Lorde Live on KCRW: Royals and Radio Premiere of Ribs

The buzz in the basement was palpable for Lorde (aka Ella Yelich-O’Connor)

It felt a bit odd to be anxiously awaiting the arrival of a 16-year-old but she is behind one of the best pop songs of the year with “Royals” and her upward trajectory has been swift.

She did not disappoint. Her voice is incredible and the Kiwi couldn’t have been sweeter.

We also learned a bit about her background. We found out she is one of six kids in her family (“I think if you’re from a big family, you don’t think you’re that cool. Cause no one let’s you think you’re that cool“.) , and the daughter of a civil engineer and a poet. She starting writing songs when she was 12 years old, and wrote short fiction before that.

During her big hit, she looked into the control room and waved to a 9 year old girl. The child was the daughter of a friend of one of our DJs and, before the session started, had performed HER acapella version of “Royals”.

It was a touching moment that showed her feet are still firmly on the ground as her star continues to rise.

We also hosted the radio premiere of a new track called “Ribs”, which she has been performing in live shows and will be on her forthcoming full length.

Find the full session in the archives.

RR

p.s.: If, like me, you wanted to know about her gorgeous locks, she hasn’t cut her hair in four years. Yes, I asked her.