"I want to take the audience on this journey of being a human and the dynamics of all of that: pain, sorrow, happiness, confusion, and vulnerability,” Loreen says to Vogue Scandinavia of her upcoming tour
Loreen, Vogue Scandinavia’s latest cover star and first woman to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice, is heading on her first-ever European tour tomorrow. The showcase, entitled ‘Tattoo’ after her record-making track, commences in Ireland and sees Loreen travel across the continent to meet her eagerly awaiting fans. And if her past performances are anything to go by, audiences are be in for quite a magical spectacle.
But what exactly can the lucky show-goers expect? We sat down with Loreen to get the scoop on everything to expect from the tour…
She's been preparing herself physically and spiritually for the 18 tour dates
In just under a month, Loreen will perform in 18 locations, including some of Europe’s biggest cities such as London, Paris and Berlin. She will also take the stage here in the Nordics in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Tampere. With that many shows crammed into such a tight schedule, how has Loreen prepared her body and mind for the tour? “Physically, it’s the usual,” she says. “Sleeping and eating and really respecting what my body needs, as it's going to go through a lot – I’m going to be very physical.”
As for the spiritual part, Loreen says not much prep is required. “You just need to be real,” she asserts. “You just need to be authentic and open. And once you’re authentic, real and telling your truth, it doesn’t take that much energy – you actually gain energy from being you.”
It will be a powerful spectacle that explores the spirit and human emotions
Since her first Eurovision win, Loreen’s performances have become well-known for their intense energy – often achieved with surprisingly minimal yet powerful staging. Her on-stage ensembles boast a bevvy of second-skin ensembles of different textures and earthy tones, and the upcoming shows are sure to serve up some more fashion moments.
For the European tour, Loreen opted for the same vibe that her smash-hit song ‘Tattoo’ exudes: simplicity and vulnerability. “They [fans] can expect a lot of dynamics – the whole narrative for the show is duality,” Loreen says. “I’m going to express both distortion and harmony, and I want to show people the beauty in both of them.”
The artist adds that there might be moments which the audience may perceive as dark, but these will be contrasted with bits that are soft and vulnerable, creating an impactful and authentic experience. “I just want to show the whole palette of a person and not being ashamed of that,” Loreen says. “So I want to take the audience on this journey of being a human and the dynamics of all of that: pain, sorrow, happiness, confusion, vulnerability and so on.”
The setlist will be a blend of old and new, and special guests are on the cards
“Fans can definitely expect a mix from the old repertoire and new songs, of course,” Loreen says. “And a touch of heritage – even a song that is not mine but I grew up with.” This idea of heritage is an important theme she will delve into into throughout the show, inviting the audience for a glimpse of her own cherished past.
Special guests are also on the cards. This year, Loreen has invited Canadian singer-songwriter Olivia Lunny, Scottish indie rock band Lucia and the Best Boys, and Irish artist and DJ Tadhg along this extraordinary journey with her. “What I’m looking forward to most with the tour is honestly just meeting people and just sharing music,” Loreen says. “It’s been a while since I stood there and shared something for an hour and a half and got energy back… To be honest, I’m a bit nervous – it’s been a while.”
It remains a mystery whether the two healers Loreen took along to the 2023 Eurovision grand finale will be present at the tour to cleanse the venues of anything negative, but we’re sure the shows’ energies will be just right.