Being on the outskirts of fame has taught Lorde‘s boyfriend a lot.
In a March 18 blog post titled “everybody returns someday,” James K. Lowe mused about how his life has changed since Lorde — real name Ella Yelich O’Connor — has risen to superstardom.
“Since originally sitting down to write this post, Ella has become a two time Grammy winner. She has taken home a Brit too. Currently she is on the opposite side of the world on tour,” he writes of the 17-year-old pop phenom. “As much as I miss her I couldn’t be prouder of what she has achieved so far. If you are lucky enough to attend one of her shows on this current tour, you’ll experience more than just her voice.”
Lowe, an Auckland, New Zealand-based photographer, continues: “Jared Leto said that fame doesn’t change you, it changes everyone around you. While I’m not the centre of attention here (and f—k, the times I have, it’s never been fun), I do become aware of the people around me and their transparency. They fail to hide it. I’ve experienced being a target of the tabloids, finding moments I thought I was in safe hands splattered all over the internet, being pushed and shoved, or watching others get pushed and shoved by paparazzi just to get what they think they’re entitled to.”
But the 24-year-old, who was the target of online bullying earlier this year, maintains a positive outlook despite being somewhat unwillingly thrust into the public eye.
“While I’m dragging on about the negative aspects, they are only a smart part of my world now. There is a bright, shining silver lining to this thing … I’ve been able to tell tales of the many amazing people I’ve met along the way – from fellow photographers, to artists I’ve always admired and never thought I’d get to meet, let alone have a simple thing like coffee with… People who seem to scramble the words within your brain and the only thing you end up doing is blurting out ‘HILSKDFLKWELK’ (at some point it’s a verbal greeting, but ends up a flurry of sweat mixed with spit). More importantly, I’ve found a little inspiration from new faces. People I look up to. People whose work I admire so much,” he says.
“For all of this I have to thank the one I look up to the most. Who I admire the most. Who still fills the little voids I try to avoid.”
Could it be Lorde?