Lorde
Lorde is back four years after her debut and has grown up in the meantime. This can also be heard in her new album "Melodrama".
The artist
She is only 20 years old, but she has been realizing her dream as a musician for a long time. The record company Universal signed the New Zealander as a 12-year-old after seeing a video of her at a school talent contest. Her big breakthrough came just a few years later with the song "Royals" from her debut album "Pure Heroine", which stayed at the top of the singles charts for three weeks and won two Grammy Awards in 2014. After her tour, the singer turned her attention back to her private life and returned to her home country, New Zealand. However, she began writing new compositions for her "Melodrama" in 2013.
The album
Four of the 11 tracks on "Melodrama" were pre-released, such as "Sober", which was released on June 9. This single alone shows that Lorde has moved beyond the minimalist style of her last album and is experimenting more - with acoustic sounds and wind instruments.
"Everyone experiences that year when you feel yourself slowly growing up. I moved away from home and suddenly I had to figure out who I am when I'm alone. Who am I when I do things on my own? I think you can really feel those feelings on this album." - Lorde about the album (In an interview with Zane Lowe from BBC 1)
With this album, she shows that she is no longer a young girl. The themes of her songs are more daring: she sings about being in love and philosophizes about long party nights. In addition to her lyrics, fans can also look forward to her popular trademarks - melancholy melodies and her fragile voice together with falsetto vocals in the background.
Verdict
Lorde fulfills the high expectations of her fans and at the same time manages to surprise them with her unconventional electropop. Fortunately, she has not lost her childlike creative freedom and her very own approach despite getting older: For the song "Green Light", one of her new singles, the well-known pop songwriter Max Martin advised her to change the lyrics because her lyrics did not conform to the pop standard - the singer ignored his advice and released the original version. Not only does she remain true to her own style with the lyrics, but she also continues to play with erratic electronic sounds and irregular rhythms on this album. The result is melancholy and euphoria at the same time.
The songs are suitable for both happy moments and sad reflections.
Recommended tracks
"The Louvre" - reverberating acoustics with fast beats, but these are repeatedly extinguished by Lorde's whispering. Mysterious and cool, just like the singer.
"Writer in the Dark" - desperate and in love. Here you can hear the power in Lorde's voice.
"Hard Feelings" - Loveless - fluctuating rhythm, futuristic sounds, sudden melodic changes. Nevertheless, it makes you want to dance.
Live
On Sunday, July 2, 2017, the singer will perform at Open Air St.Gallen 2017. Tickets are still available.
OPEN AIR ST.GALLEN - LORDE
2.07.17, St. Gallen
TICKETS
