Lorde: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Lorde's pop is built from Kate Bush's theatrical interiority, Robyn's heartbroken dancefloor, and the clipped domestic realism of American short fiction, filtered through an Auckland teenager working in a suburban studio with Joel Little. Melodrama then rewired her around Jack Antonoff's maximalist piano-and-drums confessionalism. The map runs from Devonport to the generation of confessional pop stars who grew up on 'Pure Heroine'.

The Kynda mix for Lorde

• Key Influence · Hounds of Love by Kate Bush (1985). Lorde has repeatedly named Kate Bush among the artists who proved a pop singer could build whole weather systems out of voice, reverb and odd syllabic phrasing. The structural logic of 'Hounds of Love' — a hit-bearing A-side against a conceptual suite — anticipates the way 'Melodrama' is sequenced as one night at a house party. Bush's producing her own records as a young woman also set the template Lorde pursued from her teens.
• Influencia Obscura · Two Suns by Bat for Lashes (2009). Natasha Khan's second album is the under-cited link between art-pop theatrics and the bedroom-produced confessional mode Lorde arrived with. Its conceit — an alter ego named Pearl invented to survive a breakup — prefigures the persona work in Lorde's own stage name and the character-driven narration of 'Melodrama'. Khan's sparse percussion, choral stacking and mythic lyricism were circulating widely among the blog-era artists Lorde absorbed as a teenager.
• Local Roots · Woodface by Crowded House (1991). Neil Finn is the elder statesman of New Zealand songwriting, and Lorde has performed alongside him in Auckland, including at tribute and benefit shows for local causes. 'Woodface' is the Finn brothers' high-water mark of melodic craft wrapped around plainly stated emotion — a distinctly antipodean mix of understatement and hook that runs straight through to Lorde's refusal of American pop grandiosity on 'Pure Heroine'.
• Beyond the Medium · Cathedral by Raymond Carver (1983). Lorde has named Raymond Carver as a formative writer, and the debt is structural: Carver's stories work by withholding, letting a kitchen detail carry the whole emotional load. That method is 'Ribs' and 'The Louvre' — a cigarette, a car park, a stairwell standing in for a feeling never stated. Her habit of writing in close third person about teenagers in suburbs comes from this minimalist American tradition far more than from pop lyric convention.
• Peer · Born to Die by Lana Del Rey (2012). Released a year before 'Pure Heroine', Lana's major-label debut created the commercial space for a young woman singing slow, heavy-lidded pop about wealth, disillusion and American iconography. Lorde has publicly admired her work, and critics placed the two together constantly as the twin faces of early-2010s downcast pop. Both built careers on persona names and on resisting the uptempo demands of radio while still dominating it.
• From the Canon · Pure Heroine by Lorde (2013). Written at sixteen with Joel Little in an Auckland studio, this is the record that defined her method: finger-snap percussion, vast negative space, and a lyric voice that treats suburban teenage life as worth documenting precisely. 'Royals' rejected the luxury signifiers saturating 2013 radio and became a global number one by doing so. Everything later in her catalogue is a reaction to or expansion of the restraint invented here.
• Key Collaborator · Gone Now by Bleachers (2017). Antonoff co-wrote and co-produced nearly all of 'Melodrama' and 'Solar Power'; Lorde in turn sang on and contributed to his Bleachers work. 'Gone Now' arrived weeks before 'Melodrama' and shares its DNA — saxophones, gated drums, Springsteen-scale catharsis applied to interior crisis. Hearing it alongside her record shows exactly which textures he brought to the partnership and which emotional architecture was hers.
• Legacy · SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo (2021). Rodrigo has named Lorde among the artists who showed her a teenager could write about her own life without translation, and 'SOUR' adopts the whole toolkit: suburban specificity, vocal stacking, driving as metaphor, a breakup album structured like a night. Critics treated it as the direct descendant of 'Melodrama', and its success confirmed the commercial viability of the confessional template Lorde established at the same age.

What influenced Lorde

• Olivia Rodrigo by Olivia Rodrigo. Rodrigo describes listening to Lorde’s Pure Heroine when she began writing songs. (also via Melodrama) “I remember listening to it as I first started writing songs and just being blown away by her lyrics that are just about being a teenager living in the suburbs” (Consequence)
• Billie Eilish by Billie Eilish. The interviewer names Eilish among artists influenced by Lorde. “It’s no exaggeration to say that Lorde changed the landscape of pop, introducing a new, minimalist sound and soul-baring lyricism that influenced a new generation of artists, including Billie Eilish , Olivia Rodrigo , Clairo , Gracie Abr…” (Dazed)
• Burial by Burial. Lorde said Burial's initially hidden identity inspired her. “She also stated that she was inspired by the initially hidden identities of Burial and the Weeknd , explaining, "I feel like mystery is more interesting."” (Wikipedia)
• The Weeknd by The Weeknd (1990). Lorde said the Weeknd's initially hidden identity inspired her. “She also stated that she was inspired by the initially hidden identities of Burial and the Weeknd , explaining, "I feel like mystery is more interesting."” (Wikipedia)
• Conan Gray by Conan Gray. The Recording Academy describes Gray discussing Lorde’s effect on his songwriting. “He also explains how hearing Lorde 's and Adele 's music for the first time inspired his own songwriting.” (Recording Academy)
• Grimes by Grimes. Lorde cited Grimes as an influence during Pure Heroine's production. “During production of Pure Heroine , Lorde cited influences from electronic music producers, [ 138 ] including SBTRKT , Grimes , [ 139 ] and Sleigh Bells , [ 140 ] impressed by "their vocals in a really interesting way, whether it might b…” (Wikipedia)
• Sleigh Bells by Sleigh Bells. Lorde cited Sleigh Bells as an influence during Pure Heroine's production. “During production of Pure Heroine , Lorde cited influences from electronic music producers, [ 138 ] including SBTRKT , Grimes , [ 139 ] and Sleigh Bells , [ 140 ] impressed by "their vocals in a really interesting way, whether it might b…” (Wikipedia)
• SBTRKT by SBTRKT. Lorde cited SBTRKT as an influence during Pure Heroine's production. “During production of Pure Heroine , Lorde cited influences from electronic music producers, [ 138 ] including SBTRKT , Grimes , [ 139 ] and Sleigh Bells , [ 140 ] impressed by "their vocals in a really interesting way, whether it might b…” (Wikipedia)
• Raymond Carver. The article says Lorde cited Carver as a songwriting influence. (also via Cathedral) “More specifically, she cites the young adult dystopian novel Feed (2002) by M. T. Anderson as well as authors J. D. Salinger , Raymond Carver and Janet Frame for influencing her songwriting.” (Wikipedia)
• Robyn. Robyn appears in the article's list of Melodrama's melodic inspirations. (via Melodrama, Body Talk) “[ 151 ] Tom Petty , [ 152 ] Joni Mitchell , Leonard Cohen , [ 153 ] and Robyn . [ 154 ] During the recording process, she stated that Frank Ocean 's 2016 album Blonde inspired her to eschew "traditional song structures".” (Wikipedia)
• Joni Mitchell (1943). Wikipedia states Mitchell influenced Lorde. (also via Melodrama) “[ 151 ] Tom Petty , [ 152 ] Joni Mitchell , Leonard Cohen , [ 153 ] and Robyn . [ 154 ] During the recording process, she stated that Frank Ocean 's 2016 album Blonde inspired her to eschew "traditional song structures".” (Wikipedia)
• Feed by M. T. Anderson. The article says Lorde cited the novel as a songwriting influence. “More specifically, she cites the young adult dystopian novel Feed (2002) by M. T. Anderson as well as authors J. D. Salinger , Raymond Carver and Janet Frame for influencing her songwriting.” (Wikipedia)
• Grace Jones. Jones is named as an inspiration for Lorde. “she is known for her unique look at least as much as she is for her music [ 122 ] and has been an inspiration for numerous artists, including Annie Lennox , [ 123 ] Lorde , [ 124 ] Lady Gaga , [ 125 ] Rihanna , [ 126 ] Janelle Monáe , [ …” (Wikipedia)
• J. D. Salinger. The article says Lorde cited Salinger as a songwriting influence. “More specifically, she cites the young adult dystopian novel Feed (2002) by M. T. Anderson as well as authors J. D. Salinger , Raymond Carver and Janet Frame for influencing her songwriting.” (Wikipedia)
• Janet Frame. The article says Lorde cited Frame as a songwriting influence. “More specifically, she cites the young adult dystopian novel Feed (2002) by M. T. Anderson as well as authors J. D. Salinger , Raymond Carver and Janet Frame for influencing her songwriting.” (Wikipedia)
• Talking Heads by Talking Heads. In her tribute letter, Lorde says seeing Talking Heads in Stop Making Sense changed her. “I am truly changed as I know you were too by that group of people on the Pantages stage moving together with warmth, strangeness and pure cool.” (Rolling Stone)
• Somebody Else by The 1975. The 1975's song was a particular melodic inspiration for Melodrama. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ",” (Wikipedia)
• Phil Collins. Collins's melodic style is identified as an inspiration for Melodrama. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ", [ 148 ] Phil Collins , [ 149 ] Don Henley ,” (Wikipedia)
• Don Henley. Henley's melodic style is identified as an inspiration for Melodrama. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ", [ 148 ] Phil Collins , [ 149 ] Don Henley , [ 86 ] Rihanna ,” (Wikipedia)
• Rihanna (1988). Rihanna is named among Melodrama's melodic inspirations. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ", [ 148 ] Phil Collins , [ 149 ] Don Henley , [ 86 ] Rihanna ,” (Wikipedia)
• Florence and the Machine (2007). Florence and the Machine is named among Melodrama's melodic inspirations. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ", [ 148 ] Phil Collins , [ 149 ] Don Henley , [ 86 ] Rihanna …” (Wikipedia)
• Tom Petty. Petty is named among Melodrama's melodic inspirations. (via Melodrama) “When writing her second album, Melodrama , Lorde took inspiration from the melodic styles of a variety of musicians, including the 1975 –especially their song " Somebody Else ", [ 148 ] Phil Collins , [ 149 ] Don Henley , [ 86 ] Rihanna …” (Wikipedia)
• Blonde by Frank Ocean (2016). Lorde said Blonde influenced her approach to song structures while recording Melodrama. (via Melodrama) “During the recording process, she stated that Frank Ocean 's 2016 album Blonde inspired her to eschew "traditional song structures".” (Wikipedia)
• There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury. Lorde cited Bradbury's story as an inspiration for Melodrama's story. (via Melodrama) “She cited the 1950 science fiction short story " There Will Come Soft Rains " by Ray Bradbury as inspiration for much of Melodrama ' s story, relating it to her own realities she faced.” (Wikipedia)
• Two Suns by Bat for Lashes (2009). Two Suns (Bat for Lashes) — ghost for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• The Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola (1999). The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola) — culture for Lorde (themoviedb.org)
• Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977). Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) — titan for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• House of Baasa by Zambri (2012). House of Baasa (Zambri) — ghost for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Cathedral by Raymond Carver (1983). Cathedral (Raymond Carver) — culture for Lorde (openlibrary.org)
• Body Talk by Robyn (2010). Body Talk (Robyn) — titan for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Hounds of Love by Kate Bush. Hounds of Love (Kate Bush) — titan for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• The White Album by Joan Didion (1979). The White Album (Joan Didion) — culture for Lorde (openlibrary.org)
• Leonard Cohen. Cohen appears in the article's list of Melodrama's melodic inspirations. (via Melodrama)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Take Me to the River by Talking Heads. Lorde released a cover of the Talking Heads song. “The record will feature 16 artists sharing their own covers of Talking Heads classics, including Lorde’s version of ‘Take Me to the River’, which Talking Heads themselves covered in 1978, from the 1974 original by Al Green .” (NME)
• Charli XCX by Charli XCX. Charli describes Lorde sending her verse for the “Girl, so confusing” remix. “I was like, the only way this song gets completed is with my voice.” (ABC News)
• Nirvana. Lorde sang with the Nirvana members at their induction. “Amidst her solo activities, Lorde joined the surviving members of Nirvana to perform " All Apologies " during the band's induction ceremony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014.” (Wikipedia)
• Bleachers by Bleachers. Lorde co-wrote and sang on a Bleachers song. (also via Gone Now) “Lorde co-wrote and provided background vocals for American indie pop band Bleachers 's song " Don't Take the Money ", released in March 2017.” (Wikipedia)
• Broods. Lorde co-wrote a song for Broods. (also via Evergreen) “Later that year, Lorde co-wrote " Heartlines ", a song by New Zealand music duo Broods from their 2016 album Conscious .” (Wikipedia)
• Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers. Punisher (Phoebe Bridgers) — collaborator for Lorde “She also provided background vocals on five tracks from Lorde's third album, Solar Power, released on August 20.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Evergreen by Broods (2014). Evergreen (Broods) — collaborator for Lorde “He produced Lorde's 2013 hit single, "Royals".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira (2013). Night Time, My Time (Sky Ferreira) — peer for Lorde “Karolina Ramos from The GW Hatchet compared Ferreira to New Zealand recording artist Lorde, both of whom she felt "tackle contemporary love, desire and insecurity with depth, composure and frankness." She compared her musical style to 19…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Joel Little. Lorde and Little recorded songs together for an EP. “In December, Maclachlan paired Lorde with Joel Little , a songwriter, record producer, and former Goodnight Nurse lead singer. The pair recorded five songs for an extended play (EP) at Little's Golden Age Studios in Morningside, Auckland…” (Wikipedia)
• Tove Lo (1987). Critics compared Lo's musical style to Lorde's. (also via Lorde) “I get excited when bands like Fun. and Lorde get to the top - especially with [Lorde], she writes personal stuff that really strikes you.” (Billboard)
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears. Lorde covered the Tears for Fears song for a film soundtrack. “Later that month, Lorde was featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , performing a cover of Tears for Fears ' 1985 song " Everybody Wants to Rule the World ".” (Wikipedia)
• Warwick Avenue by Duffy. The article describes a recording of Lorde and McDonald covering Duffy's song. “McDonald's father then sent his recordings of the duo covering "Mama Do" and Duffy 's " Warwick Avenue " to Universal Music Group (UMG)'s A&R executive Scott Maclachlan.” (Wikipedia)
• Mitski (1990). Mitski opened for Lorde on the North American leg of her Melodrama World Tour. “Lorde announced that Mitski would open for her during the North American leg of her Melodrama World Tour” (Wikipedia)
• Life on Mars? by David Bowie. Lorde performed Bowie's song with his final touring band. “At the 2016 Brit Awards in February, Lorde and David Bowie 's final touring band gave a tribute performance of his 1971 song " Life on Mars ".” (Wikipedia)
• Born to Die by Lana Del Rey (2012). Born to Die (Lana Del Rey) — peer for Lorde “Billboard credited Born to Die with being one of the main catalysts for pop music's shift from an overall brash EDM tone to a moodier, hip-hop-inflected palette in the mid-2010s, and opined that Del Rey is indispensable to the decade's p…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Lorde and Louis McDonald performed a cover of the Kings of Leon song. “There, they performed covers of Pixie Lott 's " Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) " and Kings of Leon 's " Use Somebody ".” (Wikipedia)
• Post Malone. Post Malone featured on a remix of Lorde's song. “The album was supported by two other singles: " Perfect Places " and a remix of " Homemade Dynamite " featuring Khalid , Post Malone and SZA .” (Wikipedia)
• Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) by Pixie Lott. Lorde and Louis McDonald performed a cover of Pixie Lott's song. “There, they performed covers of Pixie Lott 's " Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) " and Kings of Leon 's " Use Somebody ".” (Wikipedia)
• Es Devlin. Lorde is named among artists for whom Devlin collaborated on stage designs. “Throughout her career, Devlin has collaborated on large-scale stage designs for artists including Kanye West , Beyoncé , Adele , U2 , The Weeknd , Lorde , and Pet Shop Boys” (Wikipedia)
• Disclosure. Lorde appeared on a Disclosure song. “Later that year, she was featured on British electronic duo Disclosure 's song " Magnets " from their 2015 album Caracal .” (Wikipedia)
• True Romance by Charli XCX (2013). True Romance (Charli XCX) — peer for Lorde “Cook remix of "Von Dutch" featuring Addison Rae, "360" featuring Robyn and Yung Lean, "Girl, So Confusing" featuring Lorde, "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish and "Talk Talk" featuring Troye Sivan.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• SZA. SZA featured on a remix of Lorde's song. “The album was supported by two other singles: " Perfect Places " and a remix of " Homemade Dynamite " featuring Khalid , Post Malone and SZA .” (Wikipedia)
• Khalid. Khalid featured on a remix of Lorde's song. “The album was supported by two other singles: " Perfect Places " and a remix of " Homemade Dynamite " featuring Khalid , Post Malone and SZA .” (Wikipedia)
• Marion Cotillard. Cotillard sings a cover of Lorde’s song. (via Team) “It was directed by Johan Renck and featured Cotillard dancing in the moon with French ballet dancer Jérémie Bélingard while singing a cover of Lorde 's " Team ".” (Wikipedia)
• Harry Styles. Melodrama (Lorde) — peer for Harry Styles (via Melodrama) “Artists such as SZA, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Shania Twain, Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Mark Ronson, Halsey, Lorde, Matty Healy, John Legend, and Troye Sivan have all voiced their wishes to collaborate with Styles.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Jack Antonoff. Antonoff was one of Melodrama's main producers. (via Melodrama) “Produced mainly by Lorde and Jack Antonoff , Melodrama was released on 16 June 2017.” (Wikipedia)
• Multi-Love by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (2015). Multi-Love (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) — geography for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Make Way for Love by Marlon Williams (2018). Make Way for Love (Marlon Williams) — geography for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Gone Now by Bleachers (2017). Gone Now (Bleachers) — collaborator for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Woodface by Crowded House (1991). Woodface (Crowded House) — geography for Lorde (musicbrainz.org)
• Imagine Dragons (2008). Pure Heroine (Lorde) — collaborator for Imagine Dragons (via Pure Heroine) (musicbrainz.org)

Who Lorde influenced

• Sabrina Carpenter (1999). Carpenter cited Lorde as a songwriting influence. “She has cited Taylor Swift and Lorde as her songwriting influences,” (Wikipedia)
• SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo (2021). SOUR (Olivia Rodrigo) — legacy for Lorde “== Artistry == === Influences === In 2021, Rodrigo named Taylor Swift and Lorde as her idols and primary musical inspirations, and called herself Swift's biggest fan "in the whole world".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams (2023). Good Riddance (Gracie Abrams) — legacy for Lorde “Abrams has cited Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, Lorde, and Phoebe Bridgers as her biggest songwriting inspirations and musical idols.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish (2019). When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (Billie Eilish) — legacy for Lorde “She is the first artist born in the 2000s and the youngest artist since Lorde (with "Royals") to have a number-one single.” (en.wikipedia.org)