We Are Proud of the Love Club

I am not entirely sure what I was doing with my life at 16 years old, but I can say with utmost certainty I was not a New Zealand pop star whose 5-track EP is taking over the world. Barely old enough to drive in the US, Ella Yelich O’Connor (formally known as Lorde) has been climbing charts across several continents ever since the release of her first EP, titled The Love Club. It is now the third ranked album in New Zealand, and boasts the track Royals, which has reached Number One. Again, to reiterate: she is 16 years old. Don’t believe the hype? Take a quick listen to any of the five songs on the EP, and I guarantee any of your skepticism will vanish. Her voice has the depth and range of a 25-year old, not to mention a similarly mature range of diction. She sings about the fake, contrived lifestyle of pop stars (Lana Del Ray, in particular) and adheres to her modest upbringing. In one of the first interviews she gave, Lorde cited the importance of literature and writing in her life, and listed off a few impressive and intellectual names. Even stripping her of her irresistibly attractive voice would still leave some emotionally candid and provocative lyrics.

But that voice! Lorde’s music is instantly appealing because of its consistent sound: a deep and regular egg-shaker-type beat, grand accompanying vocals sung in a round, and of course Lorde’s primary vocals in the foreground. It’s Lana Del Ray meets m83 who kicks it a little with Lilly Allen while chatting with RJD2. And it sounds freaking amazing. Each track adds variety, and they are all distinct in their own tone, however there is an undeniable cohesion to the short EP. Lorde simply does not mess around; she knows the message she wants to deliver and has the skills to do it. Out of the 5 tracks, three most noticeably prove this fact.

We open with Bravado, by far the most m83-esque of the group, a song that is most definitely influenced by one of Lorde’s favorite bands, Animal Collective. This is the darkest track on the EP, and it takes almost half of the song before we are introduced to Lorde’s bright and chipper spirit. The song is a great introduction to Lorde’s ability to play around with tempo, and vacillate between octaves. It would not be my choice of song to blast on a sunny day, but it is nonetheless impressive.

Next in line is the masterpiece of the collection, titled Royals. This song is just brilliant. It’s fun, it’s catchy, it’s meaningful and it’s artistically remarkable. Lorde absolutely rips the celebrity lifestyle to pieces, ridiculing the lyrical content of mainstream pop music. She attests (by practically rapping) “But every song’s like gold teeth/gray goose/tripping in the bathroom/bloodstains/ball gowns/trashing the hotel room,” and then immediately responds to this with the statement, “We don’t care, we’re driving Cadillac’s in our dreams.” Lorde is proud of the fact that she and her friends are not obsessed with the maniacal, celebrity lifestyle; they do not idealize expensive liquor or cars, and are not creating music to get rich. This attitude may reflect the fact that Lorde is still a full time high school student, but it is still laudable that she has not been consumed in the image of a trashy celebrity. This song is also unique because Lorde restrains nothing vocally; she exhibits her full capacity, and it is astonishing. This is a track that will stay in your head for days, and will add the lightest hop to your step.

Finally, sharing the same name as the EP, the song The Love Club is also a gem. Although not as dynamic as Royals the Love Club makes up for this with its lyricism. By spinning a rich tale of maturation and belonging, Lorde weaves her most complex metaphor, and reveals aspects of her childhood and the social experiences of her sixteen years of age. This track, above all, exemplifies Lorde’s unmatched ability to blend her youthful spirit and advanced writing skills. I highly recommend giving this EP a listen, and to keep an eye out for Lorde in the future. In her words, “It’s time the kid got free.”

lorde.co.nz