Lorde: Her Moniker As Inspired By "Royals"

Lorde is a breakout pop star in 2013 and became a worldwide sensation with her famous hit "Royals." At age 17, she achieved major accomplishments: her debut album "Heroine" had a platinum sales record, the carrier single "Royals" topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and she grabbed herself two Grammy statues.

Lorde life and career

Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand is the hometown of Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, born on November 7, 1996, to a Croatian mother and an Irish father. She grew up as the second child with three other siblings: older sister Jerry, younger sister India and Angelo, their only brother.

Lorde, her moniker, was heavily influenced by her mother, Sonia Yelich, who is a poet for singers' songwriting skills. Her mother encouraged the young Lorde to read from a diverse genre, which could have imbibed her lyricism's richness. At the young age of five, she started to sing and perform in drama classes.

Early exposure to music

Her musical career path began in May 2009 when Lorde and Louis McDonald, her friend, performed as a duo in their school's annual talent show. As winners, they guested in a local radio program where they rendered several covers, including Duffy's "Warwick Avenue." McDonald's father, who recorded their performance, submitted their videotape to Scott Maclachlan, Universal Music Group's A&R executive.

Lorde caught the record label's interest, and when she was 12, she signed a record contract with UMG. Maclachlan, who became her co-manager, entered into a development deal with the young singer who hired a vocal coach to train her and other writers to work with her. He was highly impressed with her amazing voice that possesses a depth and timbre, unlike others.

However, the songwriting project did not sit well. Lorde, who was writing short stories then, paired up with her mentor, Joel Little. He taught her the proper structuring in creating songs. For three years, she went on to compose her songs.

Lorde's albums and musical works

Here are Lorde's albums throughout her career so far.

"The Love Club EP"

Lorde started to sing her works in 2011. Together with Little in 2012, they produced a 5-track EP titled "The Love Club EP" that was streamed over Sound Cloud. The EP's single "Royals," which she wrote skyrocketed into the charts in New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.

"Pure Heroine"

This is Lorde's debut studio album released in 2013, where the electropop single "Royals" was included. At the age of 16, she hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The debut effort was a critically acclaimed work. Another track, "Team," landed in Hot 100 Top 10.

"Yellow Flicker Bear"

In 2014, Lorde curated the original soundtrack album for the 2014 film "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1)." She penned the words to the lead song "Yellow Flicker Bear," which became a nominee in the Golden Globe's Best Original Song.

"Melodrama"

Her sophomore album is a mix of pop and electropop sound that revolved on the theme of heartbreak and loneliness. "Melodrama" again was highly praised, including the lead single "Green Lights."

Awards

Lorde was recognized for the "Royals" song that gave her Grammy's Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance Awards in 2014. She also won the same year the Billboard Music Award for New Artist and Top Rock Song. MTW awarded her for the Best Rock Video. Her home country, New Zealand, accorded her five trophies. Brit Awards recognized her twice as the International Female Solo Artist.

Lorde now

After a three-year hiatus on May 19, Tuesday night, Lorde revealed on an email to her fans that the third album with Jack Antonoff is in the works. Antonoff collaborated with her on "Melodrama." She said of the album, "it's got its own colours now."