Lying on my bed when I was twelve, flicking through the radio stations, all of which were playing banal, cliche pop music, was the first time I heard the disparate opening beat of ‘Royals’, the debut track from upcoming vocalist Ella Yelich-O’Connor, a.k.a ‘Lorde’.

As the sun concealed itself behind the earth and a blanket of darkness swept over my lifeless town, I delved into the discography of Lorde. Unaccountable hours of time swept by as I was thrust into what I would describe as an alternate reality; suddenly I was driving down a never ending road, falling in love for the first time, and leaving home, all within the four walls of my bedroom. Having no anecdotal connection to the lyrics which ran vibrantly through my mind at an unmentionable speed, I questioned why I felt an instant connection to a 16 year old living in New Zealand, 11,426 miles away.

Throughout my years of adolescence (well, the years I have experienced thus far), lyrics such as “We’re reeling through the midnight streets/ and i’ve never felt more alone/ it drives you crazy getting old” have provided me with comfort- a feeling that someone else has been through whatever I was going through at the time, whether that was heartbreak, or the overwhelming stress of existing in the modern world. The hectic organisation of lyrical content made the songs from her debut album ,‘Pure Heroine’, resemble the chaos of the outside world, oddly providing a sort of sanctuary for the mind of listeners.

Lyrical content which creates a feeling of nostalgia is not uncommon amongst Lorde tracks, many of them discussing the swarm of a party or a long drive into unknown territory, with her song ‘400 Lux’ describing a cycle of solace: “you pick me up and take me home again / Head out the window again / We're hollow like the bottles that we drain / You drape your wrists over the steering wheel / Pulses can drive from here / We might be hollow, but we're brave."  The communicative style of writing allows the listener an insight into the intimacies of the writer, giving them space to connect their own life to the lifestyle and situation described.

The much anticipated release of Lorde’s second album, ‘Melodrama’, allowed avid listeners to continue their investment into her life, experiencing with her her first serious break up, as well as a process of self discovery, in which she realises her flaws, and accepts them, instead of trying to combat things which one cannot. Getting the opportunity to witness her perform live at Alexandra Palace in September last year really was a ‘full-circle’ moment. Surrounded by the people I love, I took in every last word she declaimed, consuming every morsel until I was in a daze; entirely focused on the present, yet still so connected to past emotions delivered through her lyricism.

Lorde’s vulnerable, yet unifying lyrics will forever be something I associate with my personal growth and development, holding every word closely to my heart as I embrace the next chapter of my life.

(Photo credits to @littlemadonna on Instagram)