Es Devlin, the designer of Lorde’s 2017 Coachella set, and Trask House owner John McGuire, whose company made the Camp Flog Gnaw piece for Kanye West and Kid Cudi, have both addressed Lorde’s accusations regarding the Kids See Ghosts duo stealing her stage design.
Devlin confirmed she had nothing to do with the Kids See Ghosts design despite her previous work with Yeezy. She also stated her belief that there was “no imitation at work here” in response to Lorde’s claims.
“The idea of a floating glass box of course is not in any way new and the geometry precedes all of us,” Devlin wrote on Instagram. “The form finds another layer of resonance in each new context. I did not design the recent Kids See Ghosts performance: I worked with Lorde on the design for her Coachella performance.”
She continued, “I admire both and see no imitation at work here: I think the more interesting point is that both artists, responding to our dis-jointed times, are being drawn to this gesture of the fragile floating room: the world un-moored from gravity : where the rules of civilisation and identity as we have known them may soon no longer apply.”
Trask House’s McGuire responded to Lorde’s accusations in a statement to the New York Times.
“[Lorde] wasn’t the first person to use a floating glass box, she won’t be the last,” he said. “She doesn’t own it, her designer didn’t invent it. Cubes and floating aren’t new to Kanye West, stage design or architecture. A quick Google of floating glass box brings up many instances of suspended glass cubes.”
[This post has been updated. The following was originally published on November 12, 2018.]
Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s stage design at the 2018 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival is facing scrutiny from Lorde. The platinum-selling singer has accused Yeezy and Cudi of ripping off her work, highlighting the similarities between the design used by the duo on Sunday (November 11) and her past sets.
Lorde made the accusation in a series of posts on Instagram Stories. She shared photos of Kanye and Cudi’s Camp Flog Gnaw stage alongside images from a March 2018 tour date and her performance at the 2017 Coachella Festival.
“I’m proud of the work I do and it’s flattering when other artists feel inspired by it, to the extent that they choose to try it on themselves,” she wrote. “But don’t steal — not from women or anyone else — not in 2018 or ever.”
Lorde’s stage was designed by Es Devlin, who also works with Kanye. Devlin was behind the aforementioned Coachella set, but the designer has been collaborating with Yeezy for years prior to her work with Lorde.
Devlin’s site showcases some of her past creations for Kanye, which include stage designs that date back to his Glow In The Dark Tour from 2008.
View the design in question below.
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This is a bit confusing. I mean, David Blaine performed suspended in a box back in 2003, i saw a stage play a few weeks ago that had someone acting from inside a suspended swinging box, the idea is hardly so unique that anyone who wanted to perform from inside a box would have to necessarily say where they got the idea. Odd.
Did you design the stage Lorde? Did you request a Giant Fish tank? No? Then shut the fuck up!
“Lorde’s stage was designed by Es Devlin, who also works with Kanye. Devlin was behind the aforementioned Coachella set, but the designer has been collaborating with Yeezy for years prior to her work with Lorde.” – so shouldn’t she have issues with Devlin??? Plus, way to make it a gender issue Lorde. Thank you Justin for bringing that into the light.
my god, lorde.
I really don’t know what to say. she has surpassed many many new Zealand singers who have tried in the past break in to other markets. she is worth about eleven million. if it wasn’t for piracy, she could be a billionaire. very very fortunate young woman to have reached the feats of fame such as herself in such a short amount of time. maybe one day there will be a book.
This has to be Lorde lol
She forgetting Kanye was on a floating stage before her too? One could say she took Kanye’s set and just added a glass case around it. I hate people nowadays, everyone is sensitive and makes every issue about race or gender. Fuck off
You forgetting Nine Inch Nails was on a floating stage before Kanye … You could say he took NIN’s set and just added shit … I hate people nowadays, everyone is sensitive and makes every issue about race or gender. Fuck off OH! and Trent Reznor called Kanye out on it – Crickets, crickets
Lol, I never sugggested Kanye was the first to be on a floating stage, just said he did it before Lorde. Kanye isn’t the one complaining. If he were to complain about someone stealing that then you can make your point with some validity, but otherwise your post is useless and highlights the issues I have with society. Also, Kanye didn’t claim he was the first to use a floating stage so why is Trent Reznor calling anyone out on it, that’s a bitch move… I hate how people don’t actually read these days. Reading isn’t just about looking at the words but also understanding the meaning of what is being said. It’s comprehensive too. People today just look at the words, make up some nonsense meaning without actually reading it properly. Again… fuck off.
Oh guess what…shut up…
So you trademarked it? Then shut up everyone bites everyone at some point…
Both garbage… who cares
Please stop beefing and make music. Music unites, beefs divide
Lorde is fake. In reality it’s Randy March singing.
Lorde is not only ugly she’s out of her damn mind. Hunger games yayaya