LORDE Vinyl Records
Emerging as a fully formed enigma from her native New Zealand, Lorde tapped into an untouched well of alienation, becoming the poster child for a generation who found refuge from the eternal excess of the 2010s by submerging themselves in moody art. "Royals," the Grammy-winning hit single that made her an international phenomenon, became a genuine sensation, topping the charts around the world and being covered by elder statesmen like Bruce Springsteen and Jack White. The singer and songwriter had struck a chord, functioning as the dark corollary to the bright pop of Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, becoming an icon for teenagers who felt older than their years.