Teenage phenomenon Lorde has been ordered to put her feet up and miss her scheduled tour of Australia.
The artist has fallen ill and will return to her homeland for "immediate rest and recuperation in order to regain complete health and continue touring for the rest of the year,” according to a statement issued by Melbourne-based promoter Frontier Touring.
Following the official announcement, she tweeted that she was suffering with a “really nasty chest infection” and “general ill health”. The decision to nix her immediate touring plans came on “doctor’s advice.”
in case you missed the announcement earlier, i have had to postpone my australian shows because of a nasty chest infection and ..
— Lorde (@lordemusic) April 22, 2014general ill health. i am so so gutted to have to do this but my parents and my team stepped in telling me i needed a break after being ..
— Lorde (@lordemusic) April 22, 2014Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, was slated to play eight dates in six Australian cities starting April 24 at Melbourne’s Festival Hall.
"It breaks my heart to have to postpone these shows as the band and I absolutely love playing to Australian crowds, and it was not a decision we made lightly,” she says in the statement. “I know I need to focus on getting better in order to perform at my best. We'll be with you as soon as we can, Aussies."
Lorde Announces Australia Tour
Rescheduled dates are being presently worked on and will be announced as soon as possible, Frontier Touring notes. “If the new dates are not suitable,” the statement continues, “rest assured you will be able to secure a refund.”
Lorde made an impressive debut at Coachella, where Billboard described the Kiwi’s appearance as that of a “benevolent warrior princess, coiled and gracious in a white flowing dress and long brown hair blown back by the desert wind.”
Lorde crashed sales charts around the globe in record-breaking fashion last year. As a 16-year-old, Lorde became the first New Zealand solo artist to have a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, when “Royals” topped out for more than two months. She also became the first solo female to crown Billboard's Nielsen BDS-based Alternative Songs chart in more than 17 years. Grammys and a BRIT Award have followed.
Australians have been big, early supporters of Lorde. She landed three songs in the top 15 of broadcaster Triple J’s public-voted Hottest 100 poll, and her “Royals/The Love Club” EP is six-times platinum certified (420,000 units). “Royals” was the most-streamed track of 2013, according to trade body ARIA, and her debut album "Pure Heroine" is double-platinum. Lorde performed at the 2013 ARIA Awards and more recently landed a slot on the touring Laneway Festival.
Lorde's postponed Australia tour dates:
April 24, 26 - Melbourne, Festival Hall
April 27 - Adelaide, AEC Theatre
April 29, Perth, Challenge Stadium
May 2, 3, Sydney, Hordern Pavilion
May 4 - Newcastle, Entertainment Centre
May 6 - Brisbane, Riverstage