New Zealand newcomer Lorde took the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week for her hit, “Royals.” At the age of 16, she is the youngest artist to do so in 26 years.
In a new interview with AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman, the singer (born Ella Yelich-O’Connor) says she thinks the record-making honor is “not too shabby” and explains why she feels audiences have connected with her music.
“I’m in a genre where there’s a lot of falsifying and a lot of things being about appearances and if someone goes out without makeup it’s a big deal. There’s a lot of really strict stuff that goes on, but I’m just a loser and a normal person and I think people can relate to that,” she said. “And I’m from Auckland, New Zealand. I’m pretty far removed from any of the worlds that populate being a celebrity so I kind of talk about it as an observer, which I think people like.”
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Have industry insiders tried to change her, now that she’s taking over the charts? Not yet, Lorde said.
“People realize that I know what I’m doing,” she said. “And also I’m like, a sick control freak. I’m just a nightmare to work with.”
By “nightmare” the singer said she means she is very demanding.
“I’m very specific, so if a font isn’t quite right or like, the border around something isn’t a thick enough line, I’m quite intense,” she explained.
Though she’s just 16, Lorde exhibits a maturity and poise far beyond her years – but she’s not quite sure why.
“I hang out with a lot of boys and a lot of people older than me, so maybe that has something to do with it?” she said.
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As for how she’s staying grounded, the singer said relies on her family to keep her humble.
“My mom travels with me… but [my parents] don’t help me with career stuff. I think if you try to mix your family with your work, it can get weird,” she said. “I need a family when I’m hugely busy and stressed out, and I need people who can just treat me like that person as opposed to this person.
“My family’s like, ‘Shut up. Go do the dishes,’” she said with a laugh.
Lorde’s debut album, “Pure Heroine,” is available now.
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