Lorde

Amidst a world of calculating contest winners, manufactured show ponies and cheap knock offs - Lorde is a true original. She is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, born and raised on Auckland's North Shore, and possessed of a singular ability to capture the majesty, and mundanity, of teenage life - in striking melodic snapshots that belie her age and experience. Raised on a nutritious musical diet of Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths and Nick Drake, alongside a smattering of soul food from the likes of Etta James and Otis Redding, Ella was definitely set off on strong melodic footing. Later she discovered artists like James Blake, Bon Iver, Burial, Animal Collective, SBTRKT and Drake - all of whom made an impact in their own, individual way. As vital and varied as those influences are, they don't really begin to tell the full story of Lorde's music, which melds concentrated, sharp-eyed lyrics and multi-layered vocals with crisp, 2013 beatscapes. As 2013 closes in, Grammy nominated New Zealander Lorde continues her worldwide reign. Already becoming the youngest artist to write all of her own material and top the U.S Billboard charts, her debut single "Royals" [Lava/Republic Records] remained at #1 for an impressive 9 weeks, topping the charts in an additional 45 countries and selling 7.5 million copies across the globe.