More about: Lorde

When Lorde’s Solar Power first came out, the reception was barely lukewarm. Adjectives such as uninspired or powerless were used by some critics to describe it. Many fans simply called it boring while staying loyal to the high-energy pianos and larger-than-life hooks of 2017’s Melodrama.

The critically acclaimed sophomore record, which dealt with the theme of heartbreak in a vulnerable, yet incredibly mature way, was both a blessing and a curse for the post-millennial Kiwi icon. Making an album that stands the test of time and brings a diverse fanbase together doesn’t happen to every artist. But convincing one’s core audience to get over it and see value in something much different can be just as big of a challenge.

"an army of Zoomers weren't going to take off their Dr Martens and enjoy a barefoot walk on the sands of Solar Power’s aquamarine paradise"

Upon its release as the lead single in June 2021, the title track generated mostly negative feedback from fans. The video - in which Lorde enjoys summer vibes on a paradisical beach - had quickly drawn comparisons to a Dove commercial. Unfortunately, an army of Zoomers (quite literally, as the album era unfolded at the height of the Covid pandemic) weren't going to take off their Dr Martens and enjoy a barefoot walk on the sands of Solar Power’s aquamarine paradise. Most fans did not relate to the new material at all.

The album’s following singles failed to boost morale among the fanbase. 'Stoned at the Nail Salon' was too much like Lana Del Rey’s 'Wild at Heart', some argued. 'Mood Ring' got too close to the wellness culture it was satirizing, claimed Anthony Fantano. Solar Power’s opening track 'The Path' – one of Lorde’s best songs – also took a lot of flack. “She’s spoiled”, people said. “If you’re bragging about not taking calls from the label on the opening track, may as well just keep it”. That’s nonsense. Numerous male artists express similar attitudes and receive praise for it. But they’re unlikely to express them in a song. Because their songs must go on the radio.

Lorde has always been an artist keen to describe the world around her with laser precision. Her account of being a teenager in New Zealand was raw and rich in details. The way she had written about heartbreak on Melodrama combined emotional pain with a perspective of an educated, self-loving young woman who wasn’t going to dwell on it for the next four albums. When the time had come to write another body of work, as a millionaire from the world’s most Covid-free country, she once again described her perspective with honesty and diaristic flare. Intimate descriptions of stage fright on 'The Man with the Axe' or grieving the death of her dog on 'Big Star' are perfect examples. But this time, we didn’t like it as much.

"she wasn’t going to be our saviour, she wasn’t going to take away our pain"

As pop culture fans, we love to look up videos of Britney Spears or Princess Diana being chased by paparazzi and express our disapproval of such harassment in the comment section. But when Lorde called herself a “teen millionaire having nightmares from the camera flash” on 'The Path', we didn’t consider it brave or particularly important. On the same song, she also stated she wasn’t going to be our saviour, she wasn’t going to take away our pain – which is a badass move, considering the lengths some artists would go to sell their records.

As a person born in 1996 (just like Lorde), I relate to 'Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)' on a deep level. “Dancing with my girls, only having two drinks, then leaving. It’s a funny thing, thought you’d never gain self-control”, she sings with a sense of fulfilment in her voice. Solar Power is an album largely about being 25. It’s that time in your life when you still like a good party, yet you wouldn’t go on a three-day bender with some guy you don’t even like. It’s loving love, and loving life, but not the same way you did when you were in your first relationship. Similarly, 'Oceanic Feeling' is about growing to appreciate nature and the calmness it offers – such an important topic for the modern era. Through simple luxuries available to those who are privileged enough, such as flora, clean water, and energising sunshine – we can reassess ourselves and appreciate how far we have come. It’s about the importance of fighting Instagram fatigue, ignoring your friends’ piss-up in Ibiza, rejecting online culture wars and endless shopping hauls.

"I can’t delay my coming out any longer. Solar Power is my favourite Lorde album."

I can’t delay my coming out any longer. Solar Power is my favourite Lorde album. I always come back to it during outdoor holidays. I played it on a barge during a heatwave. It was the soundtrack to my long forest walks and starry nights. It works. The album’s dreamy, folky guitars remind me of Joni Mitchell’s 1998 Taming the Tiger, composed largely on a guitar enhanced by a Roland pedal, and put together with a similar dose of a non-conformist nonchalance. It’s a nature record. It’s a camping record. It’s a weed record. It’s a contemplative record. Now that most of us have our freedoms back – it’s time to give it another chance, ideally in a natural setting. 

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More about: Lorde