On September 27, 2013, Lorde (born Ella O’Connor), a 17 year old girl from New Zealand, released her debut studio album Pure Heroine, an album that would go on to be named one of the best of 2013 and continues to influence artists to this day. 

Pure Heroine consists of 10 tracks, its topics including teenage love, adjusting to fame, anxiety around growing older, and suburban life. The opening track “Tennis Court” talks about Lorde’s struggles with balancing her fame and friends in New Zealand as her popularity was rising. The smash hit “Royals” criticizes materialist culture and the lifestyle of the rich and famous, with Lorde preferring her past quiet life to her new stardom and worrying about how much money she was making. The haunting track “Ribs” gives voice to her fear of aging, her longing for who she used to be, and finding solace in a friend who helps her feel young again. 

Pure Heroine’s songs are relatable to many teens dealing with changes in their identities and bodies. From facing new challenges both in school and socially to figuring out what you want in life, it can be hard to enjoy where you are in life. Lorde and producer Joel Little (whose work on the album would lead him to work with artists like Taylor Swift and Noah Kahan later) used minimalist production, incorporating synthesizers and simple drum beats to highlight Lorde’s vocals and lyrics instead of a more maximalist production used by other popular artists at the time such as Katy Perry and Rihanna. The same minimalist production elements can be found in the work of Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and other contemporary artists who have cited Lorde as an influence. Lorde’s writing style has also led to the popularity of lyricists who write more personal, darker lyrics focused more on emotional catharsis than commercial appeal.

 Lorde’s debut album helped shape the contemporary music scene we see today in many different ways and has influenced a generation of singers, songwriters, and producers. Her music has provided comfort for many young people navigating the world as they build and discover their own identities. It is worth a listen for anyone who is unsure about where they are going in life, but still enjoys the small things and being with their loved ones. •