Music

Track Of The Week: "Royals" by Lorde

by Chris Budd

Have you heard the song “Royals” from New Zealand singer/songwriter Ella Yelich-O’Connor (aka Lorde)? You might want to take a minute and put it on.

Destined to be one of the more talked-about newcomers in 2013, Lorde came on the scene late last year with her debut EP The Love Club. The five-song effort (on Soundcloud here) ushers in her unique voice and features the song “Royals,” the stripped-down almost-rap about listening to songs about excessive riches when she’s more grounded. She was raised on a nutritious musical diet of classics (Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths and Nick Drake, Etta James, Otis Redding) and contemporaries (James Blake, Bon Iver, Burial, Animal Collective, SBTRKT and Drake), all influencing her approach to music making. The music of Lorde “manages to capture the very essence of the frustration and freedom, the curiosity and confidence, and the plain old wonder of teenage life, in a truly unique way”.

Oh yeah, and she’s only 16.