most striking figures in the pop world. She has never tried to fit the classic pop mould. Instead, she has built her own universe, one that is minimalist, melancholy, and at times darker, but always powered by an energy that is very much her own.

For some, Lorde remains the young girl behind "Royals", who arrived on the international music scene seemingly out of nowhere in 2013. For her fans, though, she is a great deal more than that.

With albums such as Pure Heroine, Melodrama, and Solar Power, she has moved through different phases and reshaped her sound along the way. Tracks like "Ribs", "Liability", "Green Light", and "The Louvre" have long since become modern classics for her audience.

With her new album Virgin alongside the Ultrasound tour, Lorde is opening a new chapter. It was into that new universe that the audience at the Rockhal stepped on Tuesday evening.

Year-long wait

The concert, organised by den Atelier, had originally been scheduled for November of last year, but had to be cancelled at the time after the singer came down with food poisoning. On Tuesday evening, Lorde was quick to point out more than once how hard it had been for her to call off the show, and how much it meant to be able to make it up almost a year later by pouring all of her energy and affection into the Luxembourg crowd.

The largely young audience knew the lyrics inside out and did not hesitate to sing along at full volume whenever the artist reached out to them. Even those who could not sing along to every one of Lorde's songs were pulled in by her performance from the very first minute.

Dazzling experience of music, light and emotion

The concert was no mere run-through of songs but a full experience of music, light, and emotion. The New Zealander has enormous stage presence, holding every eye and ear in the room from the opening bars, and, of course, wielding a distinctive and unmistakable voice. As a Grammy winner, she is now much more than just another pop star.

Above all, the live video footage projected in various forms throughout the set gave the performance an added dimension, drawing the audience in close, even from the back of the venue. Between atmospheric production, personal lyrics, and a blend of intimacy and electronic energy, Lorde most certainly delivered.