History of Lorde in Timeline
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, professionally known as Lorde, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter recognized for her unique approach to pop music. Her work often features introspective and thoughtful songwriting, setting her apart in the contemporary music scene.
4 hours ago : Lorde supports Lume, a new Kiwi-made streaming app focused on albums.
Lorde and other media figures are supporting Lume, a streaming application developed in New Zealand. Lume focuses on the art of music albums. Its goal is to revive their importance in the music industry.
1950: Inspired by 'There Will Come Soft Rains'
When writing her second album, Melodrama, Lorde 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.
1971: David Bowie Tribute Performance
In February 2016, Lorde and David Bowie's final touring band gave a tribute performance of his 1971 song "Life on Mars" at the 2016 Brit Awards. The performance was widely acknowledged as one of the finest tributes to Bowie.
1985: Covered "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
In November 2013, Lorde covered Tears for Fears' 1985 song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack.
1986: Inspired by Paul Simon's Graceland
When writing her second album, Melodrama, Lorde frequently listened to Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland while riding subways in New York City and on taxi rides on the way home from parties in her hometown of Auckland.
1987: Youngest Artist to Top Billboard Since Tiffany
In 2013, at the age of 16, Lorde became the youngest artist since Tiffany in 1987 to earn a number-one single in the United States, with "Royals".
November 1996: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor Born
In November 1996, Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor was born in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand, to Sonja Yelich and Vic O'Connor.
2002: Influence of the Novel Feed
In 2002, Lorde cited the young adult dystopian novel "Feed" by M. T. Anderson as an influence on her songwriting.
2006: Third Place in Speech Competition
In 2006, while attending Vauxhall School, Lorde placed third in the North Shore Primary Schools' Speech competition.
2007: First Place in Speech Competition
In 2007, while attending Vauxhall School, Lorde placed first in the North Shore Primary Schools' Speech competition.
2008: Comparison to Adele's 19 Album
In February 2014, Pure Heroine became the first debut album by a female artist since Adele's 19 in 2008 to achieve the feat.
May 2009: Talent Show Win
In May 2009, Lorde and her friend Louis McDonald won the Belmont Intermediate School annual talent show as a duo.
November 2009: Third Place at Battle of the Bands
On November 18, 2009, Lorde was part of the Belmont Intermediate School band Extreme; the band placed third in the North Shore Battle of the Bands finals.
2009: Signed with Universal Music Group
In 2009, Lorde signed with Universal Music Group (UMG) after gaining initial recognition as a teenager during a talent show performance.
2010: Takapuna Grammar School Attendance
From 2010, Lorde attended Takapuna Grammar School.
2010: "Ella & Louis" Duet Formed
In 2010, Lorde and Louis McDonald formed a duet called "Ella & Louis" and performed covers live at local venues.
November 2011: Original Song Performances
In November 2011, Lorde performed her original songs for the first time at the Victoria Theatre.
2011: Collaboration with Joel Little began
In 2011, Lorde began collaborating with producer Joel Little. This collaboration would lead to her first extended play (EP).
2011: Vocal Coaching Begins
In 2011, Lorde started receiving singing lessons twice a week for a year from vocal coach Frances Dickinson, hired by UMG.
November 2012: Self-Release of The Love Club EP
In November 2012, Lorde self-released The Love Club EP through her SoundCloud account for free download.
2012: Self-Release of The Love Club EP
In 2012, Lorde self-released her first extended play (EP), The Love Club EP, for free download on SoundCloud before its commercial release.
March 2013: Commercial Release of The Love Club EP
In March 2013, UMG commercially released The Love Club after it had been downloaded 60,000 times.
September 2013: Release of Pure Heroine
In September 2013, Lorde's debut studio album Pure Heroine was released to critical acclaim. The album contained the single "Royals" and received attention for its themes of suburban teenage disillusionment.
November 2013: Publishing Deal with Songs Music Publishing
In November 2013, Lorde signed a publishing deal with Songs Music Publishing for a reported US$2.5 million.
2013: New Zealand Music Awards
After her breakthrough, Lorde won four New Zealand Music Awards at the 2013 ceremony.
2013: Inclusion in 'Songs for the Philippines'
In 2013, "The Love Club" was included in the charity album Songs for the Philippines to support those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
2013: New Queen of Alternative
In 2013, Billboard recognised Lorde as a spokesperson for a "female rock resurgence" and named her the "New Queen of Alternative" in a cover story.
2013: Time's Most Influential Teenagers List
In 2013, Lorde appeared in Time's list of the most influential teenagers.
2013: Completed Year 12 at Takapuna Grammar School
In 2013, Lorde completed Year 12 at Takapuna Grammar School.
2013: "Royals" Topped Charts and Pure Heroine Released
In 2013, Lorde's single "Royals" topped charts in multiple regions and spent nine weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut studio album, Pure Heroine, was also released in 2013 to critical and commercial success.
February 2014: Pure Heroine Sold One Million Copies
By February 2014, Lorde's debut album, Pure Heroine, sold more than one million copies in the United States, making her the first female artist since Adele in 2008 to achieve this milestone with a debut album.
April 2014: Performance with Nirvana
In April 2014, 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.
December 2014: Parodied on South Park
Lorde was parodied in the South Park episode "Rehash", broadcast in December 2014.
2014: Did Not Return to Takapuna Grammar School
In 2014, Lorde chose not to return to Takapuna Grammar School to attend Year 13.
2014: Curated The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 soundtrack
In 2014, Lorde curated the soundtrack for the film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. She oversaw the selection of content for the soundtrack.
2014: Recognition from Time and Forbes
In 2014, Lorde was featured in Time's list of the most influential teenagers for the second year and in the Forbes 30 Under 30 edition.
2014: Parents' Engagement Announcement
In 2014, Lorde's parents, Sonja Yelich and Vic O'Connor, announced their engagement after a 30-year relationship.
2014: Included in Time and Forbes Lists
In 2014, Time included Lorde on their lists of the most influential teenagers, and Forbes placed her on their 30 Under 30 list.
2015: Golden Globe Nomination
In 2015, Lorde received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song as a songwriter for "Yellow Flicker Beat".
2015: Recorded 'Team Ball Player Thing'
In 2015, Lorde recorded "Team Ball Player Thing", a charity single, as part of the supergroup Kiwis Cure Batten, to support research for Batten disease.
2015: Billboard's 21 Under 21 List
In 2015, Lorde was featured on Billboard's 21 Under 21 list.
2015: Success of "Yellow Flicker Beat" and Feature on "Magnets"
In 2015, Lorde's track "Yellow Flicker Beat" earned her a Golden Globe nomination and won Single of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards. She was also featured on Disclosure's song "Magnets".
January 2016: Relocation to Ponsonby
In January 2016, Lorde relocated to Ponsonby, an inner-city suburb of Auckland.
2016: Inspired by Frank Ocean's Blonde
During the recording process of Melodrama, Lorde stated that Frank Ocean's 2016 album Blonde inspired her to eschew "traditional song structures".
2016: End of Relationship with James Lowe
From late 2013 to 2016, Lorde was in a relationship with New Zealand photographer James Lowe. The relationship ended in 2016.
March 2017: Collaboration with Bleachers
In March 2017, Lorde co-wrote and provided background vocals for Bleachers' song "Don't Take the Money".
March 2017: Release of Green Light
In March 2017, Lorde released "Green Light", the lead single from her second studio album Melodrama. It was critically acclaimed and ranked as the best song of the year by NME and The Guardian.
June 2017: Sales Figures
As of June 2017, Lorde had sold over five million albums worldwide and 37 million certified single units in the United States.
June 2017: Release of Melodrama
On 16 June 2017, Melodrama, Lorde's second studio album produced mainly by Lorde and Jack Antonoff, was released. It debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming Lorde's first US chart topper.
December 2017: Cancellation of Israel Concert
In December 2017, Lorde cancelled her scheduled June 2018 concert in Israel following an online campaign by Palestinian solidarity activists supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
2017: Melodrama Album Release
In 2017, Lorde released her album Melodrama, produced in collaboration with Jack Antonoff. The album received widespread critical acclaim and debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
2017: Parents' Private Wedding Ceremony
In 2017, Lorde's parents married in a private ceremony on Cheltenham Beach.
2017: Critical Acclaim and Awards for Melodrama
In 2017, Melodrama received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional weight and pop production styles. At the 2017 New Zealand Music Awards, the album won Album of the Year, and Lorde won multiple awards.
2017: US Billboard Hot 100 Top 40
In April 2025, "What Was That" became her first top-40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 since 2017.
2017: Interview with NME
In a 2017 interview with NME, Lorde stated, "I don't think about staying in my genre lane," highlighting her unconventional pop sound and introspective songwriting.
June 2018: Cancelled Concert in Israel
In June 2018, Lorde's concert in Israel was cancelled due to political turmoil, following a campaign supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
November 2018: Became Patron of MusicHelps
In November 2018, Lorde became a patron of MusicHelps, a musical charity helping New Zealanders experiencing serious health issues.
2018: NPR's Most Influential Female Musicians
Lorde placed at number 12 on NPR's 2018 readers poll of the most influential female musicians of the 21st century.
January 2019: Visit to Antarctica
In January 2019, Lorde visited Antarctica, a journey documented in her book 'Going South'.
May 2020: Started working on her third studio album
In May 2020, Lorde revealed that she started working on her third studio album with Antonoff following the death of her dog.
November 2020: Release of 'Going South' Book
In November 2020, Lorde announced the release of 'Going South', a book documenting her January 2019 visit to Antarctica with photos taken by photographer Harriet Were.
June 2021: Pure Heroine Sales Update
As of June 2021, Lorde's debut album, Pure Heroine, had sold six million copies worldwide.
August 2021: Release of 'Solar Power' Album
Lorde's third studio album, Solar Power, was released on 20 August 2021. The album marked a departure from her previous electropop style, featuring an acoustic, indie folk-inspired sound.
September 2021: Release of 'Te Ao Mārama'
On 9 September 2021, Lorde released 'Te Ao Mārama', a companion piece to Solar Power, sung entirely in Te Reo Māori.
2021: Solar Power Release
In 2021, Lorde released her album Solar Power. The album explored indie folk and psychedelic styles and received polarised reactions from critics and listeners.
November 2022: Headlining Primavera Sound Brazil
In November 2022, Lorde headlined the Primavera Sound festival's Brazil edition.
August 2023: Debut of New Songs
In August 2023, Lorde debuted the songs "Silver Moon" and "Invisible Ink" during her concert at the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall, England.
2023: Solar Power Tour
In 2023, Lorde continued promoting the album on the Solar Power Tour (2022–2023).
March 2024: Released a cover of Talking Heads' 'Take Me to the River'
In March 2024, Lorde released a cover of Talking Heads' "Take Me to the River" as the third single from A24 Music's tribute album Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense.
September 2024: Signed with Universal Music Publishing Group
In September 2024, it was confirmed that Lorde had signed with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) earlier that year.
April 2025: Performance with Charli XCX at Coachella
In April 2025, Lorde performed the "Girl, So Confusing" remix track with Charli XCX at Coachella after performing it at Charli XCX's Madison Square Garden concert in New York City in June of the previous year.
April 2025: Release of 'What Was That'
In April 2025, Lorde released "What Was That", the lead single from her fourth studio album, which achieved significant chart success.
June 2025: Release of 'Virgin' Album
In June 2025, Lorde's fourth studio album, titled Virgin, was released and achieved significant commercial success.
September 2025: Start of Ultrasound World Tour
In September 2025, Lorde began the Ultrasound World Tour to support her album, Virgin.
October 2025: "Free Fucking Palestine" statement
In October 2025, during a concert at Madison Square Garden, Lorde exclaimed "free fucking Palestine" to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
December 2025: Expired deal with UMG
In December 2025, Lorde's deal with UMG expired.
2025: Billboard's Top Women Artists of the 21st Century
Billboard ranked Lorde number 44 on its list of the "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" in 2025.
2025: Virgin Album Release
In 2025, Lorde is set to release her fourth studio album, Virgin, on which she collaborated with Jim-E Stack. The album marks her return to electronic-based pop music, which garnered more critical acclaim.
January 2026: Donation to Immigration Rights Organizations
In January 2026, Lorde donated $204,000 to the Minnesota Immigration Rights Action Committee and Immigrant Defense Network.
March 2026: Consideration of Record Deal
In March 2026, Lorde communicated to fans that she may sign another record deal, possibly with UMG, but wanted to experience being an independent artist first.
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