Lorde writes open letter to mark her 17th birthday

New Zealand’s pop globe-trotter, Lorde turned 17 years of age yesterday – marking the occasion by writing an open letter to fans online, pondering the gigantic changes in her life over the past twelve months.

“This time last year I was making a Soundcloud, and a Twitter, and a Tumblr, all in the name Lorde. I had no clue what was going to happen with the music. I hoped it’d be alright,” the singer writes.

Now, a year on, she’s already got a number one single to her name in the form of “Royals” and is hanging out with the likes of David Bowie and Tilda Swinton.

“I realize over and over every day just how lucky i am to be here. And that’s down to all of you, as well – regular people in dumb towns who make me feel so loved and strong, and whose hunger i can’t wait to satisfy with more music,” she continues. “I’m already thinking about the next project, about reinvention, and personae, and theatricality and subtlety, and simplicity and complexity.”

“It’s just a happy mantra of thanks for the way things are”.

Read the letter in full beneath:

“I’m in new york city. I’m writing this because i’ve fallen into this odd crevasse of age where in new zealand, it’s my birthday, but in new york, there’s still a day to go. This is my first birthday away from home, which is cool except that my little brother, who was born on the same day as me, turns twelve today. Happy birthday, angelo. I owe you lots of icebreaker sours.

I think back to my last birthday; it fell in the middle of exam revision but a bunch of my friends came over anyway to eat cake and ruffle my hair and talk about pokemon. Weirdos. Miss them and my family terribly! But i have a kind of family here, in new york – our little tight bunch playing shows and being overwhelmed constantly and falling asleep in the backs of cabs.

This time last year i was making a soundcloud, and a twitter, and a tumblr, all in the name lorde. I had no clue what was going to happen with the music. I hoped it’d be alright.

Last night, i played to a room of people whose names i worship, breathe like fine gold smoke, reverent. There is a lot of stupid shit that comes with being lucky enough to do what i do – a lot of stuff i’d rather skip, if i could – but i wouldn’t have traded last night for anything. I felt so warm in the arms of these legends who are good enough to have faith in me, weird little screwball that i am. I realize over and over every day just how lucky i am to be here. And that’s down to all of you, as well – regular people in dumb towns who make me feel so loved and strong, and whose hunger i can’t wait to satisfy with more music.

I don’t even know what i’m trying to say, just attempting to reflect on what’s going on right now. I’m already thinking about the next project, about reinvention, and personae, and theatricality and subtlety, and simplicity and complexity. And strength. Today’s weird time blip is a day off (kind of), so i’m going to wrap up warm and walk around the city listening to stevie nicks and broken social scene, feeling all seventeen, hugging myself against the cold. If you see me, and i’m whispering to myself all crazy, don’t worry. It’s just a happy mantra of thanks for the way things are.“

[via CoS]