She’s only in her teens, but the spry 16-year-old New Zealand artist who goes by the name of Lorde crafts thoughtful pop music that is well beyond her years. Swathed in mystery since her debut EP ‘The Love Club‘ premiered on iTunes back in the fall of 2012, the spritely, tangle-haired artist crept up into the music blogosphere with a slow and steady pace, only recently releasing an actual photo of herself. But now it would seem, since an endorsement from Grimes and some very telling press, a slow rise is no longer in the cards.
If anything, Lorde – aka Ella Yelich O’Connor – should be gearing for meteoric elevation once ‘The Love Club’ debuts properly in the Stats this upcoming June. Her songs are spirited, easy to relate to, but also effortlessly cool. She is a skilled wordsmith as well, with a vulnerable, enchanting vocal ability. Music devotees will salivate at the electro-folksy production and the veil of mysticism shrouding the artist.
There’s an underlying earthiness to Lorde’s music, a self-awareness that is both regal and warm. Her music is confident and endearing; brash and bold, but never bratty as found in some of her contemporaries’ work. Perhaps due to geographical isolation, it’s hard to find a parallel to Lorde’s unique sound. In short it’s harmony-driven, dreamy, bouncy, and bewitching.
For just a taste of what Lorde has to offer, check out her buzzy track “Royals,” a finger-snapping, jazzy pop vignette on our youth’s obsession with fame and wealth. Basically, it’s the anti-rap song, a wry finger-pointing criticism of the empty fantasies and entitlement of modern pop culture. Take a listen:
Keen an eye out on this young one. Visit Lorde on Facebook here for more information, and stay tuned for more on her forthcoming EP release.
