“Pure Heroine” by Lorde was released 13 years ago and it continues to set the bar for music that is purely vulnerable. Lorde was only 12 years old when a video of her performing at a school talent show caught the attention of Universal Music Group. Shortly after, she was signed to an artist development deal that gave her four years to write and grow creatively. This extended period of artistic freedom allowed Lorde to develop her voice and eventually led her to producer Joel Little, whose minimalist approach would help define her sound.
Lorde and Little recorded “The Love Club EP”, a five-track project that included what would become her breakout hit, “Royals”. The EP was first uploaded independently to SoundCloud before being officially released by her label. Its success later propelled the release of Lorde’s debut studio album, “Pure Heroine”
Mapping Adolescence
“Pure Heroine”, a 10 track album was released when Lorde was just 16 years old. The album begins with “Tennis Court”. This synth pop upbeat song shows a snapshot of Lorde’s brain to begin the album. The chorus “it’s a new art form showing people how little we care” sums up the teenage experience. The second track on the album “400 Lux”, shows the confusion and euphoria of being in love in your teens. An overarching theme in “Pure Heroine” is the importance of parties within a teenager’s lifestyle. In “400 Lux”, Lorde paints a picture of driving with her significant other from sunset to sunrise. This journey can be read as being picked up at dusk on the way to a party, only for the night to unfold differently: either they skip the party altogether, choosing instead to drive aimlessly or they attend and later leave together. In either case, the song emphasizes the intimacy found in the quiet moments surrounding.
“Royals” was placed as the third track on the album after being a single that had immense success. Lorde is originally from New Zealand, and “Royals” perfectly portrays confusion with being abroad and her beginnings of success. The chorus, “But every song’s like, Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin’ in the bathroom. Bloodstains, ballgowns, trashing the hotel room. We don’t care. We’re driving Cadillacs in our dreams” shows the teenage experience in America that many girls romanticized. These fantasies presented in “Royals” offered an escape from ordinary adolescence, allowing girls to imagine maturity, desirability and control in a world where they often felt unseen.
“It feels so scary, getting old”
“Ribs”, an unexpected hit from the album, continued to show the vulnerability of Lorde’s album. It masterfully blends melancholy with euphoria, capturing the fear of what lies ahead alongside a deep nostalgia for what’s already gone. “Buzzcut Season,” “Team,” “Glory and Gore,” “Still Sane” and “White Teeth Teens” all capture nuanced themes of being a teenage girl. From the escapism shown in “Buzzcut Season” to the idea of being a “gladiator” in “Glory and Gore”.
The album ends with “A World Alone.” This song perfectly closes this album as a brilliant anthem about teenage alienation, intimacy and defying social noise. “Let’em talk ‘cause we’re dancing in this world alone” specifically highlights Lordes disregard for the critics opinions. The more upbeat song for the theme of the album perfectly ends an album about being a 16 year old girl.
Lorde’s career has only continued to blossom since the release of Pure Heroine. She has released three more hit albums since. She will be a headliner at Kilby Block Party this year and is a fan favorite in the lineup. But Despite her growth and evolution, Pure Heroine remains unmatched in its intimacy. It captures a moment that cannot be recreated, a teenager articulating adolescence while still living it. Only a sixteen-year-old could have written Pure Heroine.