Lorde chills out in chilly Antarctica
She’s graced some of the world’s most famous stages, singing songs that have topped charts around the globe and won two Grammy Awards. And while Lorde – real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor – keeps her fans waiting for an anticipated third album, she confirmed this week that she is releasing a book, Going South, containing 100 pages of pictures and writing from her 2019 trip south to Antarctica.
Lorde travelled to Antarctica with friend and photographer Harriet Weir on a C17 Globemaster, arriving on January 24, last year.
They were hosted by Antarctica New Zealand communications general manager Megan Nicholl.
Lorde stayed at Scott Base and camped at Windless Bight for Antarctic field training.
Over the six-day trip, Lorde visited science events at Arrival Heights, Cape Bird, and in McMurdo Sound on the sea ice.
She also visited early explorer huts at Cape Evans, Cape Royds, and Hut Point. The new issue of Metro has a report by Lorde about the trip.”
Antarctica New Zealand chief executive, Sarah Williamson, said Lorde could reach an audience that few people could.
“She is engaged in the climate change message and passionate about protecting this planet.
“Antarctica New Zealand chose to support her to Antarctica so she can share with New Zealanders and the world what it is we do there and the science we support.”
The visit also inspired Lorde to write her first book, Going South – all the profits of which will support at least one postgraduate research scholarship, focusing on climate change research to be awarded in 2022.
Williamson said hosting Lorde and her photographer for six nights cost $4220 – $2110 a person.
A helicopter was also used to access Cape Bird field science and historic huts – at $4800 for three people.
That did not include the cost of flying the singer and her photographer from Christchurch to Antarctica.
And the costs were well spent, Williamson stressed, given the global reach likely from her book project.
“Intercontinental movements between Christchurch and Antarctica are covered as part of the annual allocation of seats through a Joint Logistics Pool asset-sharing arrangement with the United States National Science Foundation.”
The pool is agreed annually in advance so contributions are balanced relative to resources used – therefore, this is not included as a factored cost.
Antarctica New Zealand’s latest annual report names Lorde as an “Antarctica Ambassador”.
People could expect to hear more from Lorde on Antarctica in the coming weeks, Williamson said.
“The continent has fascinated me since I was old enough to read.
“It started to interest me again in recent years as my environmental awareness went up and up, and questions about how to change my personal and professional footprints on this earth occupied much of my time,” the singer wrote in a newsletter to her fans.
Going South is expected to be released in February and is available to order for $29.99.