Lorde explains what made her 'peace out' from social media in a new conversation with Cazzie David: 'I was losing my free will'

• Lorde recently opened up about her unofficial internet hiatus in a conversation with Cazzie David for Interview magazine.
• The "Melodrama" singer, who essentially disappeared from social media in 2018, compared being active online with "having front-row seats to the hellfire."
• "Part of what made me peace out on social media, apart from feeling like I was losing my free will, was the massive amounts of stress I was feeling about our planet, about systemic racism, and about police brutality in this country," she explained.
• Lorde also said that consuming "the culture of social media," like her friend David, "destroys the part of my brain that can make work."

Lorde gave fans a rare peek into her psyche on Wednesday when Interview magazine published a conversation between the elusive artist and her friend, Cazzie David.

The 24-year-old New Zealander, who essentially disappeared from social media in 2018, compared being active online with "having front-row seats to the hellfire."

"Part of what made me peace out on social media, apart from feeling like I was losing my free will, was the massive amounts of stress I was feeling about our planet, about systemic racism, and about police brutality in this country," she explained.

Lorde drew a contrast between her own online habits and those of her friend, who described herself in the interview as "truly very addicted" to social media.

David also tackles her "addiction" in her new collection of comedic essays, "No One Asked For This."

"I think you're able to make evaluations about society because of how voraciously you consume the culture of social media, which is obviously very different to what I do," Lorde told David. "Doing that, for me, destroys the part of my brain that can make work."

The "Melodrama" singer had been quiet online until recently, when she briefly reappeared to encourage her fellow New Zealanders to vote.

She also sent fans two emails back in May and June: the latter to vocalize her support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the former to check in and confirm that music is being made.

"The work is so f---ing good, my friend," she wrote. "I am truly jazzed for you to hear it."

The confirmation came six months after Lorde announced the postponement of her third album, due to the sudden death of her beloved dog, Pearl.

• Read more:
• Lorde breaks her 3-year social media hiatus to encourage fellow New Zealanders to vote — and hints at new music next year
• Cazzie David says returning to social media after split from Pete Davidson was like watching him having 'pornographic sex' all day
• Cazzie David says she felt like she was being 'terrorized' when she realized Pete Davidson covered the tattoos he dedicated to her
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