10 Mainstream Acts That The 'Real Music Fans' Need To Check Out

7. Lorde

Lorde is perhaps the least established artist on this list, but also one of the most interesting. At a very young age, she's already become a worldwide megastar, essentially off the back of one masterfully written song. 'Royals' may have been the most widely played hit of last year, gaining the New Zealander heaps of critical acclaim, and enough sales to hit the number one spot for weeks in a row. But it's not all about the big hits. Her album 'Pure Heroine' shows the birth of what is set to become a future career of wonderfully subtle pop music, with a refreshing artistic sincerity. Channelling a slightly gothic flare, she has an eerily intense beauty about her - in both image and sound - that seems to be completely unaffected by the success she's recently garnered. 'Pure Heroine' backs this up with honest lyrics, smoky vocals and restrained, tasteful production. Lorde is captivating as she is, and doesn't need to twerk, grind or flash flesh for attention - she simply sings. Easily worth the time and effort of any curious parties, she'll be a future source of coolness for years to come, replacing future vapid chart music with stuff that actually has some intelligence behind it. Who could argue with that as a mission statement?