Lorde

Biography

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), known professionally as Lorde ( LORD), is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. She is known for her unconventional style of pop music and introspective songwriting.

Lorde first gained recognition as a teenager during a talent show performance. She signed with Universal Music Group (UMG) in 2009 and began collaborating with producer Joel Little in 2011. Their first effort, an extended play (EP) titled The Love Club EP, was self-released in 2012 for free download on SoundCloud before it was commercially released in 2013. Its single "Royals" topped charts in multiple regions and spent nine weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It sold 10 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. Her debut studio album, Pure Heroine, was released that same year to critical and commercial success. The following year, Lorde curated the soundtrack for the 2014 film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

Lorde collaborated with producer Jack Antonoff on her next album, Melodrama (2017), which received widespread critical acclaim, debuted atop the US Billboard 200, and has since been ranked in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". She explored indie folk and psychedelic styles on Solar Power (2021), receiving polarised reactions from critics and listeners. For her fourth studio album, Virgin (2025), Lorde worked with musician Jim-E Stack and returned to electronic-based pop music, which garnered more critical acclaim.

Lorde's accolades include 20 Aotearoa Music Awards, two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, a Taite Music Prize and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. She appeared in Time's list of the most influential teenagers in 2013 and 2014, and the 2014 edition of Forbes 30 Under 30. In addition to her solo work, she has co-written songs for other artists, including Broods and Bleachers.

Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.

Source revision used for this excerpt