Credit: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com/REX

At last month’s Brit Awards, Lorde joined David Bowie’s touring band to perform “Life on Mars?” as part of a tribute to the Thin White Duke. The 19-year-old New Zealand songstress admitted she was “nervous” prior to taking the stage, “and then I whispered to myself ‘just sing it to David’, and nothing else mattered.” The performance earned universal acclaim, with Bowie’s own son, Duncan Jones, calling it “beautiful.”

During a recent Periscope Q&A with fans, Bowie’s longtime pianist Mike Garson discussed Bowie’s relationship with Lorde, and shared a behind the scenes account of the Brit Awards performance.



“David really liked Lorde, and he felt like she was the future of music, and they had a few wonderful moments together,” Garson explained. “She was the perfect choice. Some of David’s family members and David’s management had some suggestions she’d be the right one. They wanted to bring the next generation in.”

Garson went on to explain that he and Lorde rehearsed on several occasions leading up to the Brits, including in Garson’s New York City studio as well as in London. “It was an amazing, momentous experience, and she really did justice to him.”

“She was so nervous,” Garson added. “She actually said if she didn’t sing the song to David, she couldn’t have gotten through it.”

Revisit Lorde’s Brit Awards performance below.

Also, watch Garson’s full Periscope Q&A. He begins by performing “Space Oddity” on piano, and also discussed his intention to go on tour and perform Bowie’s music live.