Growing Up With Lorde: from Pure Heroine to Solar Power

by Claire Dunham

When I was 13, I was an angry person. This anger was rooted in unspoken fears and self-doubt. Like many young teenagers in the 21st century, the internet helped me cope with these intense emotions. Tumblr became my safe haven. To my surprise, I found that many of my fellow Tumblr users were also troubled by the same emotions and fears. We bonded over music, style, and literature. One album in particular took Tumblr by storm: Pure Heroine by Lorde.

In many ways, Pure Heroine made music history. Lorde was only 16 years old when it was released. Additionally, the album’s standout song “Royals” topped Billboard’s Alternative charts, making Lorde the first female artist to accomplish this in over 17 years. She also won the “Song of the Year” Grammy Award for “Royals” in 2014.

However, to truly understand the significance of the album we need to analyze the impact Pure Heroine had on the 2014 Tumblr era. If you were a Tumblr user at this time, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you were probably not online at a young age – and that is a good thing.

In short, the 2014 Tumblr era was a reimagined version of the Emo subculture. Black clothes, dark lipstick, chokers, and Doc Martens were all the rage. Sadness was a glorified aesthetic and artists like Lorde became icons. Pure Heroine was the embodiment of 2014 Tumblr—its sound was dark and moody with lyrics that describe teenage fears, dark realities, and elevated symbolism.

Fan-favorite song “Ribs” is an immersive blend of jaded memories. Lorde sings fervently about messy parties, hazy midnights, and forgotten dreams. Lyrics like, “It feels so scary getting old,” showcase the musician’s magnetic candor. When I listen to the song, I am 13 years old again. It transports me back to a time when anger controlled my life.

Although Pure Heroine is a masterpiece, the 2014 era was harmful to many Tumblr users. Everyone was in search of sadness, and mental illness was heavily romanticized. This close-knit community of Tumblr users was toxic, urging each other to engage in self-destructive habits. For this reason, I want to shift away from this era and focus on the aspect of personal growth instead.

Since the release of Pure Heroine in 2013, I have spent years working through the troubling emotions I felt as a teenager. Lorde herself also experienced growth—these changes are reflected in her latest album Solar Power. Released in 2021, the album is a celebration of introspection, nature, and Lorde’s birthplace of New Zealand.

Many fans were upset by the Solar Power release, claiming that the album’s content “wasn’t sad enough.” I disagree with this sentiment. I admire Lorde as an artist, and it has been extremely moving to see her blossom over the years. I almost feel as if we have grown up together. After working through my teenage anger, I finally feel a sense of peace in my life, and it is obvious on Solar Power that Lorde feels the same way.

One song in particular seems to capture the essence of this “New Lorde.” It is called “Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All),” and it serves as a musical response to her 2013 song “Ribs.” Sonically, “Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)” consists of the same two chords from “Ribs,” but they are reversed. This musical detail ties the two tracks together in a mind-blowing way. Lorde, a well-known lover of symbolism, also connects the two tracks in order to contrast her new perspective with the jaded one featured on “Ribs.” Additionally, lyrics like “Everybody wants the best for you / But you’ve gotta want it for yourself” subvert the self-destructive message of the 2014 Tumblr era.

Lorde does not shame her past self on Solar Power. She simply reflects on her mistakes and moves forward. If anything, Lorde comforts her past self—acting as a “big sister” of sorts. Overall, I think Pure Heroine and Solar Power are chock-full of valuable life lessons. Likewise, I also think these two albums send one combined message to listeners: “Allow yourself to grow.” We all make mistakes along the way, but the important thing is that we engage in mindful self-reflection and move on.

There are no rainbows without rain, and there would be no Solar Power without Pure Heroine.

Until next time,

Claire

Photograph: Fashion Magazine

Growing Up With Lorde: from Pure Heroine to Solar Power