Pure Heroine cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

Pure Heroine Songwriting Credits by Lorde

2013 Universal Music Group / Lava / Republic Records 10 tracks 37 min

Produced by Joel Little  ·  Engineered by Joel Little, Stuart Hawkes

Universal Music Group / Lava / Republic Records ElectropopDream PopElectronica
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Lorde carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Lorde 0 tracksoutside writers
Lorde's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer20%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
2
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
5 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2013
Released

Awards & Recognition 3

Song of the Year (2014)
Best Pop Solo Performance (2014)
Best Pop Vocal Album (2014, Nominated)
Data Insight

Pure Heroine is the product of a two-person writing room: Lorde wrote every lyric and co-wrote each song with producer Joel Little, who handled the spare, bass-heavy electronic production at Golden Age Studios in Auckland. Lorde is the central author of the record's voice, turning suburban teenage boredom and skepticism toward wealth into its governing themes. Little's minimal beats leave room for her layered vocal harmonies, which carry most of the album's melodic weight.

Pure Heroine is Lorde's debut studio album, released September 27, 2013. Written and recorded when she was 15-16 years old, it is built on spare 808 drum machines, minor-key synths, and her distinctively low, theatrical vocal. Every track was produced by Joel Little, who co-wrote the entire album with Lorde. The lead single 'Royals' spent nine weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned her two Grammy Awards in 2014. The album established Lorde as one of the most striking new voices in pop, praised for its refusal of typical teenage pop tropes.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Tennis Court #71
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
2
400 Lux
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
3
Royals #1
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
4
Ribs
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
5
Buzzcut Season
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
6
Team #6
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel LittleLorde Lorde (Lead Vocals)
7
Glory and Gore #68
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
8
Still Sane
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
9
White Teeth Teens
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel Little Lorde (Lead Vocals)
10
A World Alone
LordeJoel Little Ella Yelich-O'ConnorJoel Little Joel LittleLorde Lorde (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 3 contributors

JL
Joel Little
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
L
Lorde
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album10 written
EY
Ella Yelich-O'Connor
Writer
On this album10 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Pure Heroine

Did Lorde write Pure Heroine herself?
Lorde wrote every lyric on Pure Heroine and co-wrote each track with producer Joel Little. She was the album's primary author, with Little contributing to composition and handling production. The two worked together as a small writing and recording team.
Who produced Lorde's Pure Heroine?
Joel Little produced Pure Heroine in its entirety. He also handled engineering, mixing, and instrumentation on the record. Mastering was done by Stuart Hawkes.
What is Pure Heroine by Lorde?
Pure Heroine is Lorde's debut studio album, released in 2013 on Lava and Republic Records. It contains 10 tracks and runs about 37 minutes. The album is built on spare electronic production and layered vocals.
Did the song Royals win a Grammy?
Royals won Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. The win made Lorde one of the youngest artists to take Song of the Year.
What was the highest-charting single from Pure Heroine?
Royals was the highest-charting single, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Team followed as the second-biggest hit, peaking at number 6. Tennis Court and Glory and Gore charted lower at numbers 71 and 68.
What genre is Pure Heroine by Lorde?
Pure Heroine is primarily an electropop album with dream pop and electronica elements. Its sound centers on minimal beats, deep bass, and stacked vocal harmonies. The production by Joel Little keeps arrangements sparse.
How many copies has Pure Heroine sold?
Pure Heroine has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. In the United States it is certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA. The album was certified 9x Platinum in Lorde's native New Zealand.

Sources

Wikipedia: Pure Heroine Wikipedia: Royals (song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Pure Heroine by Lorde