Catching up with Lorde, the 16-year-old singer who vows to transform today’s pop empire
On Lorde‘s current hit, “Royals,” the 16-year-old singer-songwriter wryly implores listeners to “call her Queen Bee” so she can rule a music scene that she clearly feels needs a new sovereign. Her buzzy debut disc, Pure Heroine, serves as both scepter and crown jewel to her fantasy reign, boasting sparse, electro-basted pop tracks that bring to mind early-Björk and late-Postal Service. In the thick of her North American tour—which includes an upcoming stop in Toronto—the New Zealand-born talent took time out to chat about her pointed lyrics, her thoughts on Will, Kate and Pippa and FASHION‘s provocative cover girl, Miley Cyrus.
The lyrics off your Billboard hit, “Royals,” hint at your mixed feelings toward the royal family. Do they fascinate or bore you?
“Today, I think the royal family is a little redundant [but] what I do like about aristocracy is the drama but that’s all history, really. When you have a family where there are 15–year-olds who are ruling on the thrown and women marrying their cousins, everything seems so punk rock.”
Grimes recently wrote a piece on her tumblr page stating that she didn’t “want be infantilized or sexualized.” Do you relate?
“I completely identify with everything she said. I’m a female in pop music and the stuff that happens to us is so frustratingly sexist. What I am doing hasn’t really lent itself to much of that pressure. If I want to embrace my sexuality that would be fine and awesome but it would be on my terms.”
Why do you think some people are intent on publicly shaming Miley Cyrus?
“It is so frustrating because I feel like the way people attacked that VMA situation just felt so Stone Age to me. Miley is 20 years old, she been in a pretty unsure environment for a long time and now she’s doing whatever the f*ck she wants. She’s the most interesting thing happening in pop right now.”
How would you describe your dream closet?
“I like quite simple, strong clothes. I wear a lot of stuff that is gothy—a lot of black. I guess my brand of choice would be Comme des Garçons. I love a good boxy cut. I tried to buy a piece at Comme the other day but my card got declined so I just left.”
Sir Elton John was just quoted saying your style of music is a direction Lady Gaga should be exploring. Thoughts?
“Elton John is loving it…but no, this sound is mine. I worked hard on it. I actually like what Lady Gaga is doing and I like [“Applause”]. She’s tough.”
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://fashionmagazine.com/flare/celebrity/lorde/&title=Catching up with Lorde, the 16-year-old singer who vows to transform today’s pop empire&picture=https://fashionmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Lorde1.jpg&description=
On Lorde's current hit, "Royals," the 16-year-old singer-songwriter wryly implores listeners to "call her Queen Bee" so she can rule a music scene that she clearly feels needs a new sovereign. Her buzzy debut disc, Pure Heroine, serves as both scepter and crown jewel to her fantasy reign, boasting sparse, electro-basted pop tracks that bring to mind early-Björk and late-Postal Service. In the thick of her North American tour—which includes an upcoming stop in Toronto—the New Zealand-born talent took time out to chat about her pointed lyrics, her thoughts on Will, Kate and Pippa and FASHION's provocative cover girl, Miley Cyrus.
The lyrics off your Billboard hit, “Royals,” hint at your mixed feelings toward the royal family. Do they fascinate or bore you?
“Today, I think the royal family is a little redundant [but] what I do like about aristocracy is the drama but that’s all history, really. When you have a family where there are 15–year-olds who are ruling on the thrown and women marrying their cousins, everything seems so punk rock.”
Grimes recently wrote a piece on her tumblr page stating that she didn't "want be infantilized or sexualized." Do you relate?
“I completely identify with everything she said. I’m a female in pop music and the stuff that happens to us is so frustratingly sexist. What I am doing hasn’t really lent itself to much of that pressure. If I want to embrace my sexuality that would be fine and awesome but it would be on my terms.”
Why do you think some people are intent on publicly shaming Miley Cyrus?
“It is so frustrating because I feel like the way people attacked that VMA situation just felt so Stone Age to me. Miley is 20 years old, she been in a pretty unsure environment for a long time and now she’s doing whatever the f*ck she wants. She’s the most interesting thing happening in pop right now.”
How would you describe your dream closet?
“I like quite simple, strong clothes. I wear a lot of stuff that is gothy—a lot of black. I guess my brand of choice would be Comme des Garçons. I love a good boxy cut. I tried to buy a piece at Comme the other day but my card got declined so I just left.”
Sir Elton John was just quoted saying your style of music is a direction Lady Gaga should be exploring. Thoughts?
“Elton John is loving it…but no, this sound is mine. I worked hard on it. I actually like what Lady Gaga is doing and I like [“Applause”]. She’s tough.”){kind=link}