Imagine you were back in the 60s. What song would you be hearing? Your headphones would be buzzing with Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” on shuffle. Lorde’s finest album was a significant cultural moment in the 2010s. Its clean and straightforward production, along with its laid-back lyrics, stood in contrast to the over-the-top pop music dominating the airwaves at that time.
She painted a nostalgic picture of everyday life in a working-class suburb, resonating with a generation of young people living in less glamorous places, while the popular songs of the era often celebrated wealth, glamour, and endless partying.
The singer is known for crafting unconventional music styles and introspective songwriting.
Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” was the unmasked beauty of life
At just 16, she stood apart from the rising influence of culture. In an era when people were using Facetune to enhance their photos and songs about being a “girl boss” dominating the music charts, Lorde was an exception. She offered down-to-earth wisdom in a captivating way, and her approach has gone on to inspire many others.
In her album “Pure Heroine,” she likened acne to the deep craters on the moon and depicted braces as valuable adornments on her friends’ smiles. The album primarily explores the difficulties of youth, financial limitations, and the fear of growing up. These themes strongly connect with the generation that grew up with the internet as they grapple with these universal challenges.
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Even though it might seem like Lorde suddenly became a famous artist with “Pure Heroine,” her oath to fame actually unfolded slowly. Back when she was just 12 years old, a not-so-great video of her performing at a school talent show grabbed the interest of a music executive in New Zealand.
After that, she signed an artist development deal that gave her four years to work on her talent and get better. This time, it allowed her to create a fully polished and impressive first album. When it was finally released, especially the song “Royals,” it had a profound impact on people, much like discovering something unexpectedly fantastic on the radio.
Is artist development important?
Lorde, when she was 16, shared with Q magazine in 2014 that musicians often need to make mistakes and learn from them before creating something great. She preferred not to release anything until she believed it was the coolest it could be.
Nowadays, lots of young artists don’t get the chance to have privacy and take their time to develop their talent. They struggle to earn a decent income, mainly because streaming services pay very little for their music.
So they can not spend a long time honing their craft. This pressure often pushes them to seek rapid, viral fame instead.
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Damian Morgan, an artist mentor, points out a big problem in the music industry where new artists miss the opportunity to create substantial and meaningful content.
He often comes across artists who have gained millions of likes on TikTok and thousands of Instagram followers. However, their music is not getting many streams, mostly because it lacks depth. This means that people are not motivated to explore their music further.
Morgan emphasizes the importance of artist development. It is not just about having a catchy verse, chorus, and a good press photo. It is also about establishing boundaries, managing content, and maintaining a private side of yourself.
