On August 20th, Lorde kindly graced us with her presence in her offering of sun salutations and sandy beaches. Her latest album, Solar Power, is relatively controversial, as fans claim it does not compare to her previous, darker albums. I completely disagree with this, and I think that anyone who truly understands what Lorde is trying to do with Solar Power would too. 

I think that it is beneficial to look back at where Lorde started compared to where she is now. At the meek age of sixteen, Lorde released her first album titled Pure Heroine. It was minimalistic and grim, yet somehow effervescent. In short, it perfectly encapsulated teenage hood. And this showed, considering she won a grammy for her hit song from the album “Royals.” 

I have a very special relationship with Pure Heroine. Lorde has a unique talent for songwriting because no matter what she produces, she connects with her audience perfectly. When looking at the reviews on Google for Pure Heroine, the album is essentially summed up to be the perfect soundtrack for a teenage-dreamer stuck alone in their bedroom. To put Pure Heroine into a single word, I would describe it as teenage-angst. 

Lorde’s next album is like the older, more mature version of her debut album. Melodrama is your pessimistic older sister who lives on iced coffee and disappointing college parties. When talking to a friend about Lorde’s progression, I described Pure Heroine as Lorde clinging onto her childhood, whereas Melodrama is Lorde grieving the loss of said childhood. The album is beautifully soul-crushing when it needs to be, yet it also features eccentric lyrics that make you feel a bit better about being sad. 

If Melodrama is Lorde grieving her childhood, then Solar Power is her finally embracing adulthood. Fans criticize the album because “it doesn’t feel like the Lorde we know.” To put it simply, people cannot be sad their entire lives. Lorde has two other albums that you can listen to if you need a good cry, and even then, Solar Power features songs like “The Man with the Axe,” which is a timeless tear-jerker. 

Lorde’s latest album is a full-circle moment for her. In Solar Power, Lorde is stepping into the sun, literally, and embracing the light and dark moments that come with life, no matter what age you are. Finally, Lorde is done dealing with teenage angst and is ready to face adulthood, and she is trying to take her fans along with her. 

Her albums have told a story that everyone can relate to. She began her artistic journey as a sad, lonely teenager, afraid to let go of her childhood. We watched as she faced her later teen and early adult years, as she grieved the childhood that she was so terribly afraid to lose. Now, we are blessed in the fact that we get to watch Lorde shine and experience the world in a whole new light. Solar Power is an anthem for those finally trying to be happy.