A new wave of indie/art pop is sweeping over the western hemisphere and it is being lead by a 17 year-old.  Out of Auckland, New Zealand comes Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor,  who is known by most as Lorde.

 “I think Lorde wants to be as honest as possible,” said junior Matt Vicencio.

 The lyrics in Lorde’s songs do not portray a life of glamour and cars. She does not fancy the material objects. Lorde simply speaks what it is like to be a middle class teen.

 “She’s so unique. I might compare her to Lana Del Rey but she’s definitely different from anything I’ve heard before,” said junior Ferrell McGinnis.

 Lorde has drawn comparisons from Lana Del Rey to the British underground indie band, The XX.

 “Buried underneath the heavy percussion and infectious melodies, her messages lie cleverly illustrated in imagery,” said Vicencio.

 Lorde’s lyrics contain a theme that is new to the public’s ears. She sings about expectations and not conforming to them. Anyone can pick out a piece of one of Lorde’s songs from her new album, “Pure Heroine”, and find a deeper meaning than what it says.

 “She really sings about trying to fit in with the popular crowd but realizes that that’s not what’s most important to her,” said McGinnis.

 Lorde’s lyrics are relatable to teens across the globe.

 “All across ‘Pure Heroine’, themes of anything that would be felt by a prepubescent, suburban teen are prominent,” said Vicencio.

 Lorde’s normal upbringing and the fact that her mother is a poet most likely helped her lyrically. In her chart topping hit, “Royals”, Lorde expounds upon the fantasies of suburbia but says that it’s just a figment of their imagination and really do not desire “That kind of lux…we crave a different kind of buzz.”

 “My favorite song is probably ‘400 Lux’,” said Vicencio.

 Luxe is a measurement of light and 400 is how much a sunrise gives off.

 “I am enamored with the way she romanticises with crisp imagery the mundane life of a suburban teenager,” said Vicencio, “I thought, ‘finally a song I can relate to.’”

  “For a 17 year old, her way of thinking is more interesting than most adults,” said Vicencio.

 His views of Lorde are not uncommon. She was able to go platinum with “Royals” in three different countries, including her native country, New Zealand. She also topped at number one on five of the United States charts, including Adult Pop, Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs, Pop Songs, and the Billboard Hot 100. Her album, “Pure Heroin”, peaked at number three in the U.S. Billboards 200.

 Lorde may be 17, but she has been working with her label, Universal, for three years.

 While she is not selling out stadiums or performing at the half-time at the Super Bowl, she is on a steady incline of success. Found on the radio and in the earphones of teens across the world, Lorde will explode eventually and her name will become a household one along with the likes of Adele and Beyonce.

 “Pop music has been rather stale as of late,” said Vicencio, “Lorde brings in a fresh breeze of ingenious language.”