Sam Robinson: Newstalk ZB producer on Lorde's surprise shows in Auckland

Following Lorde's recent pop-ups Washington Square Park in New York and a nightclub in Sydney, Kiwi fans were feeling hopeful they would be treated to a similar experience.

Yesterday, Lorde let 96 Kiwi fans into an exclusive listening party at the YMCA on the corner of Pitt St and Vincent St in downtown Auckland.

There were still hundreds of Kiwi fans lining up hoping to be let in - and Newstalk ZB producer Sam Robinson was among the crowds.

"She's definitely for the audience that she's for - and I am that prime audience, I think a lot of people my age are that prime audience. If you were 14 when Pure Heroine came out...you're hooked for life."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Who's gone little bit like this, ah, seventeen past five,
and that's of course Lord's new single just dropped, as
the second one just dropped one hour and seventeen minutes ago.
Trouble is, some KIWI fans feel that Lord might be
playing a little too hard to get with the Kiwis
because just ninety six of the Kiwi fans got led
into her very exclusive listening party and the toilets at

(00:24):
the Auckland Central YMCA. Our producer Sam Robinson was one
of the hundreds dying to get him, but is absolutely
not able to and he's with me now, Hi.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Sam, Hi, Heather. You know, Bishop was just sitting in
the seat and I think this is a really great
follow up to that. You know, it's a really great
It flows on most.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Because both of you are music enthusiasts, hundred for Sea
and from the Hut. Yeah, and both from the Hut.
There you go. Did she use this toilet gig as
part of her video like she did with the thing
that she did in New York.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
No, So there was a lot of confusion about what
was going to happen with this toilet gig. I mean
all day people were by people, I mean me were
running around trying to find out what was happening and
where there were cameras that were in the cubicles though,
so something might come of that footage, and she did
go live on Instagram live, but I just watched the
video and can confirm no, no footage. No footage, yea,

(01:13):
no footage from the bathroom.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
You were telling me that the guy who organizes these
things is a bit of like a wonder kid.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah. So his name is Terrence O'Connor. He is the
mastermind behind Bratt Summer from last year, if anyone will remember,
and he's also he's around, He's on Tektalk. You've probably
seen him if if you're scrolling enough, and he is
a marketing genius. Gen z kind of gets all these
crowds out. And I think that's kind of what last
night was, is a way to kind of announce that track.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
So something about this will go viral. Yeah, Hunter, So
you're telling me that the YMCA Vincent Street toilets are
going to be seen worldwide if.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
They already have been. Last night, Lord went live to
premiere some of some of those new songs on her
Instagram and I think ten thousand people were listening and
watching those beautiful, those beautiful toilets.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
I'm getting a lot of texts from people who hate
on Lord. Now is this because Lord? Are we doing
the crowded house thing to Lord right now where she's
our child so we're hyping her too heavily or are
they not understanding that she's a big deal globally.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Well, New Zealand is a great place to live when
you don't have someone complaining about tool poppy syndrome in
your ear. But I do think there is a case
of toolpoppy syndrome when it comes to Lord. I think
we really love to claim our artists, and when they
don't always come back and give us the best thing first,
we tend to be a bit of hateful. And I
bet if I got in last night, we would be
having a completely different conversation.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Suh, No, you misunderstand me. The texts are like, Lord
is overrated, She's not that great, her music sucks that
kind of thing.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Look, I mean she is definitely for the audience she
is for, and I am that prime audience. I think
a lot of people may age at that prime audience.
If you were fourteen when Pure Heroin came out, when
that first album dropped, You're hoked for life. There is
no way you're getting off that train, no matter why.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
It was a moment, wasn't it. Hey, So Chris Bishop
was just saying he's off to the Music Awards tonight.
Is Lord going to be there?

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Well, the rumor is that Lord is going to be there.
She's been nominated for Single of the Year for her
remix of Charlie Xx's Girl. So confusing and yeah, these
conflicting reports. I think she'll be there. Apparently she told
people in the bathrooms last night that she will, and
that's actually what she's come back to New Zealand for.
So the question is whether she'll perform tonight.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Okay, can she? Did she explain why she's not performing
here on her tour at all?

Speaker 2 (03:26):
Look, I think that may have been a bit, isn't it, Sam?
I don't think so. I think the way tours roll
out nowadays, they need to see how those tickets sell.
And I'll tell you Solar Power Tour did not sell
super well overseas, so I think maybe the label are
just holding back, waiting to announce those dates until they
see how well America is selling. But with the way
that this album is being publicized and latched onto. I

(03:47):
think we're going to have no trouble selling out any
venue in you said, and.

Speaker 1 (03:50):
Have you got over missing out on the toilet gig?

Speaker 2 (03:52):
No? But if Lord is listening, she is welcome to
invite me to any other private listening parties.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
I think she's listening to to news radio while she's
putting her face on.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
Isn't listening to you? Right? Sam?

Speaker 1 (04:04):
That's exactly what she said, having a little bit of
a kickback and just getting some other and spo, isn't
she while she puts.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Her face Yeah, there's inspiration from everywhere, and you inspire
me every day.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
Honestly, listen to this nonsense out of this kid's mouth.
I have to listen to this crap all day. Okay, Sam,
thanks very much. Off you go then, Sam Robinson News Talks.
H'd be producer for more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive.
Listen live to News Talks.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
He'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.